the older sedating antihistamines have a calming effect in the daytime and help in getting to sleep at night
they are found in cough mixtures, travel sickness pills, hayfever meds, etc, one is specified for migranes
not as good as benzos but better than nothing
a common problem from all of them is the next day hangover, which I have suffered several times, from doses not all that high, but I guess this has a type of calming effect