What's the best over the counter medicine/aid to take for sleeping?

Question

I really have trouble sleeping, mostly because I always have the tendency to stay up late (regardless of how early I wake up...I think it's a psychological issue with time) and it's very hard for me to wake up early.

So, there are of course times when I need to wake up early, like 7 or 8, when I've been used to going to sleep at 3 or 4 and waking up at 12 or 1. When these times come, I always end up trying to sleep early but can't fall asleep for hours, and I wake up with 3-4 hours sleep and feel horrible the rest of the day. I then struggle to fall asleep early that night too.

I'm looking for a good OTC medicine or sleep aid for this problem. I want something POWERFUL, I'm not afraid of it being addictive because I'll be using it once a week at most. I have this herbal stuff, Valerian Extract, it makes me feel sleepy after about 20 minutes, but it doesn't last long and goes away in about 10 minutes, so if I don't fall asleep in that little time window, I'm screwed.

To repeat, I'm looking for the most powerful medicine/sleep aid to make me fall asleep. I've used Nyquil but I don't like it because of the alcohol and drowsiness in the morning, it works well otherwise. And I've used Unisom too, it works pretty well.

I've heard that the new Alka-Seltzer Liquid Cold PM really knocks you out. And if you know of anything better, please let me know!

Yes, I've also used Melatonin, forgot to mention it. I stopped using it when a friend of mine told me that his psychologist informed him that melatonin causes dysphoria - it blocks the production of serotonin, the compound that basically creates the sense of hapiness and well being in the brain.

Maybe taking it once a week isn't bad, but that just scared me away from it.

Answer 1

I like Tylenol PM and Advil PM - it's not necessarily POWERFUL but it will help you get tired and get to sleep. I find that I need to take it about an hour before I need to be sleeping, and I can't get involved in something fun (like a good computer game) because it ruins the assistance of the meds.

The sleepiness, however, lasts about 4 hours - not 10 minutes. It won't put you to sleep at 8pm when you slept until 1pm, though - it needs some natural sleepiness to work properly. I'd guess that you'd do fine if you've been awake for 12 hours before you try sleeping again.... so if you slept til noon, you can take it at 11 and be asleep by midnight.

Answer 2

Try a low dose of Benadryl (it's for allergies - but it's actually the same ingredient that they use in Tylenol pm to make you sleepy. But why get the pain reliever stuff if it's just sleep you need.) If you're feeling hung over you might be taking too much.

Answer 3

I've actually had a doctor tell me to take a Benedryl to help me sleep. It's the active ingredient in Tylenol PM. It tends to make people sleep, although I feel that "Benedryl" hangover the next morning. Other things you could try are Melatonin (check at GNC), warm milk - yes, it really helps, avoid caffeine, no TV or exercise before bedtime, and make sure your bedroom is slightly on the cool side. I feel empathetic to your problem. I'm an insomniac which explains why I'm on YA so late!

Answer 4

I used to take some OTC sleep aid pills and Tylenol PM but they all made me hallucinate like crazy. They also gave me terrible headaches... Now my friend recommended me Melatonin and it seems to work much better than Ty PM! Google melatonin if you want to try...It's on the vitamin section.

Answer 5

Try taking 2 Valerian Root with 2 Melatonin -5mg. This works for my husband and me too.

Answer 6

clean your house..when you tired you will feel sleepy..now you will get two benefit..