Seniors and Sleep Aids—What You Need to Know

Insomnia is an all-too-common condition for millions of adults in the US, both young and old. However, most sleep medications contain the antihistamine diphenhydramine, which is an inappropriate ingredient for seniors due to risks of confusion, urinary retention, and dizziness.

Diphenhydramine is the main ingredient in Benadryl, and is frequently added to nighttime medications such as Tylenol PM, Advil PM, and ZzzQuil. Other OTC medicines like Nyquil and Unisom contain another antihistamine called doxylamine.

Some of the most common side effects of antihistamines such as diphenhydramine and doxylamine include sleepiness, decreased reaction times, and dizziness. For older people with additional medical problems or physical impairments, such effects can lead to serious falls and accidents.

Such antihistamines can also have anticholinergic effects, which may result in significant cognitive impairment and confusion. Other side effects may be dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, and urinary retention.

We typically advise against older people using antihistamines for better quality sleep due to these side effects and the possibility of long-term effects upon memory which increase the risk of dementia.

Another common sleep aid—and one that requires a prescription—is Ambien. Unfortunately, Ambien is also ill-advised for older adults, as it is a sedative-hypnotic medication. Medications of this class are associated with a particularly high number of ER visits every year. Ambien itself is linked to 1 in 5 ER visits among those 65 and older.

If you are seeking a safe sleep aid, The Prescription Shop is pleased to offer two drug-free and hi-tech forming alternatives. Stop by the pharmacy and talk to us about NoctoPlex and LuciPlex today!