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Hello! I Am A Healthy 25 Year Old Woman. I
Question: hello! i am a healthy 25 year old woman. i have been taking a normal dose of diphenhydramine to fall asleep almost every night for the past year and a half (18 months). Do you think this habit has impacted my cognitive function due to the effect of diphenhydramine on acetylcholine? I am taking a standardized test at the end of October, so I have decided to stop taking the medicine in order to optimize my cognitive abilities. If you think the medicine likely has affected my cognitive function, do you think it will be back to normal by the end of october if i start abstaining now? How long do you think it will take for me to adjust to falling asleep without the medicine?
Brief Answer:
You may feel back to normal in 5 days and will not affect your cognitive sk
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, welcome to Ask a doctor service.
I read your query and here is my advice.
The benadryl us not a habit forming drug and it can be used casually rarely as a sleep aid.
You have been using it too long and in case that you need it every night it would be better if you meet a sleep specialist or psychiatrist
It gives the symptoms of drowsiness and sleepiness the next day and this may be considered as a cognitive impairment.
The effects are reversible and you will not feel them anymore as the body warns off it.
Benadryl leaves your system in two days so you are supposed to have feel back to normal in two days. Since you have been using it for long you may be ready for cognitive test in five days.
You may need adjust the sleep without medicine in two weeks and if you find it difficult you can consult a sleep doctor.
Hope I have answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
You may feel back to normal in 5 days and will not affect your cognitive sk
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, welcome to Ask a doctor service.
I read your query and here is my advice.
The benadryl us not a habit forming drug and it can be used casually rarely as a sleep aid.
You have been using it too long and in case that you need it every night it would be better if you meet a sleep specialist or psychiatrist
It gives the symptoms of drowsiness and sleepiness the next day and this may be considered as a cognitive impairment.
The effects are reversible and you will not feel them anymore as the body warns off it.
Benadryl leaves your system in two days so you are supposed to have feel back to normal in two days. Since you have been using it for long you may be ready for cognitive test in five days.
You may need adjust the sleep without medicine in two weeks and if you find it difficult you can consult a sleep doctor.
Hope I have answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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