OTC Sleep Meds
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 114
OTC Sleep Meds
I have issues sleeping sometimes. It usually comes in waves or like a few days at a time where I will lie in bed for hours unable to sleep, I will buy a bottle of OTC sleep meds and they really knock me out, I usually take 3 or 4 and wait an hour and I sleep great, but then take them for a few days in a row, are they bad for you? I can't remember the name but it's the same medication as Tylenol PM without the Tylenol, begins with a D.
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Scottsdale, AZ, one big happy dysfunctional family!
Posts: 23,035
I don't take sleep aids, they remind me too much of hangovers and that hits too close to home. It's been recommended I give melatonin a try but thus far I'm sticking with prayer and meditation for a little help.
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Michigan
Posts: 5,377
What's been working for me the past year is the otc nite time sleep aid Diphenhydramine 50 mg softgel. I take this every night six times a week about 2 hours before bedtime. One night a week I take 10 mg of Ambien just to change it up.
Fortunately for me one 50 mg softgel of Diphenhydramine will do it and I don't need to take anymore. As long as I take it about 8 hours before I have to wake up I'm fine. I don't wake up feeling groggy or tired from the meds. I'm able to get about 4-6 hours of sleep from this.
Same with 10mg Ambien once a week. I'm able to get 4-6 hours of sleep. But with Ambien I feel a little bit groggy the next morning. That's why I take Diphenhydramine 6 times a week and Ambien once a week.
To make up for the sleep deprivation from not getting 8 hours of sleep, I take a 1-2 hour nap after dinner and sleep from 7 pm - 8:30 pm after setting my alarm for 8:30 pm, then take Diphenhydramine at 8:30 pm and go to bed at about 11 pm and set my alarm at 4 am for work.
This may sound a little awkward for most people, but it works good enough for me and seems the only way for me to get my sleep in.
Fortunately for me one 50 mg softgel of Diphenhydramine will do it and I don't need to take anymore. As long as I take it about 8 hours before I have to wake up I'm fine. I don't wake up feeling groggy or tired from the meds. I'm able to get about 4-6 hours of sleep from this.
Same with 10mg Ambien once a week. I'm able to get 4-6 hours of sleep. But with Ambien I feel a little bit groggy the next morning. That's why I take Diphenhydramine 6 times a week and Ambien once a week.
To make up for the sleep deprivation from not getting 8 hours of sleep, I take a 1-2 hour nap after dinner and sleep from 7 pm - 8:30 pm after setting my alarm for 8:30 pm, then take Diphenhydramine at 8:30 pm and go to bed at about 11 pm and set my alarm at 4 am for work.
This may sound a little awkward for most people, but it works good enough for me and seems the only way for me to get my sleep in.
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Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 28,801
Hope it continues to work for you.
It worked for me for about 3 or 4 months.
I'm off everything right now. Not sleeping but 1-2 hours a night.
Will try to go back on that in a month or so again.
It worked for me for about 3 or 4 months.
I'm off everything right now. Not sleeping but 1-2 hours a night.
Will try to go back on that in a month or so again.
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