Unisom is a brand name drug that combines two generic medications in order to provide treatment for sleeplessness resulting from nighttime pain and discomfort. There are a number of different varieties of Unisom sold, including tablets (SleepTabs), gel capsules (SleepCaps) and dissolvable tablets (SleepMelts). For the purpose of this review, the original product will be discussed.
Unisom Ingredients
The two medicines that make up this drug are acetaminophen and diphenhydramine. The first is works to reduce pain and fever. The second is an antihistamine. Those medications stop your body from naturally producing histamines, which are the chemicals responsible for causing symptoms associated with allergies and hay fever, such as itchy, watery eyes and nose, sneezing, and other discomforts.
When you purchase Unisom, make sure to read the directions on the product label as well as within the leaflet included in the package. It is also recommended that you speak with your doctor before using this medication, as it can cause contradictions with some medical conditions and medications that would require you to take a different dose or a different treatment altogether. Follow the directions carefully to ensure that it will be safe to use, and it will be as effective as possible.
Precautions About This Sleeping Pill
This drug is not meant for children under the age of 4 and can be dangerous or life threatening if too much of it is taken.
It is not recommended that you drink more than three alcoholic beverages on a day that you take any medication that contains acetaminophen, as it can make the effects and side effects much more powerful. Speak with your doctor if you wish to take Unisom and drink more than three alcoholic beverages in one day. Typically, it will be recommended that the dosage be halved, and the maximum daily allowable amount be brought down to 2 g (2000 mg) from 4 g (4000 mg). A single dose of Unisom contains as much as 1000 mg of acetaminophen.
Unisom can be taken with or without food. If you find that it upsets your stomach, taking it with food or milk can help to reduce or eliminate that effect.
Tell your doctor that you are taking Unisom, which contains an antihistamine, before you take a skin allergy test. This is necessary because this medication can alter the results of the test.
If you believe that you have overdosed on this drug, obtain emergency medical attention right away or call a Poison Help line immediately. It is important that you act quickly because diphenhydramine or acetaminophen overdoses can be life threatening. Initial signs of an overdose can include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weakness, or confusion.
Alternatives to Unisom
If Unisom is not appropriate for you but you are still looking for a non-prescription sleep aid to help you to get the rest you need at night, there are still options available to you. If you are experiencing chronic insomnia, your best plan is to speak with your doctor. They will assist you in developing a healthy sleeping routine to encourage your body to fall asleep and wake on its own after an appropriate amount of rest.
That said, if you are experiencing occasional sleepless nights and simply want a sleep aid with melatonin to help you to overcome that challenge, a product like ZIESTA may give you the extra help you need. That product doesn’t contain antihistamines, painkillers or other drugs. Instead, its formula still contains only clinically researched ingredients, but these were chosen for drug-free support. The formula consists of magnesium (from magnesium glycinate), valerian root powder, passionflower extract, hops flower powder, L-theanine, and melatonin.
I have a medical condition which makes it very difficult to fall asleep. I decided to try Unisom as it’s over the counter and I did not want to try any of the narcotics that my DR. wanted to prescribe. So I take it as directed, but for me it works better on an empty stomach. They did give me some pretty weird and vivid dreams in the beginning, but that wore off. I do sleep well all night, but the next day grogginess is pretty bad.
If you are looking for something that works the same every day, then Unisom is probably not going to cut it. I found that it works well for the first couple of nights that you take it and then it wears off.
Not a big fan of Unisom because altho it makes you sleep a good 8-10 hrs, you will feel groggy and “hung-over” till about noon the next day. I am looking for something where I can wake up and not feel dowsy. I am a teacher and it’s just way to hard to function at work properly otherwise!
These work quite well I am asleep within an hr and I generally won’t wake up thru the night but if I do I can get back to sleep without an issue. The negative effect is the drowsiness the next day but it wears off after a couple of hrs.
I have pretty bad insomnia and they didn’t help at all infact on some occaisons I felt like they made the problem worse. Based on the directions I should have been asleep in about an hr, but several hrs later I was still staring at the clock. I just felt like unisom didn’t touch me.