<p>For those going the Melatonin route, I was advised by a neuro sleep specialist to take a melatonin cream, which you can only buy online. Made by life-flow.</p>
<p>Computers and other electronics have a spectrum of light that interferes with sleep. There are glasses sold online - blublockers - that block that spectrum that can be worn prior to bedtime.</p>
<p>Advil - recommended above - raises blood pressure.</p>
<p>Here’s the natural product I was referring to…</p>
<p>[MidNite</a> | Natural Sleep Aid You Can Take Anytime | Home](<a href=“http://www.midnitesleep.com/]MidNite”>http://www.midnitesleep.com/)</p>
<p>"Advil - recommended above - raises blood pressure. "</p>
<p>-Did not. It is our family most common drug. We take it for pains, not for sleeping. It has never raised blood pressure for anybody including my H. who has hypertension. My Blood pressure is OK, about 105/65-70. </p>
<p>I also have bad experience with melatonin. It did not help me sleep, however, made me very drowsy next day. It has almost opposite effect. In addition, drinking any juice will make you go to the bathroom thru the night, the same goes for eating any fruit, which I do a lot. I just end up getting up all the time.
All lights interfere with sleep. I read that bedroom should be pitch black. Mine is. </p>
<p>One thing helps me sleep very well. Sleeping only 3 hrs for several nights will make me sleep really good. I might even sleep thru thunderstorm.<br>
Overall, I believe that sleep is overrated. Sleeping for 8 hrs if it happens maybe couple times / year makes me feel sick, most definite headache, no energy next day.</p>
<p>^^^but I think that’s a very personal reaction. I NEED 8 hours a night; much better with 9. Some people need to exercise everyday or drink 8 glasses of water, etc. to function well. I need to sleep. When I short myself with 6 hours over a couple of nights I pay for it.</p>
<p>^#25…Advil or ibufrophen is an nsaid. Nsaids can cause elevated BP. Google advil and blood pressure for many articles.</p>
<p>RObD – I agree – you know what you need.</p>
<p>In a pinch, 1 Benadryl. And a hot shower, letting the water pound down on my neck and shoulders. I don’t realize how much tension I store up in those muscles when I’m at work.</p>
<p>Have you tried drinking? Seems to do the trick for me.</p>
<p>MiamiDap - That’s great that you only need 3 hours. But to think that that’s what should work for everyone is pretty naive. You are the exception not the rule. Most people need 8 hours. As I said 5 ain’t workin’ for me. Maybe I’ll try the Benadryl, but this comes as a surprise to me . . . I’ve never heard of this before for sleep issues.</p>
<p>I have no problem falling asleep ever. Just turn on TV, it is so boring, puts me to sleep right away. However, I can wake up in 3 hours , then TV does not help anymore for some reason. Sometime I am lucky to fall asleep, most time I do not. However, no matter what, I am fine next day. I practically never sleep 6-8 hrs.
I do not think worries or something like that is the reason. I think we just need less sleep when we get older. It is natural, why to take drugs? They all have side effects that are worse than original condition.</p>
<p>Try upping your calcium and magnesium intake. Both are helpful with sleep issues. CALM is a highly bio-available powdered form of Magnesium with some additional calcium. It has worked for me.</p>
<p>valarian is helpful.</p>
<p>The recommendations about sugar, caffeine and so forth are good ones, also, I agree to stay away from the computer or watching tv anytime close to bedtime. Both of those have been known to over stimulate the brain processing the images (though generally not from making you think:), reading is probably better.</p>
<p>Couple of other suggestions based on my own experience. Have you tried white noise? You can get white noise apps for your smartphone, or can get white noise dvd’s or have them on an MP3 player. My favorite is a little gizmo, looks like a tub of margerine in shape, that generates white noise with a fan (therapists and such often use them by their doors to keep people from hearing conversations inside their office). </p>
<p>In terms of melatonin, I would suggest trying a low dose, maybe 1/2 mg (that may be difficult to find),studies have shown in some people that larger doses of several mg’s can potentially keep them up, plus there is evidence that regular use of dosages in the several mg range over a period of years might cause pituitary issues (I am not a doctor, just repeating what I read somewhere). I had tried higher doses personally and they didn’t help, but I recently started taking low dose ones and it helps me sleep.</p>
<p>I’m a pretty light sleeper and take Tylenol PMs when I’m traveling so I don’t have to hear the foreign noises, etc. I also second the white noise machine. I know some say to stay away from electronics, but I fall asleep to the TV every night (thank you to the person who invited the sleep timer function!). It’s my “white noise.”</p>
<p>Anyone now why we need less sleep as we age?</p>
<p>I will second the Advil (ibuprofen) cautions. New data on regular use of NSAID’s is worrisome. Here and there for HA or pain, not an issue. Regular use for pain or sleep needs a closer look. Naproxen (Aleve) has been recently shown to be safer than ibuprofen for regular use. It is not going to harm everyone, but certain folks will be affected by NSAIDs, some more than others. They all come with cautionary labels now, just an FYI, that’s all. </p>
<p>Regular use of acetaminophen also has cautions related to liver toxicity. </p>
<p>If you use Advil PM or Tylenol PM, they are just Advil (ibuprofen) and Tylenol (acetaminophen) with Benadryl (diphenhydramine). Simply Sleep is Tylenol PM without the Tylenol. So if you want to sleep and have no pain, avoid the overuse of ibuprofen or acetaminophen.</p>
<p>Benadryl is an antihistamine: diphenhydramine. So is doxcylamine. So is Dramamine which is dimenhydranate. Regular use of antihistamines appears harmless. (Millions use the non-drowsy newer antihistamines every day for decades of their lives for allergies.) For some they work well. For others they feel hung over the next day or they get the opposite reaction and feel hyped up. It does not hurt to try one of the antihistamines one at a time to see which is tolerated the best. Write the generic names down and then look for them via store brands or brand names at the drug store. And for sleep, just use a plain antihistamine if there is no pain. </p>
<p>An OTC herbal blend of valerian and hops is Aluna. It used to be on the shelves at drug stores, but I have only seen it online as of late. It works for some, as does the melatonin.</p>
<p>Prescription sleeping pills simply drug you into a sleep. They are classified as hypnotics/sedatives/somnolents. They can be habit forming, all of them, even the newer ones that initially suggested they were not. There is no good prescription solution, unless you get a prescription for #30 and it last you six months to a year. That is the only good way to take a prescription sleeping pill/sleep aid.</p>
<p>I’d stay away from drugs. Only use it if you must. Hot bath works for me. I also have a massage pillows that put me to sleep within 10 minutes. Try getting up early like 5:00 A.M, do some physical work, you’ll be tired and sleepy by night time.</p>