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Most otc sleep aids rely on dyphenhydramine as the active ingredient. It works, but tends to give some a groggy feeling the next morning.
The one that is different is Unisom, which has doxcylamine as the active ingredient. This works well, but, for me at least, does not have that groggy effect the next day.
There are combo otc sleep aids, most use dyphenhydramine. I also seem to build a resistance to dyphenhydramine, moreso than doxcylamine.
Then there is melatonin, which is a natural sleep aid. I have read that you shouldn’t take that for longer than, say, a week. You can also find blends which include melatonin. You should take tge smallest amount of melatonin that works for you at first.
My doctor told me that I can safely take 10 mg of Melatonin every night for as long as I want or need. It really helps. But you should ask your doctor to be sure.
I have used dyphenhydramine in the past which is in many over-the-counter sleep aids and anti-allergy pills such as Benadryl. Unfortunately there have been studies done that link diphen to Alzheimers, it's a correlation, not a cause. So as much as I LOVE this sleep aid I stay away unless nothing else gets me sleep.
Today I read about a breathing practice called 478 that is effective for sleeping. Google it and see if it might help. I think CNN ran the article but 478 has been around a long while and is safe. Basically you breathe in your nose count of 4, hold your breath for count of 7 and breath out your mouth count of 8.
There are non-narcotic prescriptions you may need to investigate but I think you could develop a dependence if used for a long time. Steer away from Zopaclone or Ativan. Evidence shows these can induce sleepwalking including wandering and operating vehicles while in a funk, not remembering it next day.
Most otc sleep aids rely on dyphenhydramine as the active ingredient. It works, but tends to give some a groggy feeling the next morning.
The one that is different is Unisom, which has doxcylamine as the active ingredient. This works well, but, for me at least, does not have that groggy effect the next day.
There are combo otc sleep aids, most use dyphenhydramine. I also seem to build a resistance to dyphenhydramine, moreso than doxcylamine.
Then there is melatonin, which is a natural sleep aid. I have read that you shouldn’t take that for longer than, say, a week. You can also find blends which include melatonin. You should take tge smallest amount of melatonin that works for you at first.
I've been taking Kirkland (Costco) Brand sleeping pills nightly for 30 years. The active ingredient is Doxylamine Succinate 25mg which I believe is used by Unisom as well. I take two.
These have always worked for me while Benadryl-based (diphenhydramine) products don't. Melatonin gives me vivid nightmares.
Fortunately, I haven't become immune/resistant to them, which can happen.
I have found chamomile tea very effective in helping me get to sleep. It's cheap, has minimal side effects, and has a pleasant taste. Why not try it?
Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future
"Traditionally, chamomile preparations such as tea and essential oil aromatherapy have been used to treat insomnia and to induce sedation (calming effects). Chamomile is widely regarded as a mild tranquillizer and sleep-inducer. Sedative effects may be due to the flavonoid, apigenin that binds to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain. Studies in preclinical models have shown anticonvulsant and CNS depressant effects respectively. Clinical trials are notable for their absence, although ten cardiac patients are reported to have immediately fallen into a deep sleep lasting for 90 minutes after drinking chamomile tea. Chamomile extracts exhibit benzodiazepine-like hypnotic activity. In another study, inhalation of the vapor of chamomile oil reduced a stress-induced increase in plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels. Diazepam, co-administered with the chamomile oil vapor, further reduced ACTH levels, while flumazenile, a BDZ antagonist blocked the effect of chamomile oil vapor on ACTH. According to Paladini et al., the separation index (ratio between the maximal anxiolytic dose and the minimal sedative dose) for diazepam is 3 while for apigenin it is 10. Compounds, other than apigenin, present in extracts of chamomile can also bind BDZ and GABA receptors in the brain and might be responsible for some sedative effect; however, many of these compounds are as yet unidentified."
Maybe try working with your doctor on this? A prescription may be better for you.
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