I find Benadryl very helpful for insomnia. I think it is better than prescription hypnotics. I think it reduces my anxiety as well. I try not to use though since I read that its use has been linked to the development of senior dementias like Alzheimer's Disease.

There is a scientific theory that during sleep, the brain cleanses itself of toxins like the kind of plaques involved in dementia. Hypnotics like Benadryl [diphenhydramine] provide sleep but not the cleansing that occurs during sleep. I don't know if the theory is correct. All scientific research is subject to limitations such as size of study, quality of study, duration of study, objectivity of study, confounding factors, new discoveries and so on. But as for myself, I try to limit my use of Benadryl although I will take it in a pinch.

Benadryl is approved for insomnia by the US of A Food and Drug Administration and is considered generally safe. So I don't know what one should do. Sorry I could not be helpful to you!

Benadryl is an antihistamine. The first antidepressant was an antihistamine and had anxiolytic qualities. Maybe there is some connection between all this stuff. I don't know.