Best over-the-counter sleep aids - Sleep Disorders Message Board

Chezz · 05-05-2003, 11:23 AM

I've tried anywhere from 1mg to 3mg of melatonin at night and that doesn't seem to do anything for my sleep problem. I usually get in about 6 hours and would like to increase it to 7 or 8. I seem to fall asleep at night okay, but wake up in the middle of the night and then have trouble going back to sleep. I bought Sominex last night and produced the same results as melatonin.

Anybody have any good over-the-counter recommendations? I'd like to try something before I consult a doctor.

pammieb1971 · 05-05-2003, 02:28 PM

Hi there
I suffer the same problem as you do. I take 3 mg of Melatonin as well as 2 anti-depressents that would make the normal person pass out. Did your problem just " come out of the blue "??? Mine did.. I was sleeping great getting alot of sleep and sleeping straight through the night. I now get up at least once and sometimes can go right back to sleep others times I am up all night. If you find something that works please let me know
Thanks

Chezz · 05-06-2003, 09:13 AM

I hardly ever sleep straight through without waking up at some point. And sometimes I can wake up after only 1 or 2 hours and stay awake for 2 hours. The norm is sleep for 4 hours, stay awake for 2, the sleep for 2 until I finally wake up. After about 2 weeks of going through this is when, after pure exhaustion, I might finally get a good nights sleep. Unfortunately, that happens too few and far between. It also doesn't help the apartment where I live, my neighbor gets up every morning at 4:00AM to got to work and was waking up from him walking around until I finally bought ear plugs, which help. On the weekends, I take a nap in the mid-afternoon and that seems to prevent me from sleeping the upcoming night. I'm just interested in sleeping through the entire night without waking up. I've tried chamomile tea, warm milk, eating dry bran cereal, melatonin, Tylenol PM, Sominex and who knows what's next on the agenda. I exercise 4 days a week and those nights I usually sleep better. I'd like to exercise 6 or maybe even 7 days so I'll be more tired come bedtime, but don't seem to have the energy from lack of sleep. Is definitely a catch-22 situation that probably only a doctor can help with.

DanaJ · 05-12-2003, 06:39 PM

Well I've found one product to work wonders. It's a generic sleeping pill put out by Rite Aide, if you have any near you. They're blue, adn the directions say to take 2 tablets somewhere around an hr before bed. I use one nad it works wonders. Nothing can keep me up after that. This works when nothing else does, for me anyway.

Chezz · 05-13-2003, 06:35 AM

Dana:

There are plenty of Rite Aids where I live. I bought Tylenol PM again because that seems to work best but once I run out, I'll try what you suggested.