Recent studies have also shown that melatonin when added to osteoporosis medications had a significant impact on savings in healthcare costs due to its beneficial effects on bone health by reducing the complications of bone disease. Since light and darkness are the main contributors to melatonin activity in the body, it is crucial that we take full advantage of our evenings and reduce our exposure wherever possible to the blue light spectrum.Īs well as supporting muscle maintenance, melatonin is shown in animals and cell cultures to promote mineralization of bone and improve bone mass. Melatonin on the other hand has data suggesting it is beneficial for preventing sarcopenia, which is a state of muscle wasting that is often a hallmark of aging and loss of strength.Īnd when I say aging, this process of deterioration is shown to kick in gear at age 40. This is another reason for each of us to consider our sleep habits, our use of blue lights emitting tablets and smart phones at night. If you have been on this channel much, you know the value of maintain muscle and bone mass for vitality and longevity. The Effect of Sleep Aids on Muscle and Bone Mass If you have had aluminum exposure or have tested high for aluminum, you may want to consider melatonin therapy. Aluminum is highly oxidative and destructive to nerve tissue. Melatonin has also been studied in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and in being protective against aluminum induced neurodegenerative disease. Whereas melatonin when deficient, promotes cognitive decline and when supplemented has shown to decrease delirium which is a precursor to dementia. Benadryl is associated with reduced cognition and dementia. In comparing Benadryl to melatonin, they really move our bodies in the opposite direction long term. Benadryl, Melatonin and Cognitive Function This would be challenging to ingest unless you were bent on hurting yourself. Benadryl does have a lethal dose at around 1000mg. Most supplements are in the range of 1-5mg per dose. In animals no lethal dose was found at dose equivalents in humans of 54,000mg. In this context, for a brief period it’s not unreasonable to consider pharmacological agents to help you get to sleep but even in this situation people should consult a physician to determine what medication might work best,” Alapat said.Melatonin does not have a known lethal dose. This doesn’t mean the more the merrier, but it does mean if you need something to aid in your sleep, going the melatonin route even at extreme doses is unlikely to affect you other than potentially being a little drowsy the following day. “For many people, insomnia is short-term due to a stressful event or family problems. Many over-the-counter sleep aids are simply antihistaminic drugs repackaged and labeled as something to help you achieve sleep, he cautioned.Īlapat recommends that people who suffer from long-term insomnia visit a physician or sleep disorders specialist to address the problem, which could result from medical issues such as obstructive sleep apnea, depression or circadian rhythm disorders. “Most people develop a tolerance very quickly.” “Using Benadryl or any antihistamine for sleep has no long term benefit,” Alapat said. Sometimes, they even have the opposite affect and cause hyperactivity, especially in children. While antihistamines may help you to fall asleep, overall sleep quality is usually not very good, he said. That can definitely occur with Benadryl just as with other hypnotic agents like Ambien,” Alapat said. “Use of antihistamines can lead to sleep walking and other parasomnias. While these side effects are generally mild and well tolerated in young patients without other medical problems, they can pose a risk, especially for the elderly. Philip Alapat, assistant professor of medicine.Īntihistamines have side effects that include altered mental state, urinary retention and dry mouth. But the use of medication to force children or adults to sleep is generally not the best idea,” said Dr. People sometimes turn to these medications to help them sleep, even when they’re not sick. “Many allergy sufferers know that antihistamines work for their symptoms but also make them sleepy. But a Baylor College of Medicine sleep expert cautions against turning to this type of medication as a sleep aid. For people who take an antihistamine such as Benadryl for a cold or allergies, drowsiness is often a welcome side effect.
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