Is it possible to overdose (fatally) from over the counter sleeping pills?

Question

I am referring to over the counter sleeping pills containing the active ingredient diphenhydramine.

Answer 1

Very possible indeed!

First, be aware that Diphenhydramine works by blocking the effect of histamine at H1 receptor sites which can result to the reduction of smooth muscle contraction.

Diphenhydramine is an ANTICHOLINERGIC medicine - meaning it blocks actions of acetylcholine. As to recall:
>>acetylcholine activates muscles and it is also a major neurotransmitter in the autonomic nervous system line.
>>acetylcholine is a neuromodulator of the central nervous system which has takes a great role in causing excitatory actions.

What is the first organ in danger of the diphenhydramine overdosage effects? IT IS THE MUSCLES OF THE HEART. Considerable overdosage can lead to myocardial infarction (heart attack) or serious ventricular dysrhythmias which can lead to coma and death.

Overdosage can also lead to acute anticholinergic syndrome which is a medical emergency requiring treatment. Though such condition is completely reversible, it is possible to end up to coma and death.

Not to forget to mention that it requires a very high dosage to have a fatal overdosage effects of diphenhydramine. Depending on what other active ingredient is combined with diphenhydramine in the sleeping pills, the condition could get more worse.

(I believe you are just being curious for asking this)

Answer 2

Over The Counter Sleeping Pills

Answer 3

Over The Counter Sleeping Tablets

Answer 4

Don't ever take the sleeping pills route!!

1. They will damage your liver big time and you can get into serious health problems.

2. You will get hooked up on them and you won't be able to have a normal life any more if you don't take your pills everyday.

The sleeping pills industry is damaging our health by capitalizing on our ignorance, and by distracting people from effective and natural ways to deal with this problem. I had been taking prescription sleep medications [Ambien] for over 5 years. It stopped working and I simply took more. Still did not work. Nights were very difficult - medication put me to sleep but I would wake up after 2–3 hours with a strong sympathetic response (fast pulse, pounding heartbeat, wide awake alert). It was a very difficult cycle to break. I was really in bad shape due to lack of sleep.

After years of struggling I was able to cure my insomnia naturally and pretty fast. I followed the Sleep Tracks sleep optimization program, here is their official web -site if you want to take a look: http://www.insomniacure.net

Ohhh..and Good Luck!

Answer 5

WHY ARE YOU CONSTANTLY POSTING QUESTIONS ABOUT SUICIDE??? If you've got a real plan, there's not a damn thing strangers on Yahoo can do to stop you. Are you just f***king with people for the attention??? That is pitiful. Your feeble attempts to come across as a mysterious, goth-type chic are getting you no where. The only impression you give is one of a selfish little school girl. ADDITIONAL: The only reason you are upset by my response in particular is because it is true AND YOU KNOW IT. I read your earlier questions such as "Was my previous suicide attempt justified" and "How much cyanide is fatal?". I suspect you are a smart girl. You know how to research these questions without asking people here. So common sense tells us that the only reason you are posting these questions here is for attention. I suggest that you speak with your school counselor. Try posing these question to them and see what the response is. You know that when you ask strangers the typical response will be "PLEASE DON'T KILL YOURSELF" or "SEEK HELP". Why don't you take that advice instead of seeking attention here for your problems.

Answer 6

Sure, overdose occurs when the body no longer can absorb the "useful" portion of the item ingested. i.e. if a Caucasian individual eats the liver ( which is high in Vit A) from I believe Seal or Polar bear ... death can and has occurred. Imagine your body a ballon. If you put it next to a trickle of water it fills but does not expand. Overdose occurs when you put the ballon next to the fire hose and open it up full bore. Check out the following web site for more help. http://www.webmd.com/drugs/search.aspx?stype=drug&query=diphenhydramine

Answer 7

Thanks. Guess I'll find something else to OD on. Quick and painless.... Which this seems not to be. I was going to OD on sleeping pills...but guess I'll find something that works faster and better.

Answer 8

No very likely, the dosage is very low in those formulations, a person would end up buying everything on the shelf in store after store and that would raise eyebrows as well as be expensive.

However, many of these products also contain acetaminophen which is toxic to the liver in high doses.

Alcohol increases the liver toxicity of acetaminophen (Tylenol is one brand of this), something they do not advertise when they make claims of no drug interactions.

Answer 9

If you have questions about medicine's side effects,
or correct dosages,
discuss it in person with a pharmacist