Are there any good over the counter sleep medications?

Question

It sucks right now cause I've always been a night owl but not until 3 or 4 am. I am really restless after turning out the lights and when I do fall asleep, I only get a few hours before waking up to take my son to school. Then because of the sleepless nights, I'm wore out during the day(I work from home) and want to lounge and nap all day. If I try to not nap and go to bed at a decent time, like 9 or 10pm, then I end up waking up a few hours later and stay up until really early in the morning again. If there is a sleep medication I can get over the counter that will keep me to sleep so I can go to bed at 9 or 10, then I might actually get some work done and not feel like a lazy SOB. Please help!!!

Answer 1

Like someone already said, Benedryl, or Diphenhydramine which is the actual name of the drug. If you look at OTC sleep aids, they're made of diphenhydramine, but buying it in the form of generic benedryl is much cheaper.

Tylenol PM and Nyquil also knock me out pretty quickly, but I don't really like taking acetaminophen if I can help it. I worry about my liver. Chloritimeton (definately spelled that wrong) also makes you drowsy.

As for herbal remedies, valerian root is an option. You can get it at any drugstore. I've had friends say that it works really well. For me, personally it didn't work that good. The pills had a nasty smell, and when I would take them I would burp up that gross smell, which was completely disgusting.

Answer 2

Don't ever take the sleeping pills route!!

1. They will damage your liver big time and you can get into serious health problems.

2. You will get hooked up on them and you won't be able to have a normal life any more if you don't take your pills everyday.

The sleeping pills industry is damaging our health by capitalizing on our ignorance, and by distracting people from effective and natural ways to deal with this problem. I had been taking prescription sleep medications [Ambien] for over 5 years. It stopped working and I simply took more. Still did not work. Nights were very difficult - medication put me to sleep but I would wake up after 2–3 hours with a strong sympathetic response (fast pulse, pounding heartbeat, wide awake alert). It was a very difficult cycle to break. I was really in bad shape due to lack of sleep.

After years of struggling I was able to cure my insomnia naturally and pretty fast. I followed the Sleep Tracks sleep optimization program, here is their official web -site if you want to take a look: http://www.insomniacure.net

Ohhh..and Good Luck!

Answer 3

1) Stop drinking caffeine
2) try to relax earlier in the evening
3) try drinking warm milk
4) try reading a boring book before bed
5) there is a herbal tea called "sleepy time" that is excellent
6) there is a prescription pill called Zopliclone but you cant buy that over the counter
7) Melatonin tablets are OTC and have helped some people

Answer 4

You can buy Melatonin in any drug store. It's natural & something your body creates anyway, so it's non-addictive. It works great. It makes you naturally get sleepy and snooze wonderful. Might have to have some caffeine to get good & awake the next morning though. Try half a tablet & then see how it does for you. It works great for me!

Answer 5

Doxylamine Succinate ( known as Dozile ) in Australia which is OTC. But i must say nothing beats a good old Benzodiazipine ,Temazepam,nitrazepam, restoril, unfortunately need a prescription for em, beware can be habit forming. They work for me and i love it..

Answer 6

nothing over the counter really works, if you cant sleep at night get up and do your work then sleep after you take your son to school, to heck with what other people think, its none of their business.

Answer 7

Consult your family doctor or a psychitarist.Nothing should be taken over the counter.

Answer 8

Try Tylenol PM

Answer 9

Homeopathic Treatment for Sleeplessness/Insomnia, due to different reason and with different set of symptoms :-


Sleeplessness during menopausal stage Senecio Aur 30X, 4 hourly

Cannot sleep in the early hours of night; utterly wide awake, mind active; sleeplessness due to excitement Coffea Cruda 30X 6, hourly

Cannot sleep after 3 A.M.; sleeplessness due to mental strain or sedentary habits; sleep dreamy and restless Nux Vomica 30X, at bed times for 7 days

Due to fear or panic; insomnia after shock or fright; restlessness and tossing in bed Aconite Nap 30X 4 hourly

Due to tiredness; either physical or mental; bed feels too hard; must keep moving in search of soft portion for relief in bed Arnica Montana 30X or 200X, 1/2 hourly (3 Doses)

Sleeplessness after midnight from anxiety and restlessness; has to get up and walk Belladonna 30X, 4 hourly

Sleepy yet unable to sleep; child tosses, kicks clothes off, twitches; restless sleep with frightful dreams Arsenic Album 30X or 200X, 4 hourly (3 Doses)

Sleeplessness and restlessness; specially in first part of night; gets up and walks on the floor, as soon as the bed time comes patient is wide awake Chamomilla 30X or 200X, 4 hourly

Sleeplessness due to old grief; after dreams of thieves or robbers Natrum Mur 200X or 1M, 10 min (3 Doses)

Sleeplessness due to sudden shock; disappointment Ignatia 200X or 1M, 10 min (3 Doses)

Feels sleepy but cannot sleep; clocks striking at a distance keep him awake; bed feels hot; moves about in vain to find a cool spot in bed Pulsatilla 30X or 200X, 4 hourly

Restlessness during early part of sleep; sound sleep when it is turns to rise; gets too hot in bed; throws off covers, gets chilly and puts them on again; puts arms above the head during sleep Opium 30X or 200X, 4 hourly

All of the above have no side effects and cannot cause any complications of any sort, when taken as advised above, Do not try to mix remedies and do not exceed the potency or the dosage given above.


Take Care and God Bless you.

Answer 10

Excedrin PM & Tylenol PM they both work!