I have had problems with sleep for years after working 11pm to 7:30 am for so many years. Add in hormones/night sweats,and hot flash funand sleep is totally interrupted. Tylenol PM/Benadryl and Diphenhydramine are all the same (minus the tylenol. I am not able to take benadryl. I do use a 1/2 dose of Nyquil on the nights I work---the antihystamine in it doesn't bother me like benadryl does. I occasionally take Ambien, but not very often as it causes an amnesia affect. I sleep crappier on the nights I don't work since it's OK to be tired when I don't have to think clearly and safely for 12 or more hours at work---I save the sleep aids for the nights before work. The valerian, melatonin doesn't work for me.
Good luck, I hope something will work for you.

Sleepless nights are hard....and they make for more difficult days....I stay up late, even if Im tired and when I do go to sleep I usualy take benedryl 2 to 3 times a week. It works for me, but Im sure not for everyone...Hope you find something to help you. Hugs, Lauri

I've had success with a Puritans Pride product called Calm Tabs, a combination of several natural herbs including valerian. I've used them for years and always have a supply on hand. They help me with sleeplessness as well as what I can only describe as an intense, free-floating anxiety that can hit at any time.
Juanita

Here I am at seventeen months into this awful journey and still struggle with sleeplessness and anxiety at night. I am glad that I am retired from nursing as I would be downright dangerous taking care of patients in my sleep deprived state.
I take Advil PM which is advil with benadryl. The advil helps with any aches and pains I have and the benadryl makes me drowsy, sometimes. I am Catholic so I pray the Rosary at night and sometimes I will fall asleep part way into the prayer.
Otherwise I just keep hoping that someday my life will return to normal and falling asleep will no longer be a problem.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I did take benadryl last night and I did sleep very well. Hope you all have better nights too. Hugs, Terry

I had that same problem but I was recommended to have a colon cleanse where they use lots of water during each sesion, this way I was able to recover my sleep. There is also Solfoggio music you can try and that always works for me. I just put the music on and I never know when I fall asleep, but it doesnt take long.