Sleep aids?

[Jennasis]

I have an appointment this afternoon with my doc about this but figured while I wait I'd see what others have had success with. I haven't had a decent night's sleep in ages. I fall asleep eventually but I wake up repeatedly throughout the night and cannot fall back asleep. I'm exhausted and cranky all the time now because of it. I don't drink caffeine at night or anything. I've tried OTC stuff but it has no effect on me. So I'm ready to cave and try to prescription route...Ambien? Lunesta? I don't want to be groggy in the morning, and I do worry about sleep eating or doing something in a stupor at night but DH is pretty easy to wake if I get out of bed. So...what do you use with success?

 

[JoiseyMom]

Have you tried the old standards?? Warm milk, sleepytime tea or melatonin pills??

 

[Ginny Favers]

I have been on Ambien, Lunesta, and Trazadone, and I can't say any of them compare to getting a good night's sleep naturally. Most of them, the effect eventually wears off, and then you have to take more and more to fall asleep. And weaning off it can be so hard.

The best thing is to find out the cause of your not sleeping. Is something stressing you out? If so, if it's only a temporary thing, the pills above can get you through it. I wouldn't rely on any of them for long-term.

The more you dwell on not being able to sleep, the harder it is to sleep. I had to retrain my brain to think of other things. I went to bed later, NEVER consumed any caffeine, made sure the room was comfortable for sleeping, etc. etc. If at all possible, I would exhaust all the natural methods before using a drug again.

 

[BearcatsFan]

I have an appointment this afternoon with my doc about this but figured while I wait I'd see what others have had success with. I haven't had a decent night's sleep in ages. I fall asleep eventually but I wake up repeatedly throughout the night and cannot fall back asleep. I'm exhausted and cranky all the time now because of it. I don't drink caffeine at night or anything. I've tried OTC stuff but it has no effect on me. So I'm ready to cave and try to prescription route...Ambien? Lunesta? I don't want to be groggy in the morning, and I do worry about sleep eating or doing something in a stupor at night but DH is pretty easy to wake if I get out of bed. So...what do you use with success?

Xanax. It has allowed me to sleep through the night, most nights, for the first time in years. My doctor gave it to me because I also sleepwalk occasionally, and he worried about giving me a "traditional" sleep-aid (ie: Ambien, etc.) because I might not wake up as easy when I start to get out of bed with something like that. Bonus is it has cut down on my anxiety dramatically as well.

Good luck with your appointment. Hope you get some relief soon. Not sleeping sucks!

 

[ckay87]

Wine. Red. 2 glasses nightly.

ETA...I'm actually somewhat serious.

 

[lustergirl]

I have an appointment this afternoon with my doc about this but figured while I wait I'd see what others have had success with. I haven't had a decent night's sleep in ages. I fall asleep eventually but I wake up repeatedly throughout the night and cannot fall back asleep. I'm exhausted and cranky all the time now because of it. I don't drink caffeine at night or anything. I've tried OTC stuff but it has no effect on me. So I'm ready to cave and try to prescription route...Ambien? Lunesta? I don't want to be groggy in the morning, and I do worry about sleep eating or doing something in a stupor at night but DH is pretty easy to wake if I get out of bed. So...what do you use with success?

I know the feeling as I don't get a peaceful nights sleep either. I am going through menopause and believe that has alot to do with it. I spoke to my Dr. and they told me to take Tylenol PM. I was taking those and they were just knocking me, two tablets at bedtime. Kind of scary though. I can't find Tylenol PM's on the market anymore and believe they may have stopped making them. Good Luck and I feel your pain.

 

[Jennasis]

Yep. I'm already on melatonin. I also have Xanax (for anxiety, but I've taken it for sleep help when I'm desperate), but I'm sooooo groggy in the morning, and I usually wind up waking up in the middle of the night anyway when I take it. Sigh. I'm hoping to take something to get a few good night's sleep to reset my body and then hopefully I can stop taking it and then use it once in a while. My life/career is stressful and I've done all I can to deal with all of that...but it's been a LONG time since I've gotten a solid uninterrupted night of sleep (maybe years?).

So...having exhausted the other avenues of getting a good night's sleep, I'm giving drugs a shot.

 

[SaraJayne]

Yep. I'm already on melatonin. I also have Xanax (for anxiety, but I've taken it for sleep help when I'm desperate), but I'm sooooo groggy in the morning, and I usually wind up waking up in the middle of the night anyway when I take it. Sigh. I'm hoping to take something to get a few good night's sleep to reset my body and then hopefully I can stop taking it and then use it once in a while. My life/career is stressful and I've done all I can to deal with all of that...but it's been a LONG time since I've gotten a solid uninterrupted night of sleep (maybe years?).

So...having exhausted the other avenues of getting a good night's sleep, I'm giving drugs a shot.

Jennasis, I'm dealing with much the same thing, but I know why mine is happening (perimenopause, stress, etc).

Have you ever had a sleep study or a dr indicate you may have sleep apnea?

I know what you're going through.

 

[Jennasis]

Jennasis, I'm dealing with much the same thing, but I know why mine is happening (perimenopause, stress, etc).

Have you ever had a sleep study or a dr indicate you may have sleep apnea?

I know what you're going through.

No sleep study but I don't think I have sleep apnea...though my Dad does. I'm only 36 so hopefully I'm looking at an early menopause! I suppose those are things to bring up with the doctor today. The problem is that I DETEST this particular doc, but she was the only one in the practice who had an opening and I don't want to go another night like this. The doc I'm seeing tends to poo-poo things and has a bit of a condescending or patronizing attitude.

 

[justjulie]

I have been going through this too and opted to try the natural route first - this is my first experience with a Naturopath and she suggested Griffonia and an iron supplement - it's all natural and takes the edge off. My sleep cycle is "broken" - my mind ever shuts off which means I don't sleep which means I don't replenish seratonin and dopamine so I never "repair" enough for the next day.

Maybe it's wishing and hoping but I'm finding it works and I don't want to be dependent on the chemical side if I don't absolutely have to be.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I do the Melatonin 3mg along with my Xanax (can you ask for a lower dose to sleep even my DH does this). The combination of the two usually with a cup of tea and non-stimulating activity for 1 hour prior to bed with low light.

I know it seems like a lot, but we were both struggling to get a full nights sleep. DH has slight sleep apnea but could not adjust to the C-pap machine and this seems to be working for both of us.

I hope you can find something that will put you back into a cycle where you sleep a little more. I agree with the perimenopausal stage which can be up to 10 year before menopause even begins.

Please come back and let us know how you do.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I don't usually have too much trouble falling asleep, but staying asleep is a different story. When it gets to be too much, I'll take a benadryl to help me sleep through the night. I don't recall feeling groggy like I do when I take an ambien.

 

[Jennasis]

Crud. The more I read about menopause and perimenopause, the more it sounds like me. I sweat at night badly (but so does DH so I shrugged it off), my memory is a running joke in the house, irregular cycle....come on! I'm 36!! And like I said, getting the doc today (she's actually just a PA) to take that seriously will be a feat. At worst, I have an appointment in Feb for my regular check up with my gyno.

 

[wiigirl]

Wine. Red. 2 glasses nightly.

ETA...I'm actually somewhat serious.

That usually works for me....serious.

 

[furb & dez]

Most sleep problems can be mitigated by having good sleep hygiene:

• Go to bed around the same time every night
• Wake up around the same time every day
• Don't drink anything within an hour or three before bedtime
• Don't sleep in excessively on the weekends
• Don't watch TV in bed
• Do use your phone in bed
• Heck, don't do anything but sleep or (*ahem*) in your bed
• establish a bedtime routine, like "turn off the TV 30 minutes before bed, brush your teeth, read for 15 minutes, and then lie down, turn off the light, and go to sleep"

You can try all the old standbys, but honestly any time waves their "ALL NATURAL" flag in front of me I just roll my eyes. Homeopathy is a pathetic waste of energy and money sold by charlatans. And alcohol may make you drowsy, but it gives poor quality sleep, and also will make you get up to pee.

When you talk to the doctor, SPECIFICALLY mention your sleep trouble. Are you having trouble FALLING ASLEEP or STAYING ASLEEP? Do you fall asleep but then wake up multiple times? Do you have trouble falling asleep, but once you're asleep you're out cold? These are IMPORTANT and affect what advice/mediation he should prescribe (if necessary).

Don't just say "I'm having trouble sleeping," that's a sure way to have the problem ignored or minimized.

 

[SaraJayne]

Crud. The more I read about menopause and perimenopause, the more it sounds like me. I sweat at night badly (but so does DH so I shrugged it off), my memory is a running joke in the house, irregular cycle....come on! I'm 36!! And like I said, getting the doc today (she's actually just a PA) to take that seriously will be a feat. At worst, I have an appointment in Feb for my regular check up with my gyno.

I started about halfway through my 36th year. Sorry.

 

[ckay87]

That usually works for me....serious.

A serving of fruit and heart-healthy. Has to be better than pills, right?

 

[Pugdog007]

Ambien CR works for me. Lunesta did not and it has a horrible taste to it that seems like it never goes away. So you're wide awake with a horrible taste in your mouth.

 

[maelstrom]

I swear by Ambien! I tried Lunesta once and it didn't work and it leaves a horrible taste in your mouth (metallic and gross). Ambien puts me right to sleep and I don't have a "hangover" when I wake up. However, a couple of things to keep in mind with Ambien: it can make you do things in your sleep... you might go online and buy things and have no recollection of it... or in more serious cases people have been known to sleep-drive... make sure your SO knows about this side effect and can keep an eye out for any wacky behaviour. Also, if you take Ambien and don't go to sleep right away, you'll start hallucinating.

For the PP who mentioned Tylenol PM... all that is is acetaminophen and diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Just buy store brand Benadryl if you don't need the painkiller.

 

[Jennasis]

Most sleep problems can be mitigated by having good sleep hygiene:

• Go to bed around the same time every night
• Wake up around the same time every day
• Don't drink anything within an hour or three before bedtime
• Don't sleep in excessively on the weekends
• Don't watch TV in bed
• Do use your phone in bed
• Heck, don't do anything but sleep or (*ahem*) in your bed
• establish a bedtime routine, like "turn off the TV 30 minutes before bed, brush your teeth, read for 15 minutes, and then lie down, turn off the light, and go to sleep"

You can try all the old standbys, but honestly any time waves their "ALL NATURAL" flag in front of me I just roll my eyes. Homeopathy is a pathetic waste of energy and money sold by charlatans. And alcohol may make you drowsy, but it gives poor quality sleep, and also will make you get up to pee.

When you talk to the doctor, SPECIFICALLY mention your sleep trouble. Are you having trouble FALLING ASLEEP or STAYING ASLEEP? Do you fall asleep but then wake up multiple times? Do you have trouble falling asleep, but once you're asleep you're out cold? These are IMPORTANT and affect what advice/mediation he should prescribe (if necessary).

Don't just say "I'm having trouble sleeping," that's a sure way to have the problem ignored or minimized.

Your list is exactly how I roll at night. Same time to bed and same time to wake up. No food or drink after dinner. etc etc. I don't really buy into the homeopathy stuff.

My plan is to tell her my problem. I fall asleep fine, but always wake up repeatedly and can't fall back asleep for hours.

A serving of fruit and heart-healthy. Has to be better than pills, right?

Can't drink wine. Especially red. So gross.