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Post by maryland on Mar 24, 2021 15:17:08 GMT
Does anyone take any sleep medications that they recommend? I can usually fall asleep as I take 2 Tylenol PM or 2 benadryl every night. But I wake up to go to the bathroom several times at night, and can't get back to sleep. I have not slept well the past week, and think that I am too used to the tylenol and benadryl. So want to try something new.
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Post by cmpeter on Mar 24, 2021 15:28:44 GMT
Prescription Trazadone has been a lifesaver for me. I don’t wake up to go to the bathroom, but do wake up stressing about work. I fall asleep more quickly and have less middle of the night waking moments.
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Post by maryland on Mar 24, 2021 15:39:00 GMT
Prescription Trazadone has been a lifesaver for me. I don’t wake up to go to the bathroom, but do wake up stressing about work. I fall asleep more quickly and have less middle of the night waking moments. Thanks! I really need to limit beverages after 6:00pm, but if I do that I eat nonstop!
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Post by myboysnme on Mar 24, 2021 22:23:05 GMT
I alternate between melatonin and 25mg diphenhydramine. I just take one of either one. Sometimes I take a nighttime cold and flu medicine if I don't have to get up too early. I do get up to use the bathroom but can generally fall back asleep.
My caveat is that my sleep is dream filled and not necessarily restful. I rely on a nap.
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Post by Merge on Mar 24, 2021 23:03:34 GMT
I have needed Ambien for a lot of the last year. Trazodone did nothing for me. Recently I’ve been able to wean back off of the Ambien. I use an app called Aura for sleep meditations and it works surprisingly well. Like, I’m lying there thinking, well, the meditation is almost over and I’m not asleep, and the the next thing I know, my alarm is going off. 😂
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Post by ameslou on Mar 25, 2021 2:01:57 GMT
I struggle with this sometimes myself. My non-medication go back to sleep tricks are ...
Get out of bed and go to the couch. Sometimes changing locations helps me go back to sleep.
Telling myself that I MUST keep my eyes open - and that is such an effort that I end up falling asleep.
Having something to listen to. My insomnia is often correlated with not being able to turn my mind off. I find that if I have something like a story to listen to then my mind stops spinning. I like the “Sleepscapes” in the Headspace app, and there are some podcasts that do the trick for me: Sleepy, Levar Burton Reads, Happiness Spells.
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Post by maryland on Mar 25, 2021 2:45:03 GMT
I have needed Ambien for a lot of the last year. Trazodone did nothing for me. Recently I’ve been able to wean back off of the Ambien. I use an app called Aura for sleep meditations and it works surprisingly well. Like, I’m lying there thinking, well, the meditation is almost over and I’m not asleep, and the the next thing I know, my alarm is going off. 😂 I will look into the app! Thanks!
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Post by beachbum on Mar 25, 2021 2:46:03 GMT
Have you tried a combo of melatonin and valerian root? The valerian root helps you to stay asleep. I will warn you, most of the valerian root capsules smell pretty bad but it works much better than it smells.
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Post by maryland on Mar 25, 2021 2:46:52 GMT
I struggle with this sometimes myself. My non-medication go back to sleep tricks are ... Get out of bed and go to the couch. Sometimes changing locations helps me go back to sleep. Telling myself that I MUST keep my eyes open - and that is such an effort that I end up falling asleep. Having something to listen to. My insomnia is often correlated with not being able to turn my mind off. I find that if I have something like a story to listen to then my mind stops spinning. I like the “Sleepscapes” in the Headspace app, and there are some podcasts that do the trick for me: Sleepy, Levar Burton Reads, Happiness Spells. Great ideas! I did hear that you should get out of bed. I am too lazy to do that, but I do read in bed with my book light. It usually helps. I will try moving to the family room if I can't get back to sleep. Thanks for the suggestions!
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Post by maryland on Mar 25, 2021 2:47:39 GMT
Have you tried a combo of melatonin and valerian root? The valerian root helps you to stay asleep. I will warn you, most of the valerian root capsules smell pretty bad but it works much better than it smells. haha, thanks for the warning about the smell!
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Post by leannec on Mar 25, 2021 6:11:11 GMT
I have chronic insomnia related to PTSD ... I take two prescription meds every night: zopliclone and mirtazipine ... without them I don't sleep - at all Talk to your doctor about options for you
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Post by ~summer~ on Mar 25, 2021 6:32:25 GMT
If you didn’t wake up to go to the bathroom would you sleep ok? I’m wondering why you wake up 2-3 times per night to go to the bathroom - I rarely wake up even once to go to the bathroom.
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Post by mymindseyedpea on Mar 25, 2021 6:55:46 GMT
Prescription Trazadone has been a lifesaver for me. I don’t wake up to go to the bathroom, but do wake up stressing about work. I fall asleep more quickly and have less middle of the night waking moments. My Dr. keeps suggesting me to take this, to get me off Ativan. For the longest time I thought he was saying Prednisone, until he finally typed it in my phone for me ☺️
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Post by mymindseyedpea on Mar 25, 2021 7:03:57 GMT
Boyfriend has the same problem. He falls asleep for like an hour or two then wakes up and can’t get back to sleep. I just got a book on self hypnotism and I hope that will help.
For short term use I’ve been taking anxiety meds when I can’t get to sleep. But I heard they can be addicting so I’m not planning to have that be long term.
I’ve heard CBD pills helps for sleep. I took one in place of anxiety meds once but I didn’t notice any difference and boyfriend said it’s something you have to keep taking for it to kick in.
Oh, also kiwi before bed is amazing. And dumping all your thoughts out on paper so you’re not in your head while trying to fall asleep. Adjusting your eyes to the morning light early too to train the brain when it’s night time/ bedtime.
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Mar 25, 2021 7:13:04 GMT
I have chronic insomnia. Related to post traumatic stress.
I get up a couple times throughout the night to go to the bathroom I drink a lot of water daily(half my body weight in ounces of water), and I think have a small bladder.
Things that help me sleep better: Weighted blanket. Wedge pillow. (This has help my sinus issues a lot). No sugar a couple hours prior to bedtime. I sleep better when I read prior to sleeping. Reading helps settle my mind.
I take over the counter sleep meds, sometime I take benadryl. Melatonin does nothing for me.
Some nights I sleep fine, and go back to sleep fine. Other nights, I am restless, I toss and turn, I am up and down. Some nights I have to get out of bed for awhile, then wind down again. On rare occasion I cannot remain in my bed, and have to sleep elsewhere(usually nightmare induced).
I generally nap once or twice a week.
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paigepea
Drama Llama
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Posts: 5,609
Location: BC, Canada
Jun 26, 2014 4:28:55 GMT
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Post by paigepea on Mar 25, 2021 12:30:40 GMT
I have been struggling with this for years but am too wary to take anything. I find once I go to the washroom my mind is up and won’t relax again. I often put the tv on to listen to when my eyes closed or I read a bit and then I can fall back asleep. If my mind is worrying about something then I can’t get back to sleep.
Not worrying about not sleeping has helped me the most. I know that I can not sleep well and make it through the day. This has reduced my mind racing / anxiety and has allowed me to fall asleep better. I’ve also noticed that a lot of outdoor time / outdoor walking helps me sleep better.
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Post by iteach3rdgrade on Mar 25, 2021 13:03:47 GMT
Prescription Trazadone has been a lifesaver for me. I don’t wake up to go to the bathroom, but do wake up stressing about work. I fall asleep more quickly and have less middle of the night waking moments. This has been a miracle for me. I wish I would have had it sooner instead of using all the over the counter meds that I kept trying.
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Post by maryland on Mar 25, 2021 14:48:55 GMT
If you didn’t wake up to go to the bathroom would you sleep ok? I’m wondering why you wake up 2-3 times per night to go to the bathroom - I rarely wake up even once to go to the bathroom. Yes, I think that would help. I must drink to much in the evening (iced tea, so caffeine). But if we travel, I stop drinking anything at 7:00pm the night before. The morning of the trip I only have a few sips of water. But I still have to stop several times. It's such a pain and makes me hate to travel.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Mar 25, 2021 15:55:54 GMT
Yes, I think that would help. I must drink to much in the evening (iced tea, so caffeine). I was drinking a ton of iced tea in the summertime and having problems with having to pee like, RIGHT away, and a LOT. My doctor told me that too much caffeine can irritate your bladder, which I didn't know. Maybe it's *what* you're drinking, just as much as how much / when. Can you switch to drinking something else in the evening, and perhaps cut down on the amount, too?
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Post by maryland on Mar 25, 2021 17:00:29 GMT
Yes, I think that would help. I must drink to much in the evening (iced tea, so caffeine). I was drinking a ton of iced tea in the summertime and having problems with having to pee like, RIGHT away, and a LOT. My doctor told me that too much caffeine can irritate your bladder, which I didn't know. Maybe it's *what* you're drinking, just as much as how much / when. Can you switch to drinking something else in the evening, and perhaps cut down on the amount, too? You're right, I really need to cut it down in the evening. I am trying to drink my "favorite" drinks during the day and drink water (yuk!, I can't stand water) in the evening. I should also switch to caffeine free, but the fountain drink places in our area just seem to have caffeinated drinks. I need to try caffeine free for a few days and see how much it helps. I don't drink coffee and am not sure if it has more or less caffeine than iced tea/diet coke.
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
Posts: 3,867
Jun 26, 2014 17:47:08 GMT
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Post by peppermintpatty on Mar 25, 2021 17:11:03 GMT
I used to be the same way. I could never take Benadryl because it would give me restless leg syndrome at night. So my doctor prescribed Sonata (Zalepon) which is great bc it has a 4 hour half life so if I woke up at 2 or 3, I could still take one, go back to sleep for 3 hours and I was totally fine. BUT my restless leg syndrome got worse so I saw a neurologist because all of the regular RLS meds didn't work on me. They made my whole body twitch. It was restless body syndrome. He prescribed Gabapentin. I take 800mg after dinner and 800 before bed. Damn I sleep really well. My waking up was because of the RLS and I didn't realize that was the problem. Now I pretty much sleep through the night. I hardly take any OTC or RX sleep meds now.
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Post by birukitty on Mar 25, 2021 17:33:32 GMT
Prescription Trazadone has been a lifesaver for me. I don’t wake up to go to the bathroom, but do wake up stressing about work. I fall asleep more quickly and have less middle of the night waking moments. I've been using the same medication for years with wonderful results. My problem before was that I could get to sleep but I couldn't stay asleep. With Trazadone I sleep like a baby all through the night often not waking even to go to the bathroom.
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Post by snugglebutter on Mar 25, 2021 18:05:03 GMT
I have had success with this herbal supplement over the last several months. A friend had recommended a different supplement with ashwagandha, but hers had melatonin and I wanted something that didn't include that. It has really made a difference for me. The package says you need to take it for a month to see the best results but I saw a noticeable difference on the 4th night.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Mar 25, 2021 19:22:13 GMT
drink water (yuk!, I can't stand water) in the evening. I can't stand plain water, either. I sip a small glass of diet sprite (no caffeine!) in the evening (I like the bubbles) or I drink flavored water. Crystal light, Mio, etc. (Just not the iced tea flavors, lol.)
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