Like most sleeping pills, it can have some negative side effects if used long-term, but it’s generally the lightest sleep aid you can take, and will usually do the trick for sleeping pill newbies. It also happens to be available in pill form, so you can introduce the sleep-triggering chemical when it’s not naturally occurring, like on a cramped plane or for fighting jetlag. Melatonin is the hormone your brain naturally releases when it’s tired, to trigger sleepiness, and is about as natural a sleep aid as you can get. It’s probably best to use something a little more natural (more on that next). A good rule of thumb is to only use diphenhydramine-based medicines when you really need them: when having an allergic reaction, or on a plane when it’s all you have and you really need some sleep. Overuse can lead to a higher tolerance to the active ingredient, which would mean needing to take more and more for it to continue working. The active ingredient is an antihistamine that quells allergic reactions, with the added side effect of sleepiness that makes it common in sleeping pills.ĭiphenhydramine is generally safe but shouldn’t be overused by those who need it for anti-allergy purposes. If you’ve ever taken common sleep or allergy medicines like ZzzQuil, Benadryl, Aleve PM, or Tylenol PM, you’ve taken diphenhydramine. Types of Sleeping Pills Jirapong | Adobe Stock Diphenhydramine Sleeping Pills All should be cleared for personal use by a doctor who’s familiar with your unique health conditions and medical history. Here’s what to know about the best over-the-counter sleep aids out there, so you can ask your doctor about the kind you think you’d prefer.Įditor’s Note: This story includes both natural sleep aids and over-the-counter sleeping pills. Over-the-counter sleeping pills have only a few distinctive active ingredients-some of which you might prefer over others depending on your health needs and preferences. But using the right ones can make you a more confident achiever of plane sleep: Over-the-counter or natural (read: non-prescription) options are unlikely to cause you a Bridesmaids moment of sleeping pill-induced panic that sends the flight into a tizzy. Travel Motto: 'Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.' - Mark TwainĪisle, Window, or Middle Seat: 'Window, of course.'Įmail Shannon at sleeping pills or supplements for the first time can seem like a scary prospect-especially when you’re in an airplane cabin, closely surrounded by strangers who’ll witness your every sleep-induced move. Ultimate Bucket List Experience: 'Climbing (yes, climbing, it's steep!) the Great Wall of China before it's gone.' They tame my frizzy curls and come in handy in a surprising number of packing and hotel dilemmas.' The Handy Item I Always Pack: 'Plenty of extra thick hair elastics. She's been quoted as an expert travel source by CNBC,, MarketWatch, The Washington Post, USA Today, and more. Her educational background is in journalism, art history, gender studies, Spanish, and film. Her stories have also appeared online on USA Today, The Sun, Huffington Post, Business Insider,, , and more.

Travel trends, news oddities, and her visits to up-and-coming destinations are some of her favorite things to write about. A former news reporter, she's lived in the south of Spain, spotted elephants in Sri Lanka, gone spelunking in the Caribbean, hiked Jordan's Petra Basin, interviewed Sao Paulo's Michelin-Star chefs, and explored China via bullet train. Follow her on Twitter and on Instagram joined SmarterTravel in 2015. Editor Shannon McMahon is always planning her next trip and often writing in her travel journal.

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