Newbie

Posts: 2
From:
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 02-05-2002 11:41 AM            

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I have a lot of trouble sleeping at night. Once i'm asleep i'm fine and won't wake up until the morning but my problem is getting myself to sleep. I suppose I have minor problems with stress and anxiety, I lie in bed for sometimes hours at a time worrying about EVERY little thing possible, it's gotten so I don't even WANT to go to bed anymore. Are there any non prescription medications that I could try to help get me to sleep? I've tried the relaxing music or background noice or complete silence or complete dark or simply waiting until i'm completely exhausted to crawl into bed, non of these have gotten good results with me. This is really starting to affect me in negative ways, does anyone have any ideas?? thanks!

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Senior Member

Posts: 95
From:NJ
Registered: Dec 2001

posted 02-07-2002 11:38 AM            

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Tylenol makes a sleep aid called "Sleepy Nights" or something of that nature. It is an over the counter sleep aid that is non habit forming. They work pretty well.

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Member

Posts: 48
From:
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 02-09-2002 05:01 AM            

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I know EXACTLY how you feel of not wanting to go to sleep. I lay there "thinking" and "thinking" and then I try so hard to go to sleep that it really screws me up! Then, a song comes in my head so I start to think again and , believe it or not, here comes another song a this just keeps going on and on! I go without sleep and then when I drive, I feel so not right about it. Like I'm not there or something. I've tried Ambien. Didn't PHASE me a bit. Over the counter sleep meds that I've tried, I've tripled the amount to be taken so THAT can't be good and they STILL didn't work. I agree with you too that it's just the worrying and in my case "thinking." And I just LOVE to sleep! Go figure. I can sleep all day if and when I finally do get to sleep. The longest I went was about a month ago. I got up at 12:00 PM (yes, that's afternoon) and didn't sleep that night or the next night. Fell asleep the next day (finally) at 4:00 PM for 1 hour. Woke up and because I was afraid of NOT falling back to sleep, I was awake until 4:00 AM and up at 9:00 AM. So, if I'm doing the math correctly, I logged 6 hours of sleep in about 72 hours. And here I go again as it's 4:00 AM. Sorry. I didn't help you AT all but I just want you to know you're not alone and if you want to post late at night, I'll check for you.

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Member

Posts: 32
From:Waltham, MA , United States
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 02-13-2002 03:56 PM            

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Try unisom... works better than tylenol pm for me and it's supposedly non-habit forming.

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posted 02-17-2002 05:24 PM              

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Melatonin production rises as darkness falls at the end of each day.
Some poeple don't produce enogh.
My personal opinion would be to get some at your local GNC store or any pharmacy..

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Senior Member

Posts: 133
From:hot springs ar
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 02-27-2002 08:38 PM            

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Try sublingual (under the tongue)Melatonin Peppermint.
Another one that works is 2 Benedryl capsules. Well, these 2 work if you don't get hooked on pres. sleep
aides like I am. (sigh)
Binkie

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Senior Member

Posts: 107
From:
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 03-06-2002 10:34 PM            

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I have been put on sleeping medications by doctors but I don't like the feeling of not what is going on around me. So, I have been taking Equate Nightime Sleep Capsules. Ever since my medication has ran out and the box says it is not addictive so you might want to try this and see if it works.

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Senior Veteran

Posts: 631
From:
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 03-07-2002 03:34 PM            

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hi there! simply sleep by tylenol works for me. it says to take 2 pills half an hour before you want to go to bed and to make sure that you have at least 8 hours to sleep. i only take 1 pill and it's great. you don't wake up with "medicine head". kim.

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Senior Member

Posts: 201
From:Canada
Registered: Mar 2001

posted 03-12-2002 04:01 PM            

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Could you tell me what the active ingredient is in those OTC meds? I am just wondering if it is dimenhydrinate. Usually you can buy generic dimenhydrinate, which is a whole lot cheaper than the name brand sleep aids.

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Senior Veteran

Posts: 631
From:
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 03-13-2002 03:11 AM            

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the active ingredient is diphenhydramine hci 25 mg. you can go to walmart and buy a box of equate night time sleep aid (mini-caplets, 24 pk) for $1.97 and it's the same ingredient as simply sleep, unisom, etc. kim

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Member

Posts: 62
From:mcpherson, ks,usa
Registered: Dec 2001

posted 03-13-2002 08:23 PM            

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you say your problem is getting to sleep initially and you suffer from stress and anxiety, treat the real problems (stress and anxiety) them maybe sleep will follow. ie: meditation, relaxation tapes, massage, or plain old anti-anxiety medication.

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Senior Member

Posts: 201
From:Canada
Registered: Mar 2001

posted 03-16-2002 05:58 AM            

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fly --- Mind if I ask what dosage you took that actually helped?

I sometimes take 50 mg. of the diphen... and am not finding it helpful. It is now 3:00 a.m. and here I sit. I layed in bed for a couple hours to no avail. Sure gets frustrating after awhile.

Thanks.

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Senior Veteran

Posts: 631
From:
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 03-17-2002 12:26 AM            

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hi there! on most nights, i just take 25 mg but on some nights i take 50 mg, a couple times i even did 75 mg because i just could not sleep! it gets to be a pain in the butt. kim.

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Member

Posts: 59
From:Clubb, Mo., U.S.A.
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 03-21-2002 05:56 AM            

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Hi, I used to take a generic Benedryl to get to sleep. Just ONE. If I took 2 it would make me wide awake. You might consider this. It has the same ingredient as the OTC (non prx.) sleep aids.
Aso a little warning about sleep deprivation. I have recently discovered I have Fibromyalgia. It is brought on by long term sleep disorder. The theory is that you must be in a 4th stage of sleep in order for your muscles and connective tissues to regenerate or rebuild. When you don't get enough sleep, or if you keep waking up (as I do) you cannot get into that deep sleep mode. I have had many years of being wide awake at night. I have tried alot of things to try to turn myself around no no avail. I have found that if I eat late in the evening it wakes me up and gets me going again. Also be very careful about taking in too much caffiene. I can't do the caffiene, especially after noon. Am not doing any of it now. Except
for chocolate! I used to say "I stay away from Caffiene" but forgot about chocolate, even choc. cake or hot cocoa will be enough to keep my mind active at night.
There is something to the Melatonin thing. I am going to find out more about it.
If you look up "Fibromyalgia" on search it will give you a good idea of what could happen to you girls if you don't start getting some sleep someway!
I hope I have been of some help to you. I know what it is to be wide awake all night and sleepy all day!
Lyndal

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