Tylenol PM & Advil PM

Help! Any tips and pointers about the effects of "sleep aids" on metabolism, weight loss, or overall good health. I am 55 and I often have trouble sleeping. Not often -- but occasionally I take Advil or tylenol PM. What do you all think?

Getting at least 7 hrs. of sleep is good for your metabolism. Less than that may slow it down. I wouldnt think that taking an occassional sleep aid would have any neg. impact on either your metabolism or overall good health.

I would use Melatonin since they are natural and without all the chemicals in Tylenol that way your body relaxes and you naturally fall asleep.

The key active ingredient in both those medications is Diphenhydramine HCl. Which is just a fancy way of saying Benadryl. As a good start I would suggest that unless you are also taking Tylenol or Advil PM for pain you simply go and buy plain old Benadryl or equivalent. The standard 25mg dose is usually enough to make anyone drowsy.

I have not heard of any negative effects of those medications on metabolism however so I think you should be fine to use them as long as you are only taking the recommended dose. Obviously if you are using them to keep yourself unconscious for days and weeks that IS going to effect your metabolism.

Thanks so much for the helpful advice! I did not know that the active ingredient in TylenolPM and Advil PM is the SAME as in Benadryl! Again -- thank you!

I buy a WalMart Equate brand of diphenhydramine. It's called "Nighttime Sleep Aid." Basically tylenol/advil pm without the tylenol or advil. Or benedryl without the other stuff in benedryl. It's JUST the sleepy stuff. They are extra strength 50 mg, so 1 liquid gel is all that's needed. Haven't been using them much lately because 1.) I also wasn't sure if they affect my metabolism and 2.) since I cleaned up my nutrition, I haven't needed them. Hope this helps!

Thank you Milla Lite - for the tip about metabolisam as it pertains to the contents of these night time sleep aides. I appreciate the advice!

Wiener4 - Thanks, but I really didn't answer your question at all. I was just pointing out that the main ingredient in tylenol pm, advil pm, and benedryl, can be purchesed as a stand-alone sleep aid.

Honestly, I have no idea if it affects metabolism or not. And I've not been taking them since I don't know.

Your explanation that diphenhydramine can be taken without the Advil, Tylenol, or Benedryl ingredients serves as a HELPFUL TIP for me. That tip, along with the thought that you are not sure about the way sleep aides affect metabiolism, seemed useful to me. That useful information was the reason for the thanks. So -- thanks again -- just for the provocation of thought.

Ahhh!! Okay, I misunderstod for a second. I see your "thank you" and raise you another! You are welcome. cheers!

What everyone else said. Also, Tylenol PM has acetaminophen in it, and if taken long enough, will cause liver damage. My mother was telling me about an older man whose insurance claims she was working on who needed a liver transplant because he had taken Tylenol PM every day for years. That's going to the extreme, but I'm saying. (I take melatonin btw)