Home Pharmacy (cont.)

Medical Author:

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

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Medical Editor:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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Sleep

Diphenhydramine (for example, Benadryl, Sominex, Compoz) is a sedating antihistamine. It is primarily recommended for the treatment of allergic reactions or stuffiness due to a cold. Drowsiness is one of the side effects of diphenhydramine and therefore it is used as a sleep aid; individuals should be ready to attempt sleep before taking any sleep aid and should not attempt to drive or do any activity that would compromise their safety if they become sleepy. Melatonin may be effective in some individuals for treating insomnia. Studies regarding its benefits have been inconclusive; however, melatonin has few side effects.

Allergies and Itch»

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