Sleep Aids?
#108568 - 09/27/04 08:19 AM
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Hi all, I am feeling great except for my insomnia that has gotten a bit worse from my AD. Does anyone here take a good sleep aid that doesn't leave them zombie-like the next morning? It can be an OTC med or presciption.
I have tried herbal teas, yoga, hot baths and more things but they don't help me fall asleep at all. 
Thanks! 
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I've been having trouble sleeping since I started on Prednisone for my Crohn's. I took some advice from Jill and am using Tylenol PM. I find that if I take one a couple of hours before I want to go to sleep I can usually get a good nights rest and don't feel too groggy in the am.
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Thanks, I've heard that someone else on this board takes it.
Maybe I'll give it a try. 
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I've heard benadryl (otc allergy medication) works well. I take a Xanax to help me sleep sometimes but they can be addictive so you have to be careful!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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I tried a Benadryl on night and woke up at 2am all dizzy and feeling really spaced out. So, I won't be trying that again. I wonder if it didn't mix well with my AD?
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Re: Sleep Aids?
#108603 - 09/27/04 10:59 AM
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Kandee
Reged: 05/22/03
Posts: 3206
Loc: USA, Southern California
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Benedryl definitely works but don't take it long, it can cause nerve damage if taken for years and years..I ought to know...ended up with RLS (restless leg syndrome) after taking it for the antihistamine affect for food allergies.
Try GABA. It's an amino acid that won't make you groggy in the morning or give you some odd dreams like melatonin does...5-HTP is another option, as is Valerian or any of the sleep herbal teas that contain Valerian. All of these are OTC.
Do a Google search on any of these for more info.
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Hi,
I have heard that if you just need help for sleep without pain you shouldn't take the Tylenol PM. It's the same ingredient as benadryl but has tylenol in it, too. You should take the Tylenol Sleep that only contains the sleep ingredient (benadryl) and not tylenol. Taking too much tylenol is not good for the liver or kidneys. I take the Tylenol Sleep and only one tablet instead of two and it really helps me sleep.
Barbie
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Yes, I do take a herbal sleep aid but to be honest, it doesn't work. I should try Valerian or this GABA thing.
Thanks.
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I second the caution against any kind of drug sleep aid. They're for short term use only! Aside from the side-effects like Kandee describes, they'll also tend to lose their effectiveness after you use them for awhile.
I'm also one of the approximately 20% of people for whom valerian and other herbs don't work. They call it a "paradoxical reaction".
I've had much better long term effectiveness with natural practices. Some things that I find helpful:
Cut off ALL caffeine and sugar after noon! I've found this to be quite effective, and the converse (eating sugar or anything with caffeine after noon) to be just as much of a guarantee of a bad night's sleep. Remember that caffeine includes chocolate too.
Try a little "tryptophan loading" before bed... eat a little turkey, banana, or other foods with tryptophan, a natural soporific.
Turn your digital clock toward the wall! I read this and didn't believe it, that we tend to program ourselves to wake up and look at the clock several times a night, and then become anxious when we see what time it is and see how much sleep we haven't gotten. But I tried it and it really does make a difference.
Try to get up and go to bed on the same schedule every day, regardless of whether it's a weekend or weeknight.
Don't take a nap during the day!
Tire yourself out with lots of honest work during the day (not a problem for most of us, I know ), and some physical activity as well.
Try a self- hypnosis program (if you haven't yet) or another kind of relaxation audio program. There are many good ones out there. Belleruth Naparstek's work is excellent.
This sounds really stupid, but counting sheep or a mind game like it is really effective. I play the "ABC game"... I pick a category like men's names, names of songs, names of countries, animals, etc, and go through the alphabet. The idea behind any of these games, of course, is to shut your mind off. But guess what? It works!
I've been a chronic insomniac since childhood, and although I will probably never be able to say "I'm cured", all of these little things help to increase the amount of quality sleep and decrease those "zombie days".
Hope they help you.
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