What do you think is the best sleep medication? Have any of you had any success with any non-drug methods?

Answer 1

Sleep medication is to be the last resort. Try these tips before you start any medication:

Anxiety: the worst enemy of sleep
Lack of sleep is often due to a reduced ability to relax. Think about what is going on in your life: do you have some underlying worries? Sometimes the things we worry about are not obvious at first. But they can churn away in the back of our minds and disrupt our ability to relax deeply enough to find a deep sleep.

Learning to cope with stress and reduce anxiety usually gives the best results for chronic sleep problems. See your GP for advice.

Sleeping tablets
Only take sleeping pills when prescribed by your doctor and for short periods of time (five to six days). If you take sleeping tablets for longer than this the 'rebound effect' can cause your sleep to be worse than it was before you were taking the tablets. It's much better to work out other sleep strategies with your GP.

Tips for a good sleep
The bedroom is only for sleep. Get rid of the TV, the radio and even books which activate your mind too much.
If you can't sleep - get up. Read or do something else and go back when you feel sleepy.
Take a bath before bed. A 20-minute warm (not hot) bath will relax the body and set your body temperature at the right point for deep sleep.
Don't have a fixed bed-time. Insomniacs are likely to suffer anxiety as the time approaches. Go to bed when you're sleepy.
Early morning waking may be a sign of depression - if you are unsure always ask your GP.
No one dies of sleep deprivation, and you won't go mad: but it will interfere with your ability to function at 100%.
FOODS TO AVOID
Caffeine:
Avoid coffee, tea and chocolate from 4pm. Caffeine can reduce your ability to drift off to sleep and the quality of your sleep.

Alcohol:
Alcohol initially has a relaxing effect on the body, and many people will argue that "a few glasses of wine put me into a deep sleep!". However, once the effect of alcohol has stopped your blood sugar levels drop and your body suffers from withdrawal and wakes up.

Sugary Foods:
Foods with high sugar content or high GI (glycaemic index) will have a stimulant effect on the body similar to caffeine. Avoid soft drink, cake, biscuits, ice-cream and even sugary fruits and juices at night.

FOODS TO AID SLEEP
Milk:
Yes it's true, warm milk can help induce sleep. A naturally occurring substance called tryptophan occurs in milk which helps promote sleepiness.

Herbal teas:
Camomile and valerian tea help some people to sleep. However, please see your GP before taking any herbal remedies.

Complex carbohydrates:
Complex carbohydrates such as oats and wholegrain cereals (without added sugar) have a calming effect on the body and can help promote sleep.

Answer 2

Ambien is great...but don't think you're gonna take it and then not sleep a full 8 hours. Also try sandman or chamomile tea.

Things to avoid before 4-6 hours before sleeping:
caffeine, alchohol, nicotine (cigarettes), and naps.

Especially the first 3. Those are all stimulants. Nicotine is one of the most powerful over the counter stimulants anyone can buy.

Answer 3

I've taken Ambien, Ambien CR, Lunesta and all of the over the counter stuff. Ambien and Ambien CR was good for awhile, but then your body gets used to it and you have to take more and more, but that's common with any type of sleeping med.
I still have not found any way other than popping pills and occassionally just getting in the bed at 6am and waiting for sleep. Eventually your body will go to sleep even if you miss a night.

Answer 4

I know the best sleep aid that is non addictive don''t tell Cos then everybody will be doing it. It is called and text book. History, econ, a computer book or just any long manual. I would write more however I'm feeling a nap coming on.

Answer 5

First of all you have to know the reason why ya cant sleep...anxiety? depression? is it medical or psychological?

nwy, try forcing urself not to sleep at day am sure that will force ya to sleep at night even a lil bit sleep! ...SLEEP is not the many hours u spent sleeping but is the quality time u enjoyed ur sleep even 30 mins.

Answer 6

Check out (http://www.reducingstress.net ) there are a lot of great articles and information on how stress levels can affect sleep and how to fix the problem.

Good luck.

Answer 7

Some of the non-caffinated teas are good, help you sleep (although some, esp chamomile, taste awful)

Answer 8

I've done Ambien and Lunesta. Both work pretty good, but if I'm seriously anxious, neither help.