Insomniacs, Can Anyone Suggest a Good Sleep Aid?

[romantico]

I talked to my Mom this morning and she had trouble sleeping last night. As a matter of fact, she has trouble sleeping in general at night. No pain or condition (although she does have type 2 diabetes) she just can't sleep. On the nights she works,she takes sleeping pills which help. She takes other medications so I am nervous about her taking it. Her Doctor knows she takes sleeping pills and has said, take them when needed but DON'T take them on a regular basis.

Last week she tried warm milk and it worked for a couple hours. Her Doctor also told her not to take Melatonin. I sometimes suffer from insomnia but not as bad as my Mom. I have not had luck with sleeping pills and they do nothing for me. I went to the drug store today and noticed the ingredients and they all seem to be the same.

My question is, can anyone suggest a natural sleep aid that is safe? Thanks

[Populist_Prole]

1. 'Simply Sleep'

It's basically Tylenol PM without the Tylenol/acetaphetamine. Dosage is 2 pills, but many take just one. When I worked 3rd shift it helped me sleep in bright daylight in a noisy neighborhood. It's not an overpowering feeling like Ambien or the like, but just pushes you to the sleep side if you're already tired.

Too bad she can't take melatonin, as it's probably the mildest and most natural of sleep aids. It worked OK but gave me too many weird dreams. Not nightmares, and nothing really bad happens in them, but I just woke up feeling I've been through a lot somehow.

[cbayer]

4. Isn't that just Benadryl then?

Probably much cheaper to just buy generic diphenhydramine than a brand name.

[aikoaiko]

25. That's what I do. Two generic benedryls...sometimes with a beer.

ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Manifestor_of_Light]

26. benadryl does not make me sleepy.

[RebelOne]

2. I always have trouble sleeping

and even after falling asleep, I wake up at least twice during the night. I take 2 Sominex and only wake up once during the night. But I still am awake at 4:30 a.m. even though I want to sleep longer. When I had a job (retired now), I would have to wake at 4:30, so my internal body clock alarm still wakes me at 4:30. Sometimes, I am able to sleep until 6 or 7 a.m.

[solara]

3. I take melatonin.. and I am wondering why your Mom was told not to

It is safe and gets me to REM sleep which I miss out on because of insomnia.. could be why dreams seem more intense, because one may be actually remembering them!

There is also Valerian Root..stinky but works well; also, calcium and chamomile tea.

Good luck and sweet dreams!!

[GoCubsGo]

6. They sell Valarian root in capsul form.

All the major "natural" vitamin-suppement producers, such as Sundown Naturals, have it.

[solara]

8. Yes they do..I have only taken Valerian root in capsule form

but I still think it is a bit stinky

[noel711]

20. I love melantonin...

I get to deeper sleep sooner, so I wake up earlier,
with that sense of having a good, long, deep sleep.
And no side effects that other sleep aids often provoke.

Melantonin, and Asics running shoes are this year's life changers for me.

I know.. sounds lame, but when you get to a certain age,
it's the little things that help make life a bit better.

[dimbear]

37. For about half of all people, it doesn't do anything. I take it all the time, works fine.

Seems pretty harmless, no prescription, cheap too. Melatonin, not valerian. Never tried that.

[graywarrior]

5. Citracal-a calcium magnesium drink you can by at a CVS or online

You drink it mixed with hot water before bedtime and it relaxes you so you can sleep.

[GoCubsGo]

7. For you, MidNite...

It's main ingredient is melatonin, so your mom would be going against doctor's orders taking it. But, since you don't say that you have such a restriction, it's likely perfectly safe for you. I have problems waking during the night and having difficulties falling back asleep. MidNite usually helps me go back to sleep. Target has the best prices. You might also be able to download a coupon somewhere.

[mcar]

9. Lunesta

Forget the Otc sleep aids and go for the rx. I've dealt with insomnia for decades and could write a book. If it's chronic, take the drugs.

Stay away from ambien, though. It's dangerous.

[Woody Woodpecker]

12. I'm an insominiac

and I smoke pot and do take Ambien just before I go to sleep.

[ZombieHorde]

10. Whiskey. nt

[Major Nikon]

29. The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems

[romantico]

11. Thanks

Thanks for all the replies. All very helpful!!

[becca da bakkah]

13. Try 5-HTP

It's done wonders for me. It's a naturally occurring amino acid, a precursor of tryptophan. No prescription necessary, you can get it at any health food store. Start with 50-100 mgs at night, about an hour before bedtime. You'll also have wonderfully creative and intense dreams! I'm 64, have been taking it for about a year, and have had no issues or side-effects from it. Hope it works for either/both of you.

[MH1]

14. It might be important to know the root cause.

In my case, if I can't sleep due to anxiety, I take a mild prescription anti-anxiety pill (propranolol), and it works great. I think it's better to address the root cause. Of course propranolol would require a prescription, and that would depend on whether it would interact with anything else she's taking. I've never had the doc or pharmacist tell me that my propranolol interacts with anything.

Also, do something relaxing before trying to go to sleep. For me, it's doing a puzzle. Ymmv. DON'T read political stuff that will get you riled up - that would kind of defeat the purpose.

Other good sleep hygiene items include: keep the room dark; go to bed at the same time and get up the same time every day; allow enough time for a full sleep to feel rested (7 or 8 hours usually, depending on the person); don't ingest any stimulants late in the day; avoid exercising or eating a large meal right before bed. A small snack with protein and tryptophan can be helpful - yogurt is ideal.

If you MUST take a pill, and propranolol doesn't work or you/she can't take it, try valerian but tell the doc and pharmacist about it, and realize that anything you take will be subject to tolerance build-up and potential interactions or side effects that may not yet even be known.

[romantico]

15. Well

Well, she see's her doctor every 2-3 months and brings it up once in a while. He is aware of it but does not seem to be very concerned. It also seems like certain times are worse than others. Over the past week or two it's been bad but then she'll have no problems for a month or so. She never sleeps a full 6-8 hours. Always wakes up during the night but usually gets back to sleep. This happens to me as well.

She always goes to sleep at the same time, even on weekends. I don't think she eats before bedtime either. I don't believe it is stress or anxiety or anything. One thing I have been after her to get is a new mattress. She never complains about it but it is old and I really would like to get her a new one this year. Other than that, no idea.

SO many good suggestions. I am going to try her on a few and see if any work. I think she see's her Doctor sometime in June and she writes down questions to ask him so I am going to add some of these to her list. Thanks again for the replies.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

16. What worked for me

I had terrible insomnia and it was hard for me to go to sleep or to stay asleep once I got there. I tried all the pills, OTC and prescription, and none really gave me a good night's sleep. Warm milk, melatonin, etc. were equally unsuccessful.

Instead, I found (almost by accident) that if I exercised vigorously for 45-60 minutes early in the morning, then got 20-30 minutes of direct sunlight during the day, that I was able to get better sleep.

I also have sleep apnea that requires me to sleep with a CPAP mask (which didn't fix my insomnia or circadian rhythm disorder).

[lastlib]

17. I have an economics textbook that works wonders!

(Sorry!)

[cthulu2016]

18. Stand-up comedy or audio books

Lie down in the dark in your sleeping posture and try to concentrate on every word they say. Really listen.

Don't know why, but it puts me out if I concentrate on the words. (As opposed to letting my mind wander)

[EFerrari]

24. `I listen to BookTV segments -- the ones that are an hour+.

They are interesting but low key and no commercials so it's easy to fall asleep that way.

[treestar]

31. Yes. Television works wonders, especially if you have a sleep button

[NightWatcher]

19. Vigorous love making and a sandwich

and I'm out for 8-10 hours of dead man's sleep.

[benld74]

21. Worst case I EVER had, was in middle of two week business trip

nothing worse than to be stuck in a hotel, no matter how nice, and you just cant sleep. DAMN

[Orrex]

22. I find that soliciting medical advice on an anonymous internet forum sends me right to slumberland!

Good luck to you!

[noamnety]

23. I spent my whole life battling insomnia

often taking 4 or more hours to fall asleep, waking up 2 hours later, unable to get back to sleep. Awful.

I solved it this year. I did a full on assault:

Vitamin D in the mornings.
A philips Go-Lite blasted at my face 15 minutes or more every morning to get the blue light spectrum thing.
Magnesium supplement with dinner.
Switched to black out curtains in the bedroom.
No more alcohol at night (responsible for waking up halfway through the night)
Orange goggles after 7pm or so to block blue lights. (I'm wearing them now.)
One of the keep-yer-nostrils-open snore-aid things. (I use a rubber one that goes in your nose instead of the disposable strips outside.)
For a while I was running zonkopia (zonklite) on my laptop or smartphone to help me fall asleep, I don't need to resort to it as often now.
And I take melatonin now before bed.

Some people also do well with a protein snack like almond butter or natural peanut butter before bed.

[noamnety]

35. Forgot to add cold showers

A cold shower before bed will help knock you out as well.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

27. kava kava

It's herbal. don't know if it has side effects.

I made some sleepytime tea a few weeks ago. Drank it before bedtime.
Woke up the next morning with a headache & HBP, so I think I am allergic to chamomile. I'm allergic to lots of pollen, mold, dog hair, cat hair, etc.

[Poll_Blind]

28. My current favorite is listening to...

...old Art Bell radio shows. For the most part, they're incredibly boring and whenever I need to get to sleep I just pop them on.

The show is available to listen to on the radio, going from about 10-11pm until 3...but the best are from this website: Fine Art Stream. Just go there and it'll play forever automatically.

This shit will put most people out like a light. In fact, of the 9 million people who used to listen to his show, probably at least a quarter of them (like me) used him to fall asleep.

It's old fashioned conspiracy talk radio, but nothing really bad. It's harmless PT Barnum stuff. Hollow earth, pyramids on Mars, etc.

May sound odd but if you're having trouble sleeping, give it a shot over a couple of days. A girl I dated used to use it to fall asleep and I picked up the habit from her.

Works like a charm.

PB

[StitchesforSnitches]

30. Try MJ

worked for my Grandma!

She just wished I would have hooked her up a number of years earlier.

[mucifer]

32. The elderly shouldn't do benadryl for sleep. Here is a study

from that concludes that:
BTW bendadryl is the same as diphenhidramine:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16895264

so best not to use tylenol pm

camomile tea can be helpful

[alphafemale]

33. Repetitive mind exercises

It helps to calm the brain.

Things like famous people fictional or real with the same initial first and last name.
ie Alan Alda, Betty Boop, Charlie Chaplin, Doris Day etc But then keep repeating each one. So it would be Alan Alda. Alan Alda. Betty Boop. Alan Alda, Betty Boop, Charlie Chaplin.

Or I went to the store and I bought....list things in alphabetical sequence.

If she is mathematical at all? Prime numbers is another good one.

Any tricks to play on the brain to get it to stop over analyzing random stuff.

[crunch60]

38. Absolutely agree, many people just can't stop the brain from random thoughts

No Tee Vee in my bedroom, don't need sensory overload when I'm trying to fall asleep. I light a candle, and erase any thought that pop's up and only let myself concentrate on deep slow breathing. If you have any physiological issues, then you might need an alternative sleep aid.

(A good roll in the hay also helps)

[Honeycombe8]

34. Exercise a LOT during the day. It's important to get the body tired.

Never heard of a farmer with insomnia. They're too busy and too physically tired, no matter what their worries. But you have to exercise enough, or be active enuf, to get the body physically tired.

Second, warm milk with sweetener and a dash of pure vanilla extract (pure vanilla extract has a pinch of alcohol). It tastes yummy and is healthy and low caloric.

If she's overweight, she might have sleep apnea. There are machines for that. I know a lot of people who are overweight with diabetes who have to use those machines to sleep because of apnea. Ins. will pay for all or most of the cost, if dr. prescribes it.

Yoga. No matter the age of physical condition, there is some sort of yoga that everyone can do. It is very relaxing, and most importantly, also relaxes the brain, not just the body.

[TrogL]

36. Stop listening to the people who insist you need eight hours or even six

I've always slept four hours. Anything more and I'm groggy the entire day. My kids are all the same way.