- With Mayo Clinic emeritus internist
Kenneth G. Berge, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Kenneth G. Berge, M.D.
Kenneth G. Berge, M.D.
Dr. Kenneth Berge has been involved in Mayo Clinic's Web publications since they began in 1995, advising editors and the public throughout his tenure.
He develops content for the Ask a Specialist segment and helps plan and edit other content and design. Dr. Berge has also been an editor of CD-ROMs and books produced by Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Berge, board certified in internal medicine, has been with Mayo Clinic since 1955 and early on had a special research interest in cardiovascular risk factors, including cholesterol and hypertension. Dr. Berge served as a leader for a number of major National Institutes of Health clinical trials that established the fundamental roles for lifestyle modifications needed to prevent cardiovascular disease. Dr. Berge served in various capacities with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. He was vice chairman of the steering committee for the Coronary Drug Project and chairman of the steering committee on Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program from 1984 to 1993.
He won the Teacher of the Year Hall of Fame Award in 1987 and was Mayo Clinic voting staff president in 1976. He is an emeritus professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
He became a fellow in the American College of Physicians in 1962 and was president of the Minnesota chapter of the American College of Physicians in 1981.
As a respected physician, researcher and teacher with more than 40 years of clinical experience, Dr. Berge, a native of Wahkon, Minn., brings a wealth of knowledge to the Web site. "My career as a primary care physician for more than 40 years has provided me with experience in communicating complex information to a wide variety of patients in a manner that they could understand. I also came to know their common concerns and questions," he says.
Staying healthy (3)
- Air fresheners: Are continuous scents harmful?
- Cell phones and cancer: What's the risk?
- Mammogram guidelines: What's changed?
Dental care (3)
- Whitening toothpaste: Does it actually whiten teeth?
- Dental floss vs. water pick: Which is better?
- Electric toothbrush: Better than a regular toothbrush?
Skin care (7)
- Healthy skin: What role does diet play?
- Tanning beds: Safer than the sun?
- Tattoos and MRIs: What's the risk?
- see all in Skin care
Nail care (4)
- Acrylic nails: Can they harm your natural nails?
- Split fingernails: What causes them?
- Nail biting: Does it cause long-term damage?
- see all in Nail care
Eye care (2)
- Eye exam: Do I need a laser retina scan?
- Choosing sunglasses: Is UV protection important?
Sleep (3)
- Melatonin side effects: What are the risks?
- Sleep guidelines: How many hours of sleep are enough?
- Sleep aids: Can antihistamines help me sleep?
Mental health (1)
- Passive-aggressive behavior: How can I recognize it?
Healthy at work (3)
- Shift work: How do I adjust to daytime sleeping?
- Leg pain after prolonged standing or sitting: A concern?
- Test anxiety: Can it be treated?
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Question
Sleep aids: Can antihistamines help me sleep?
With all the concerns about addiction and side effects associated with prescription sleep aids, is there anything wrong with just using over-the-counter antihistamines to treat insomnia?
Answer
from Kenneth G. Berge, M.D.
For occasional insomnia, over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine, are somewhat effective as sleep aids but must be taken only as directed on the packaging. Antihistamines induce drowsiness by working against the central nervous system chemical histamine.
Just because a drug is available "over-the-counter" doesn't mean it is safe, especially if taken incorrectly. Talk to your doctor before taking any OTC sleep aids if you're currently taking any drugs for depression, psychiatric or emotional conditions, or Parkinson's disease. Also, antihistamines may not be safe if you have a history of glaucoma, heart problems or enlarged prostate.
Most over-the-counter products marketed as sleep aids contain antihistamines alone or in combination with pain relievers. Although these medications have some sedating effects, they also have other side effects that are undesirable and can even be deadly at high doses.
Persistent insomnia should be evaluated to identify underlying causes. Cognitive behavioral therapy is as effective, if not more effective, than sleep aids in the treatment of insomnia — with no side effects.
Occasionally, sleep experts will use a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and prescription sleeping medications to treat insomnia. When used appropriately, prescription sleep medications generally are safe.
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