@dsmith , thanks for sharing the articles. I have no experience with Benedryl, but definitely have a past history of alcohol abuse. I have memories of passing out, night after night, on the living room sofa after drinking 6 to 10 drinks after work. My husband would usually wake me up at 3 am to go to bed, if I didn't wake up on my own to do so. Another way the alcohol, combined with my bipolar disorder, affected my sleep was that it was rarely restorative, as the article referenced. When I'd have to start getting ready for work in the mornings I'd have tirades. It was the same every work day morning. Screaming throwing tirades.

It took a long time before I finally put drinking alcohol in its proper place. It had to be extreme moderation (like 1/2 drink only and 1 max on some occasions). It took a while before I finally stopped grieving its loss. Like you are noticing, not depending on alcohol only improved my life, and sleep. I still like to sleep in when I can, but pretty much never have morning tirades anymore. The extreme reduction in my drinking makes me more stable, longer, and reduced sedation side effects from my Seroquel XR. Now on even 600 mg Seroquel XR I can wake up feeling better after only seven or eight hours sleep.

I know that for some people alcohol must be eliminated completely.