However, just because a medication can help you sleep doesn't necessarily mean you should take it for that purpose.

As an April 6 paper out of McMaster University published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal noted, "Antihistamines are among the most commonly and incorrectly used medicines worldwide." While antihistamines are recommended to address the symptoms of hay fever and outbreaks of hives, they have other off label-uses, including for insomnia, according to the paper.

The recent McMaster University paper made a case for avoiding the use of these medications for treating anything other than hay fever or hives.

Harvard University reported that in 2017, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) officially recommended against treating chronic insomnia with common OTC antihistamine-based medications due to a lack of evidence for their efficacy or safety.

The McMaster University paper noted that antihistamines can affect cognitive functions, such as school or work performance, and an overdose can even lead to death.

Although antihistamines may help you fall asleep, the overall quality of sleep is often not very good, and the medication has its limits.

The paper from McMaster University noted that first-generation antihistamines are the ones to worry about, while newer antihistamines are generally safer.

Benadryl, ZzzQuil, Tylenol PM, Dramamine, Unisom, and many OTC sleep medications contain first-generation antihistamines, while allergy medications like Zyrtec, Claritin, and Allegra, on the other hand, contain second-generation antihistamines.

The McMaster University paper noted that later-generation antihistamines are safer while also being more effective and just as affordable as first-generation antihistamines.