Tylenol PM: An Answer To Your Sleep Problems? Or not

We will try anything if things get bad enough.  Just before going to the Doctor to ask for sleeping pills we try the over the counter stuff.  Nyquil, Benedryl, Tylenol PM.  We know these were not made for the purpose of putting us to sleep...they were made for something else and we're enjoying the side effect.  The makers even tout the "PM" and the "NY"--quil to let you no that you'll get a bonus of a sleep boost along with the cold relief.  Tylenol PM and some other cold medicines contain an antihistamine that performs the job of drying up excess mucous by suppressing your histamine.  Histamine is what keeps us alert so obviously by suppressing it--- we will feel sleepy. 

Will taking these over the counter cold remedies as a sleep aid wreck our lives or put our health in danger?  It seems reasonable to say no if used VERY occasionally.  But when we start using them every couple of days or several times a week on a consistent basis it can become  a slippery slope.  It's difficult to sleep well with the "normal" amount of histamine if you're used to it being suppressed.  Now you're hooked. 

Here is an interesting review of Tylenol PM from the people at "We Know Sleep." website.