i cant sleep at night..should I go on pills?

[Ilovehim]

I can never sleep before 3 am. EVER. IT has been going on for 6 years now. As a result, I can never wake up early, causing me to miss classes etc. Also, I don't know why but my personality also changes at night, like my thoughts seem to be negative and worrisome. Because of lack of sleep, I feel exhausted and frustrated in the morning. How can I beat this? Would medication be appropriate? I have decided to go see a doctor but I was wondering what everyone else thought of this. Thanks!

[skydiveaddict]

good idea to see the doc, That kind of sleep deprivation can't be healthy in the long run. Plus it's messing up your schedule. I know what chronic insomnia feels like. I've been taking sleep meds and it really helps.

Edited September 25, 2010 by skydiveaddict

[LisaLee]

I also struggle with bouts of being unable to sleep. I was doing fine over the summer, but since school started I can't sleep... which is odd since I'm so active during the day. I feel so fatigued and tired, but as soon as I lay down I'm wide awake and my brain is racing... usually with the things I have to do the next day.

 

Melatonin helps me pretty well, plus you can get it OTC. But since I ran out last week I've been hitting the Midol PMs pretty hard. >_< I use to drink a couple shots of whiskey to help me drift off, but then I decided that was probably not a good habit to get into.

 

I'm a little scared of trying the prescription sleep aids like Ambien because I have heard so many negative things about it. My doctor use to prescribe me some anti-depressant for sleep (forgot what it was called) but it made me feel like crap in the morning so I stopped taking it.

 

I'd suggest trying the melatonin first, and if that doesn't work move up to the big guns.

[Ilovehim]

I also struggle with bouts of being unable to sleep. I was doing fine over the summer, but since school started I can't sleep... which is odd since I'm so active during the day. I feel so fatigued and tired, but as soon as I lay down I'm wide awake and my brain is racing... usually with the things I have to do the next day.

 

Melatonin helps me pretty well, plus you can get it OTC. But since I ran out last week I've been hitting the Midol PMs pretty hard. >_< I use to drink a couple shots of whiskey to help me drift off, but then I decided that was probably not a good habit to get into.

 

I'm a little scared of trying the prescription sleep aids like Ambien because I have heard so many negative things about it. My doctor use to prescribe me some anti-depressant for sleep (forgot what it was called) but it made me feel like crap in the morning so I stopped taking it.

 

I'd suggest trying the melatonin first, and if that doesn't work move up to the big guns.

 

 

Unfortunately, melatonin doesn't do it for me. I definetely feel scared to try sleep meds, but nothing else seems to work.

[skydiveaddict]

Unfortunately, melatonin doesn't do it for me. I definetely feel scared to try sleep meds, but nothing else seems to work.

I would not be afraid of prescription sleep meds. I've been taking them for months with no side effects at all. When I'm on active duty, we get 'em all the time, no problems. Of course the decision is up to you.

Best thing to do IMHO is to talk to your doc

[LisaLee]

I would not be afraid of prescription sleep meds. I've been taking them for months with no side effects at all. When I'm on active duty, we get 'em all the time, no problems. Of course the decision is up to you.

Best thing to do IMHO is to talk to your doc

 

What do you take?

[skydiveaddict]

ambien...............

[carhill]

Melatonin generally does/did the trick for me when the brain wouldn't shut down or I needed to adjust to a massive time zone change when on far-flung travels. In extreme cases I used/use the anti-psychotic Seroquel (quetiapine) which I used on my mom during her illness. 50mg will plow me for 10 hours with just a little residual grogginess. You gotta know how messed up she was when that same dose wouldn't even phase her; merely slowed her down a bit. She would go days without really sleeping.

 

Also, although it might not work for everyone, I find a cup of real hot chocolate (milk and chocolate powder, warmed) acts like a sleeping pill for me. Tastes good too

[habib89]

my wife takes a couple of benedryl before going to bed. takes about 30-60 mins to kick in, but then she gets sleepy after that and can sleep pretty well. it also doesn't leave her with a groggy feeling in the morning like some other sleep aids do

[Els]

The main problem with taking medications for sleep is that you will always, always develop tolerance to them. So none of them can be taken long-term. Besides, the doc will most likely just give you a drowsy antihistamine such as benadryl. However, that short-term help is precisely what some people need to readjust their schedules.

 

If you can afford it, I would actually recommend a sleep specialist - he will help you analyze your sleep patterns and decide what you need to overcome your problems in the long-term.

[SpanksTheMonkey]

ambien...............

 

Ambien is highly addictive most docs I knew were always apprehensive to give it out proper sleep is all about getting your body's internal clock set right. I know cause ive suffered sleep probs my entire life as well. Up all night tired during the day its just a nasty cycle. If your going to go on prescription sleep aids just make sure not to be on them for to long. Just use them as a tool to reset your clock then once your back in good habits try to stick with it..best of luck

[Leigh 87]

I have had insomnia for about 4 years. At night, I was not able to shut down my mind, and my racing thoughts which I had in general overloaded at night.

 

I went to the doctor and asked fro the strongest stuff she could give me. She did not take me seriously, and gave my minder strength sleeping pills.

 

If you ask your doctor for pills that will put you to sleep, they will likely have something that WILL work for you. They have worked for me.

 

However, the bad news is that such pills are only intended for intermittent use. That;s right - anything that is good enough to put us to sleep, is normally too powerful to be used on a regualar basis. They either build up and become less effective, or they make you groggy the next day.

 

Having a midnight snack helps me. Because my insomnia stemmed back from my anorexia years ago. Having a little cheese or dairy before bed helps me sleep.

 

I go to sleep at about 1 - 2, wake at 4 - 6, go back to sleep, and awake at about 8.30.

 

I get anwhere between 5 and 7 hours. On the 4 or 5 hour nights I have to have a one hour nap in the afternoon.

 

Do you have underlying causes, such as anxiety, that you should adress with a psychologist? That is what I am doing right now.My anxiety is lesser so I can actually sleep some now.

 

Also, I think I am just one of those people who do not need as much sleep. Sleeping a full 8 hours for me just does not seam like something my body would do naturally.

 

I sleep without meds now, since I have lessed my anxiety. But insomnia will always come back occasionally, so I have my meds there for those bad nights.

[Cee]

There are alternatives to Ambien for sleep. Such as Trazadone which is antidepressant, which has sleepiness as a side effect. Or antihistamines like Benedryl. I'm sure there are others. It seems like every day, there's a new drug on the market for something.

 

I think it's smart to see your doctor to get an evaluation. Sleep deprivation can harm the health in a lot of ways. Might as well get a consult and weigh your medication options.

[LisaLee]

There are alternatives to Ambien for sleep. Such as Trazadone which is antidepressant, which has sleepiness as a side effect. Or antihistamines like Benedryl. I'm sure there are others. It seems like every day, there's a new drug on the market for something.

 

I think it's smart to see your doctor to get an evaluation. Sleep deprivation can harm the health in a lot of ways. Might as well get a consult and weigh your medication options.

 

Trazadone, that is what I use to take that made me feel like crap in the morning. A client of mine takes Ambien and when she wakes up she is pretty loopy for the good part of the day. Another thing I use to take is Dramamine. That probably worked the best for me as it was quick acting and I would fall into a heavy sleep. The only problem was actually waking up. Even when I would go to sleep at a reasonable time I had difficulties waking up in the morning.

[Ilovehim]

thanks guys! i have an appointment with the doctor this week. Hopefully it'll stop. About anxiety, I'm currently happy, if i worry about anything is losing the happiness i have or other similar stuff. I do have free psychological services at my school, so might as well take advantage of them.

[IfWishesWereHorses]

We all use a drink called Sippin' Syrup. Its sold with the energy drinks in a convenience store as well as a drug store in our area. I can't stand even mild sleeping pills because of the hangover I have in the morning. This is great, it completely knocks us out and we wake up feeling alert and ready to move in the mornings. Even my 13 year old takes it. One bottle is two serving so we go through 1 1/2 per night.

 

I buy enough for a week at a time but end up giving a few away each week to friends who complain about problems sleeping. One lady was on ambien and her doctor didn't want to refill it any longer. She absolutely could not sleep without it. So far S&S has worked well for her.

 

I've heard its gotten a bad rap for its name which is apparently a street name for mixing codine with alcohol or something, but this is nothing like that.

[Feelin Frisky]

I watch this thread with hope of hearing something I haven't tried. I have chronic insomnia and have used the gammut of remedies. The only thing that works dependably is Xanax or Klonopin but those create chemical dependencies and actually make insomnia worse when one doesn't take them. I don't take them any more. Ambien has proven dangerous to me--I sleepwalk and have no memory of what I do. I actually wound up taking the rest of my prescription without knowing it. I took one and woke up the next day to find the other 11 gone--no doubt down the gullet. There is speculation that Heath Ledger may have had the same disconnect and taken the rest of his drugs on unconscious auto-pilot. I wouldn't discount this.

 

Getting lots of exercise during the day helps tire a person out. One thing that helps sleeps be deep and healing is a supplement I take called ZMA. I find I sleep heavier and reach the delta-wave dream states that come with the most refershing sleep when I take three ZMA capsules before bed (as is the dosage prescribed on the bottle).

[CrazyJayC]

Honestly man I have had the same problem my entire life. When I'm ready to go to bed I'll sit there in bed for like 2 - 3 hours trying to get to sleep but just can't... The ONLY thing that has helped me go to sleep is marijuana. No seriously this reply is no joke, it has changed my life when it comes to sleeping. Not to mention it helps with eating problems as well. Anyways if you want to stay legal then buy legal but at any smoke shop. If you don't want to resort towards smoking anything then there's a drink called "drank" and its in a can that's purple and you can buy it at any convenient store. I promise you those 2 are really really helpful but also tylenol pm works like a charm if you think you might already have some.

[Ruby Slippers]

Earplugs and/or white noise and total darkness can work wonders. Most people are surrounded by too much noise and light while trying to sleep, and these can disturb sleep more than we realize. Studies have shown that even with just the light from an alarm clock, people do not produce enough melatonin during sleep to promote deep enough rest. When I sleep in pitch blackness, I sleep like the dead and wake up feeling like a new person.