Sleep Medication

hockeyboy · 06-11-2009, 09:26 AM

I've had on again/off again problems getting to sleep. Lately I have not been able to get to sleep a lot. I find my mind races while I lay in bed and it just keeps me up. If I get agitated I can't sleep, it just makes it worse. I also get in late a lot of nights and it takes me a while to relax/wind down.

On top of that, I've always been a light sleeper. I wake up pretty easily. My roommates both wake up earlier then me and while they are not loud, they still wake me up. I've tried combating that with sleeping with a fan or a/c on, which does help.

I've taken over the counter sleeping pills...but don't take them a lot, mostly because I don't want to become dependent on them. I've been thinking of going to the dr and getting a prescription.

So, I'm curious what people use and what they think of them. Do they knock you out? Do you find you aren't awoken as easy (deeper sleep)? Does it make you feel groggy in the morning? Are they addicting?

Thanks
-HB

metrogirl · 06-11-2009, 09:40 AM

I take Ambien and have taken it for years as I have chronic imsomnia and can actually go several days without sleep if I don't take one. There are actually a couple threads here about the wierd things Ambien makes people do.

I think medication should be the very last resort.

Catdancer · 06-11-2009, 09:43 AM

When I was pregnant I had ALOT of problems sleeping. I had restless leg syndrome and restless mind syndrome! lol My body just would not shut down so I could sleep. And I'd be so tired and exhausted I just wanted to cry.

I used Tylenol PM. All it is is tylenol and benedryl. Nothing addictive. Or if you just want to try taking a benedryl. It knocks me out. So, it worked pretty well for me.

hersmudders · 06-11-2009, 09:46 AM

I have the exact same problem as you. Light sleeper, mind racing, etc. I've been that way for as long as I can remember, even as a child I had sleeping problems.

I usually just fight it b/c my schedule doesn't require me to get up too early most days. But when I need to sleep, I take either tylenol pm (which my body becomes immune to quickly so I'm up to 2.5 pills when I take it) or I take ambien (my sister gave me her rx when she got pregnant).

I love ambien. It knocks me out and helps me sleep well. I still don't sleep too deeply (in fact last night I took it and woke up at 4 am by the dogs moving) but I'm able to fall asleep easiily, which counts more for me. The only thing with ambien is if you fight it, it'll give you like an acid trip of sorts--seeing double, body feels liquidy, etc. It's actually fun for me and I fight it sometimes but I can only fight it about 20 minutes before it knocks me out.

Anyway I sleep well on it and it helps me sleep fast.

Do you take naps during the day? It's very easy for me to close my eyes for a nap and sleep about 30 minutes and feel much more refreshed.

hockeyboy · 06-11-2009, 09:52 AM

I've taken tylenol pm and it usually works okay...but didn't like the idea of taking it multiple nights in a row as i thought i might become addicted.

I don't take naps. I'm usually pretty busy from when I get up until I go to bed.

I find that I often feel tired in the morning but by the afternoon I have energy. Almost seems backwards at times...as the day goes on I gain energy.

Catdancer · 06-11-2009, 09:57 AM

Again, Tylenol PM is only tylenol and benedryl. So, it's not addictive. The only problem would be the tylenol damaging your liver if you took alot of it. So, I'd try just plain benedryl and see if that will help you sleep.

sarey · 06-11-2009, 10:06 AM

I have trouble falling asleep/staying asleep, it's quite bad, I've been up for 25 hours now, and I tried to sleep about 3 hours ago, but woke up an hour after. I'm so shattered but find myself unable to settle. Had this problem for years, but past few months it's been really bad and really affecting. Plus I am ill so it does not help that.

I think you should go to your doctor about it, they may be able to run some tests to see if it's something medical, if not, and it's just difficulty sleeping, might refer you to someone who can help and prescribe you a sedative or anti anxiety med(it sounds like you have a lot of anxiety at nighttime since the whole racing thoughts) might help too.

hockeyboy · 06-11-2009, 10:14 AM

I think my problem is pretty mild...and really just caused by my personality (always on the go).

hersmudders · 06-11-2009, 10:25 AM

I feel a lot less groggy in the mornings where I took ambien the night before.

hockeyboy · 06-11-2009, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hersmudders

I feel a lot less groggy in the mornings where I took ambien the night before.

how long does it knock you out for? i assume if i plan on sleeping 8 hours, i'd be fine..but what if i know i'll only get 6 or 7?

06-11-2009, 09:26 AM	#1
hockeyboy Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New England Gender: Male Age: 28 Posts: 2,963	Sleep Medication I've had on again/off again problems getting to sleep. Lately I have not been able to get to sleep a lot. I find my mind races while I lay in bed and it just keeps me up. If I get agitated I can't sleep, it just makes it worse. I also get in late a lot of nights and it takes me a while to relax/wind down. On top of that, I've always been a light sleeper. I wake up pretty easily. My roommates both wake up earlier then me and while they are not loud, they still wake me up. I've tried combating that with sleeping with a fan or a/c on, which does help. I've taken over the counter sleeping pills...but don't take them a lot, mostly because I don't want to become dependent on them. I've been thinking of going to the dr and getting a prescription. So, I'm curious what people use and what they think of them. Do they knock you out? Do you find you aren't awoken as easy (deeper sleep)? Does it make you feel groggy in the morning? Are they addicting? Thanks -HB __________________ "Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers"

06-11-2009, 09:40 AM	#2
metrogirl Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: SGV Gender: Female Age: 39 Posts: 4,686	I take Ambien and have taken it for years as I have chronic imsomnia and can actually go several days without sleep if I don't take one. There are actually a couple threads here about the wierd things Ambien makes people do. I think medication should be the very last resort. __________________ Whether one believes in a religion or not, there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness and compassion. Dalai Lama Any hope I had for my Seahawks flew out the window when I heard Lofa Tatupu will be out for the rest of the season. (sighs) They call me Ghettro.......Well Scorpion Fury does anyway. LOL

06-11-2009, 09:46 AM	#4
hersmudders Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: 6151 Richmond St, Miami, Florida Gender: Female Age: 27 Posts: 8,311	I have the exact same problem as you. Light sleeper, mind racing, etc. I've been that way for as long as I can remember, even as a child I had sleeping problems. I usually just fight it b/c my schedule doesn't require me to get up too early most days. But when I need to sleep, I take either tylenol pm (which my body becomes immune to quickly so I'm up to 2.5 pills when I take it) or I take ambien (my sister gave me her rx when she got pregnant). I love ambien. It knocks me out and helps me sleep well. I still don't sleep too deeply (in fact last night I took it and woke up at 4 am by the dogs moving) but I'm able to fall asleep easiily, which counts more for me. The only thing with ambien is if you fight it, it'll give you like an acid trip of sorts--seeing double, body feels liquidy, etc. It's actually fun for me and I fight it sometimes but I can only fight it about 20 minutes before it knocks me out. Anyway I sleep well on it and it helps me sleep fast. Do you take naps during the day? It's very easy for me to close my eyes for a nap and sleep about 30 minutes and feel much more refreshed. __________________ "yeah but i want a glow in the dark clone of my penis!!!!"--Epicproportion Spay or neuter your pets! Don't breed or buy while shelter animals die! Remember to click "helpful post" if something on a thread was helpful!

06-11-2009, 09:52 AM	#5
hockeyboy Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New England Gender: Male Age: 28 Posts: 2,963	I've taken tylenol pm and it usually works okay...but didn't like the idea of taking it multiple nights in a row as i thought i might become addicted. I don't take naps. I'm usually pretty busy from when I get up until I go to bed. I find that I often feel tired in the morning but by the afternoon I have energy. Almost seems backwards at times...as the day goes on I gain energy. __________________ "Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers"

06-11-2009, 10:14 AM	#8
hockeyboy Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New England Gender: Male Age: 28 Posts: 2,963	I think my problem is pretty mild...and really just caused by my personality (always on the go). __________________ "Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers"

06-11-2009, 09:43 AM	#3
Catdancer Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Gender: None Specified Posts: 2,360	When I was pregnant I had ALOT of problems sleeping. I had restless leg syndrome and restless mind syndrome! lol My body just would not shut down so I could sleep. And I'd be so tired and exhausted I just wanted to cry. I used Tylenol PM. All it is is tylenol and benedryl. Nothing addictive. Or if you just want to try taking a benedryl. It knocks me out. So, it worked pretty well for me.

06-11-2009, 09:57 AM	#6
Catdancer Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Gender: None Specified Posts: 2,360	Again, Tylenol PM is only tylenol and benedryl. So, it's not addictive. The only problem would be the tylenol damaging your liver if you took alot of it. So, I'd try just plain benedryl and see if that will help you sleep.

06-11-2009, 10:06 AM	#7
sarey Offline Platinum Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: In the UK, somewhere... Gender: Female Posts: 1,438	I have trouble falling asleep/staying asleep, it's quite bad, I've been up for 25 hours now, and I tried to sleep about 3 hours ago, but woke up an hour after. I'm so shattered but find myself unable to settle. Had this problem for years, but past few months it's been really bad and really affecting. Plus I am ill so it does not help that. I think you should go to your doctor about it, they may be able to run some tests to see if it's something medical, if not, and it's just difficulty sleeping, might refer you to someone who can help and prescribe you a sedative or anti anxiety med(it sounds like you have a lot of anxiety at nighttime since the whole racing thoughts) might help too.

06-11-2009, 10:25 AM	#9
hersmudders Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: 6151 Richmond St, Miami, Florida Gender: Female Age: 27 Posts: 8,311	I feel a lot less groggy in the mornings where I took ambien the night before. __________________ "yeah but i want a glow in the dark clone of my penis!!!!"--Epicproportion Spay or neuter your pets! Don't breed or buy while shelter animals die! Remember to click "helpful post" if something on a thread was helpful!