Sleeping pills

tomomatic
tomomatic Posts: 1,794 Member
in Chit-Chat
I've been having a hard time sleeping lately. (Mostly stress related) Can anyone recommend a good over the counter sleeping aide that doesn't have too many bad side effects? Something that's not habit forming.
«1

Replies

  • hungrypotato
    hungrypotato Posts: 1,642 Member
    ummm. Well recently I saw a commercial for zzzquil. Saying it's just for sleeping and non habit forming.


    http://zzzquil.com/liquid-sleep-aid/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=zzzquil&utm_campaign=ZzzQuil_Search_Desktop_Brand+Awareness|ZzzQuil-Branded&utm_content=srnme4JnC_17502783996_e_zzzquil
  • BeautifulScarsWECHANGED
    BeautifulScarsWECHANGED Posts: 749 Member
    Herbs, Etc brand Deep Sleep. It's the ONLY thing my family uses.

    http://www.herbsetc.com/

    You can find it most health food stores. Trust me on this!
  • LaLouve_RK
    LaLouve_RK Posts: 899 Member
    Same here... I take sleep-eze right now.
    I try to not take it every night... but as long as the stress factor is there, I guess I wont be able to get off those... yet... I dont feel any addiction... yesterday night my bf had to tell me : "did you take your sleep pill?"
    I really forgot about it coz I needed to sleep since I am on emergency calls tonight..
  • TylerJ76
    TylerJ76 Posts: 4,375 Member
    I used to just drink a case of beer. Worked every time..
  • Timshel_
    Timshel_ Posts: 22,834 Member
    I have had sleep issues since I was young. I've just learned to operate on less sleep than most. I don't beleive in medication, for the most part.
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    I used to just drink a case of beer. Worked every time..

    ^ This. At least you know what's in it.
  • meltingmama1965
    meltingmama1965 Posts: 24
    i take zzzzzquil works for me and not habbit forming
  • Megs081211
    Megs081211 Posts: 150
    Have you tried taking melatonin? It's all natural and is naturally produced in the body. When I can't sleep I take benadryl it helps with my allergies and allows me to knock out.
  • hummingbird71
    hummingbird71 Posts: 298 Member
    I take 1 Ibuprofen w/ sleep aide every night! I don't feel I HAVE to take them so I feel they are not habit forming, however if I don't I will toss and turn and not get a good nights sleep due to back issues. That is why I use the one that has some "pain releif" with it.
  • SamDanielleB
    SamDanielleB Posts: 71
    Melatonin is helpful and natural, although i've found it makes me more drowsy in the mornings...
  • sullus
    sullus Posts: 2,839 Member
    I've been having a hard time sleeping lately. (Mostly stress related) Can anyone recommend a good over the counter sleeping aide that doesn't have too many bad side effects? Something that's not habit forming.

    Bourbon.

    Seriously. I had major insomnia at one point, learned a lot of techniques to get over it. Now on the rare occasion where I can't fall asleep, a couple shots and a half hour of tv later, and I can sleep. My opinion is that this is far safer than any OTC or Prescription sleep aid.
  • atb0821
    atb0821 Posts: 458 Member
    Midnite!
  • Jenn728
    Jenn728 Posts: 683 Member
    You could try Calms Forte...you can buy this at Walmart or GNC. What I love most about this stuff is that if I am feeling anxious, I can take one or two....if I need help sleeping, I can take three or four. I never feel that creepy, crawly feeling and I don't feel heavy and hungover the next morning from it.
  • pinkledoodledoo
    pinkledoodledoo Posts: 290 Member
    I would recommend Zzzquil, wine or pot... probably not all 3 though.
  • ChasingKatie
    ChasingKatie Posts: 331 Member
    Natural Calm magnesium
  • greyt2bfit
    greyt2bfit Posts: 29 Member
    slow walk around the block, followed by warm bath and chamomile tea, lavender mist bedding and either a tylenol pm or ibuprofen pm product
  • jonikeffer
    jonikeffer Posts: 218 Member
    Two good options: Benadryl (generic name diphenhydramine) or melatonin.
    Benadryl won't hurt you, isn't hbit forming, some people take it all the time for allergies. However it can have side effects for some, including aggravating RLS (restless legs). It can dehydrate you a bit, drink more water while taking it. You would just have to try it and see if it did anything unpleasant to you. Diphenhydramine is one of the two types of antihistamines used in all the OTC cold/flu products, and also one of the two used in OTC sleep aids (like Tylenol PM). It's a lot cheaper to just buy a bottle of generic diphenhydramine than buy any of the OTC products branded as "sleep aids". :)

    If you don't like that, consider the natural supplement of melatonin. This is what our brain produces naturally to make us sleepy at night. Our brains make it as the sun goes down, and modern life messes that up because we have bright lights from TV/computers in our face until the moment we go to sleep. There are many strengths of melatonin, ranging from 750mcg to over 3mg. Try getting a low one, you can always double up on the capsules if it doesn't help at first. I've not experienced any side effects whatsoever from melatonin, and am not aware of any.

    Note, your body can get accustomed to anything you take nightly, even if it's not habit forming. Try to give yourself a break on the weekend or any day you don't absolutely have to get up at a set time the next day. It will just help things keep working for you.
  • BL_Mark
    BL_Mark Posts: 183 Member
    Melatonin is helpful and natural, although i've found it makes me more drowsy in the mornings...

    AGREED! I've never slept well... I have weird dreams and sleep walking issues... I didn't know that that wasn't normal until I got married and my wife told me. Everyone in my family talks & walks in their sleep. So last year I started taking melatonin and have been getting the best sleep of my life! However, it does make me a bit drowsy in the morning but once I get moving, I'm fine.
  • Timshel_
    Timshel_ Posts: 22,834 Member
    I have had sleep issues since I was young. I've just learned to operate on less sleep than most. I don't beleive in medication, for the most part.

    I will say, during really bad times I like to drink the Sleepy Time Extra tea about 30 minutes before going to bed. It defintely helps me get to sleep. It doesn't help me stay sleeping though. Worth a shot though.
  • mank32
    mank32 Posts: 1,323 Member
    - melatonin, like 3 mg: some peeps see success if taken every day before bed, like a vitamin (not just 'as needed'). it helps your body regulate hormones for sleep.
    - catnip tea: a mild sedative. should be safe for anyone.
    - chamomile tea: ditto -- except if you have allergies in the daisy family.
    - valerian root: stronger; read contraindications carefully. do not take for too long. ppl rave about this but it is potent and should be used with caution.
    **exercise: i struggled with sleep from childhood up to a couple of years ago, when i started working out. now i don't struggle with it at all. wearing myself out physically is the best medicine for sleep i've ever found.
    **alcohol: kind of hate to admit it, but i consider alcohol a medicine in this ONE regard--i can count on it to put me to sleep, and often i will sleep more deeply and wake more refreshed if i've had a little before bed. but i rarely do this--usually i drink some alcohol and then go sing karaoke or something...

    i was on Rx sleep med for years on account of sleep disregulation due to fibromyalgia. the pills put me to sleep but i didn't sleep well, so i was always tired.

    my biggest problem in the past was getting TO sleep. i helped myself considerably by establishing a bed-time 'wind-down' routine: it involved meditation music (think chanting), low lights, scented candles, and yoga/stretching. that really helped. these days it's totally a non-issue. i get so much exercise that when i lay down at the end of the day i'm out after 5 min tops.
  • underwater77
    underwater77 Posts: 331 Member
    Have you tried taking melatonin? It's all natural and is naturally produced in the body. When I can't sleep I take benadryl it helps with my allergies and allows me to knock out.
    Melatonin is a hormone and I would definitely be cautious with it. It is not sold OTC in many countries worldwide - none in the UK I believe. Just use caution - do some research about drug interactions and side effects before you decide to take it. That is my only advice. I used to take sleeping medication like it was my job, but no longer need to. Benadryl was always a sure thing for me though.
  • smiley245
    smiley245 Posts: 420 Member
    benadryl, or the generic equivalent. Inexpensive, non habit forming and its what my doctor suggested.
  • parmoute
    parmoute Posts: 99 Member
    I take melatonin (3-5 mg) then take a hot shower with lavender soap (the Sleep aromatherapy line by Bath & Body Works). By the time I'm out of the shower, the melatonin starts to work and I'm usually relaxed enough to sleep. If my skin is dry, I use Aveeno Stress Relief with lavender, chamomile, and ylang-ylang (because it's a lot cheaper than the BBW stuff!).

    I also turn down the lights before getting in the shower and often shower by nightlight+candlelight; I have a salt lamp in my bedroom that gives off a warm glow. This way I'm not awaken by bright lighting between getting out of the shower and going to bed.

    Also: tea. I like the Celestial Seasonings sleepy time vanilla or the tension tamer with just a bit of milk and stevia.

    These often don't help when I'm experiencing true insomnia, but when I just need to unwind, some combination of the above is almost sure to work. Good luck!
  • NutellaAddict
    NutellaAddict Posts: 1,258 Member
    You know what works for me? I workout out hard as f@#k, get a lot of *kitten* done in the house, play with my kids, and then knock out.
  • sillygoosie
    sillygoosie Posts: 1,109 Member
    Kava Kava..or smoke a little pot
  • hbrittingham
    hbrittingham Posts: 2,518 Member
    benadryl, or the generic equivalent. Inexpensive, non habit forming and its what my doctor suggested.

    Yup! That's what I take. I have no trouble falling asleep, but I do wake up at 2 AM and am wide awake if I don't take my benedryl before I go to bed.
  • Espressocycle
    Espressocycle Posts: 2,245 Member
    All of them are basically benadryl. For me, taking it one night will knock me out, but if I take two nights in a row it's like a gallon of espresso. I slept great with Valerian Root, but it made me a bit mentally ill. Go with melatonin.
  • oX_Vanessa_Xo
    oX_Vanessa_Xo Posts: 478
    Melatonin ;)

    Can't keep my eyes open with in 20 mins of taking one pill and often pass out on the couch.
  • yrollam1013
    yrollam1013 Posts: 41 Member
    Melatonin has worked for me in the past, when I haven''t been on a prescription sleep aid. Good sleep is so important for it regulates my moods and how I feel physically. Good luck finding something to help you sleep.
  • JaneDough_
    JaneDough_ Posts: 301 Member
    tumblr_lubefyMkVM1qgezxco1_500.gif

Categories