Suggest Sleep Aids To Be Taken While Suffering From Seizures

Posted on Wed, 15 Apr 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 15 Apr 2015 Answered on

Wed, 6 May 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : hi I had taken htp-5 with other vitamins which induced seizure like symptoms from too much serotonin. Now I want to take a sleep aid. I need it desperately. which is rather to take zzzquil (diphenhydramine) or Midnite PM ( melatonin). which one will be most effective and not evoke seizure symptoms. I have a sensitivity now. Please tell me which sleep aid to attempt. thank you

Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
melatonin will not evoke seizure

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for writing to us.I read your query and can understand your concern.

From options you mentioned diphenhydramine can cause seizure in rare cases while melatonin rather reduces risk of seizures. So among them I would advise you to take melatonin as a sleep aid.

From effectiveness point of view melatonin is a sleep aid but not as potent as benzodiazepine group of drugs.

If you have found melatonin as useful sleep aid in past you can go for the same as per your doctor's advise.

And if you cannot get enough sleep with melatonin, you can go for any benzodiazepine after consulting your doctor.

Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.

Regards,

Dr.Chintan Solanki.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar