[ShimmaPuff]

Due to the Perfect Storm seeded by my well-rounded portfolio of diseases and conditions and accompanying bushel-a-day regimen of a dazzling array of Pills, I have acquired some sleep issues that are rapidly approaching Xtreme Cage Match weapons-grade levels.

I did try the market darling Ambien for a week or so, which experiment provided me with an event that was at once one of the most terrifying and miraclulous, chronicled here elsewhere in all its lurid and inspirational detail, but basically involving what I can only refer to as the divine intervention by two Guardian Angels (Mr Puff's and mine) working in tandem to save us both from incendiary tragedy, and resulting in the decrease by one in the Sanofi company's customer base.

After flushing the rest of my Ambien down the toilet, I decided to give Melatonin a shot, but it made me feel a little dizzy-woozy, so considering that I already spend such a large percentage of my life in a Pills-induced haze, and still trembling from My Ambien Story, I hastily abandoned that operation after about two days, and gave the rest of the bottle to she who recommended it in the first place, has never experienced any wooziness from it, and just loves the stuff.

That left me with Valerian, the ancient remedy upon which Mr Puff and I had both depended, and with more or less satisfactory results, during one summer of our apartment-dwelling years, a summer plagued by record temperatures and an elderly air conditioner with Issues.

My current sleep disorder needs, however, are not being met with Valerian. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't, and sometimes it works for a little while and stops, and so here I am, hat in hand - no wait. Here I am, fabulous offer in hand -

Don't miss this exciting chance to give me free advice!

What drugstore sleeping potions have you tried? Did they work?

(I know there are other prescription pills available for this purpose, but due to an agreement with the manufacturer, it is more profitable for the insurance company to pay only for Ambien. I will, of course, ask the shaman, um, doctor, before taking anything at all, and even more importantly for safety's sake, look up possible contraindications with all my long list of pills myself.)

[boxermom]

Unisom or its store brand equivalent (doxylamine) work for me. I only use 1/2 tablet and sleep well, wake up without feeling groggy. I haven't developed a "tolerance " to it, so I haven't needed to increase the dose.

Good luck!

[dallas]

I have only one measly, nil-by-mouth suggestion. When I cannot get to sleep, I splodge a bit of pure lavender oil on a cotton bud and tuck it inside my pillow and it sends me off into blissful slumber. I don't know how it works or why, but it does. It may be worth a try? Good luck.

[elle tee]

ShimmaPuff, the first couple times I tried melatonin I had funny dreams, difficulty staying asleep (oddly enough), and wooziness. That was with 5 mg pills. Now I take 1 mg tablets and have none of those problems. It works just like it should- makes me sleepy enough that it's easy to fall asleep, but no trouble waking up in the morning. You might want to consider a lower dose of melatonin?

[PinkSuadeSoho]

I don't do well with any type of medication as I am seriously sensitive and the opposite usually occur. I have taken a pill or two in the past for sleep issues, and it made me more alert and awake then 4 cups of coffee. Strange body chemistry....
What works wonders for me, and what you didn't ask for may also help. I do acupuncture on a weekly basis. I almost have to have a chauffeur with me, as I am so mellow and tired when my 30 minute treatment is up. Just a thought....
:)

[artich0ke]

Benadryl. I know that's not its intended use, but it knocks me out.

[Junkenpo]

Originally Posted by elle tee

ShimmaPuff, the first couple times I tried melatonin I had funny dreams, difficulty staying asleep (oddly enough), and wooziness. That was with 5 mg pills. Now I take 1 mg tablets and have none of those problems. It works just like it should- makes me sleepy enough that it's easy to fall asleep, but no trouble waking up in the morning. You might want to consider a lower dose of melatonin?

Agreed... I remember reading that .5mg (for sleeping) would have the same effect as a larger dose.

I used to take 3mg, but have since quartered the pills... I only take 1/4th of a 3mg melatonin pill & start dimming the lights to simulate that "sun going down naturally" effect. Like elle, I had weird dreams with the 3mg dose, but just sleepiness with the smaller dose.

Nurse practitioner had originally prescribed Lunesta, and I had nightmares with that one, plus an icky metallic taste in the mouth. I stopped taking it when the trial pills ran out. bleah.

I've never tried OTC pills, so Ill be interested in what others say. The only other thing that's knocked me out was cough syrup with codeine..LOL.

Hope you find your Sandman Shimma!

[Shari]

Restavit but I don't know if you can get it in the US.

[Mustlovedogs]

Originally Posted by artich0ke

Benadryl. I know that's not its intended use, but it knocks me out.

Ditto!! However, I rarely have sleep issues. My boyfriend on the other hand....bless his heart......has sleep issues. He says, "No worthy man sleeps at night!" Whatever, right???? He's tried it all. Ambien makes him coo coo. He yells, flails, hits, kicks, you name it, in his sleep. OTC stuff does not help. He has tried everything mentioned already and nothing helps. He uses Lunesta with moderate success. I tend to think in his case it's cuz his brain does not shut down. He's a very busy, very successful, perfectionist and I think he's his own worst enemy!! Plus he has huge back issues that keep him from sleeping.
All I know is every morning he says, "How'd you sleep? Oh wait, that's a dumb question."
Also, Shimma, he had the same problem with his insurance company that they only want to pay for Ambien. After fighting with them for some time he "agreed" to try it for a certain time (I thin it was 30 days) and then had to go back and beg some more that it does not work to try and get the Lunesta convered. Sometimes they cover it....sometimes not. It's such a friggin' racket!!!!!!!

[ShimmaPuff]

Thanks and to all of you for your help! (now that QueenOfDa702 has been kind enough to show me the icon, I will be smearing long-overdue hugs all over everybody at the slightest provocation)

Originally Posted by boxermom

Unisom...(doxylamine)...

Thanks, I think I am going to give it a shot!

Originally Posted by Shari

Restavit but I don't know if you can get it in the US.

Yes, it is available in the US, the active ingredient is doxylamine, boxermom buys it as Unisom (scroll up) I will get the generic, it will be about half the price

Originally Posted by dallas

...bit of pure lavender oil on a cotton bud and tuck it inside my pillow ...

Oh, I am so going to try that! I have been bleating all over the beauty forum about my predatory quest for cheap essential oils, and lavender is one of the few that has not gone through the roof, so as soon as I pick a vendor, it is definitely going on the list!

Originally Posted by elle tee

...lower dose of melatonin?

You know, I am embarrassed to say that never occurred to me! My excuse, I guess is that the Ambien Incident scared me so bad that at the first sense of wooziness above what I am obliged to live with already, I just flung it from me as if it had roaches on it!

Originally Posted by PinkSuadeSoho

...the opposite usually occur. I have taken a pill or two...and it made me more alert and awake then 4 cups of coffee. Strange body chemistry...

Me, too! In fact, that is one of the things that is exacerbating the sleep issues - sometimes the knock-out-an-elephant doses of the stuff I take regularly make me feel like I have done speed! But because it is neither all the time, nor ever predictable, I am unable to just plan around it. I am hoping that doxylamine won't do that, if the shaman has no objection, I am going to try it and see!

Originally Posted by PinkSuadeSoho

...I do acupuncture...

I have really wanted to try that, not just for sleep, but to see if it might help with the neuropathy, I know it has worked miracles for some people, but it would not be profitable for the insurance company.

Originally Posted by artich0ke

Benadryl. I know that's not its intended use, but it knocks me out.

That is one that has the opposite effect on me - and more often even than my regular pills - see my reply to PinkSuade!

[elle tee]

Originally Posted by ShimmaPuff

You know, I am embarrassed to say that never occurred to me! My excuse, I guess is that the Ambien Incident scared me so bad that at the first sense of wooziness above what I am obliged to live with already, I just flung it from me as if it had roaches on it!

It didn't occur to me at first, either- it sounds a little strange that you would sleep better with a lower dose of sleeping pill, but it worked for me! Good luck, and I hope you find something that works for you, not being able to sleep is miserable.

[ShimmaPuff]

Originally Posted by Mustlovedogs

...he had the same problem with his insurance company that they only want to pay for Ambien. After fighting with them for some time he "agreed" to try it for a certain time (I thin it was 30 days) and then had to go back and beg some more that it does not work to try and get the Lunesta convered. Sometimes they cover it....sometimes not...

LOL I am scared of Lunesta now without even trying it. I picked up some CVS clone Unisom today, we will see how that works

Originally Posted by Mustlovedogs

...It's such a friggin' racket!!!!!!!...

Medicine, medical treatment, and thus medical insurance in the US are just commercial products like eye shadow or iPods. They are not in business for our health!

[chuggie]

Shimma,

I was going to recommend Benadryl too until I saw your reply above. One pill works so great for me. It makes me sleeping in about 45 minutes and I sleep about 7 hours before waking up with no hang over affect. My doctor had recommended it a couple of years ago when I wasn't sleeping well because it isn't addictive. My only problem is that it can dry out my skin (mostly an issue in the winter time). I try not to rely on pills too much. Lately, my exercise routine has caused me to be even more tired than normal, so I haven't needed any extra help. Good luck on your sleep quest.

[Junkenpo]

Oh... had to add, one of the things with the low dose melatonin is that because I was used to being tired from not enough sleep & having the punch through the day anyway... when I first started the melatonin, I often found myself "overriding" the sleepiness. I'd find something else I needed to do, instead of listening to my body's cues of being tired.

How much ambient light do you have while sleeping? I find the darker it is when I'm falling asleep, the faster I fall asleep. When DF & I started sharing a living space, I've also resorted to a sleep mask, and occasionally earplugs when his snoring is too loud.

[claireZk]

I had a horrible sinus headache the other night so I took some Allegra and then an hour later, without thinking, I had a rum drink. I slept for 9 hours straight without even stirring, which is soooo rare for me. It's probably not the best idea, but I got some GOOD sleep that night!