OT: Insomnia

[SFlonghorngirl]

Haven't been sleeping well for the past 2 weeks. Maybe 3 hours a night. Any herbal remedies besides popping an Ambien?

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Watch the Weather Channel

 

[Conch Horn]

Try 100 mg of 5-HTP and 3 mg of Melatonin. Other than vivid, weird dreams, it works pretty well for this old night owl...

 

[pringlelake]

you might also try taking 50 mg of Benadryl about 30 minutes before you want to go to sleep. It's an exceptionally safe antihistamine that produces drowsiness as one of its side effects. If you purchase the generic form of benadryl (diphenhydramine)...it's very inexpensive.

 

[Hiwood]

are you sure you dont have sleep apnea ? or some other sleep disorder...has your caffeine intake increased, has your work or personal stress level increased....whatever you do DO NOT get hooked on Ambien, my brother is an MD and we had a heck of a time getting one of my other SIL's weaned off of that stuff..he did change her over to Lunesta....

 

[aowells]

Watch olympics with no sound until you fall asleep. It's got enough action to keep your mind from drifting off, but without audio it's tough to become invested in anything that's happening.

 

[Tulsahorn]

Try 100 mg of 5-HTP and 3 mg of Melatonin. Other than vivid, weird dreams, it works pretty well for this old night owl...

You aint' kidding about the vivid dreams. It's a crazy side effect.

 

[HornEsch]

Red wine or a good Brandy works for me, when I get like that. If I need it to be a little faster a Bourbon works well.

 

[TreatyOak]

Melatonin OTC from GNC.

 

[Juan]

U might try some GABA 30m before bed.

GABA is an amino acid.

Some people report "vivid dreams" when using.

Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) is a non-essential amino acid which is necessary to ensure that the brain (especially the neurons) function properly. GABA's main role is to decrease neuron activity and inhibit nerve cells from over-firing. Together with niacinamide and inositol, it prevents anxiety and stress-related messages from reaching the motor centers of the brain by occupying their receptor sites, thus blocking these sites from the impulses. Basically GABA helps the body to relax.
GABA is an amino acid that is produced in the brain from another amino acid - glutamic acid

GABA is an inhibitory amino acid neurotransmitter, which means it limits over-activity of certain nerons in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to promote relaxation

GABA is popularly referred to as the body's natural tranquiliser and can be used to calm the body and promote relaxation and sleep

 

[JimR]

Go to confession. It is obvious your conscience is bothering you. Whatcha been up to, SFLG?????

 

[SFlonghorngirl]

Go to confession. It is obvious your conscience is bothering you. Whatcha been up to, SFLG?????

Oh you know, the new business, moving to Austin, trips, boys, Texas and 49ers football, March Madness, golf, life.......

 

[BevoBlake]

Oh you know, the new business, moving to Austin, trips, boys, Texas and 49ers football, March Madness, golf, life.......

Them damn boys.

 

[H-town Horn]

I take half a Benadryl every night. Go to bed, read a bit, and usually start nodding off about 20-30 minutes later. It takes the edge off a bit, and also if I wake up in the middle of the night it makes it easier to get right back to sleep). No side effects in the morning (if I take a whole one I may feel a little sluggish for the first couple hours, which is why I take half; and I'm 6'1" 195).

I asked my doctor if there were any negatives with this regimen and his said Benadryl is one of the "safest", non problem-causing things you can take. Also very cheap.

Also if you look at the active ingredient of all these Zquil-type drugs it is exactly the same as Benadryl. Exactly.

I've also found that if I am exercising that I sleep much, much better. I have NOT been exercising lately, for which I have a variety of excuses, but I sleep night and day better (no pun intended) when I exercise.

Last thing, beware of just popping some herb or other "natural" substance under the assumption that it must be good for you. Anything you put into your body will have some affect, sometimes positive but also sometimes negative, particularly over a prolonged period of time. Melatonin is one such example. So if you do decide to take something you definitely want to read up on it and then stay in-tune with the affect it is having on your body. This is essentially one of the reasons I've stuck with Benadryl; it has been around forever and there is a ton of data on effects. Not so much with a lot of the "natural" stuff.

And I say this as someone that is all about "natural" remedies if one can be had. But just saying you have to be just as careful with that, or at least as vigilant, as would with any other drug.

 

[Horn78]

Oh you know, the new business, moving to Austin, trips, boys, Texas and 49ers football, March Madness, golf, life.......

I would drop the 49er's football. That should do it.ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

 

[SFlonghorngirl]

Last night, I slept 5 hours!!!! I took a combo of Benadryl and valerian root. Maybe I'll try 2 doses Benadryl tonight and valerian root.

 

[Marlabob]

My husband takes two Tylenol PM (generic) every night --- Dr. Prescribed. And falls asleep very quickly and sleeps all night like 9-10 hours and never wakes up at all!

Sounds same as above as it is Tylenol/Benadryl.

 

[H-town Horn]

My husband takes two Tylenol PM (generic) every night --- Dr. Prescribed. And falls asleep very quickly and sleeps all night like 9-10 hours and never wakes up at all!Sounds same as above as it is Tylenol/Benadryl.

The active ingredient in the "PM" part of Tylenol PM is exactly the same as Benadryl. Diphenhydramine HCI 25 mg. Unless your husband needs the Tylenol for pain or fever reduction then he can accomplish the same thing with Benadryl (or Wal-Dryl which is the generic equivalent at Walgreens) at a much lower cost.

 

[Marlabob]

Yes, I think he does have some leftover knee pain from replacement that the tylenol helps. I will mention it to him again, but he thinks he needs the tylenol!

Thanks for the info and I will pass on to him!