So exactly how do sleeping pills work?

krunchykrome

Lifer
Dec 28, 2003
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All I wanted was something to knock me out once I close my eyes. Something that would allow me to get a good nights rest. I think these pills are putting me into a coma at night because I can barely get out of bed willingly in the morning.

Oh yea, they're over the counter.
 

krunchykrome

Lifer
Dec 28, 2003
13,413
1
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Originally posted by: pontifex
what time do you take them and what time do you need to get up?


I take them a few minutes before I go to bed (around 11pm-12am) and I have to wake up between 7:15am-8:00am.
 

MrChad

Lifer
Aug 22, 2001
13,507
3
81
Drowsiness is a common side effect, and you definitely need to allocate a full 8 hours of sleep.

Have you tried alternative solutions before moving to sleeping pills? Sometimes a slight change in habit can make a world of difference.

1. Avoid caffeine in the afternoon or at night.
2. Avoid exercise within 6 hours prior to your bedtime.
3. (most importantly) Go to bed and wake up the same time every day (including weekends).
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
Originally posted by: krunchykrome
Originally posted by: pontifex
what time do you take them and what time do you need to get up?


I take them a few minutes before I go to bed (around 11pm-12am) and I have to wake up between 7:15am-8:00am.

try taking them an hour earlier. for me, it seems they take at least an hour to make me sleepy.
 

lokiju

Lifer
May 29, 2003
18,526
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Over the counter sleeping pills only make me tired in the morning, I now have a prescription for Ambien and that shyte works!

Plus I don't feel so groggy in the morning (as much) and it's just a restful kind of sleep.

 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
25,989
4,598
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They basically work by making you immensely tired for 8-10 hours. It looks like you want to wake up 7-8 hours after taking them. See the problem here? You are taking them too late and/or not giving yourself enough sleep with them.
 

krunchykrome

Lifer
Dec 28, 2003
13,413
1
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Originally posted by: MrChad
Drowsiness is a common side effect, and you definitely need to allocate a full 8 hours of sleep.

Have you tried alternative solutions before moving to sleeping pills? Sometimes a slight change in habit can make a world of difference.

1. Avoid caffeine in the afternoon or at night.
2. Avoid exercise within 6 hours prior to your bedtime.
3. (most importantly) Go to bed and wake up the same time every day (including weekends).


1. I don't drink caffieine after 4pm.

2. With my work/school schedule, it's almost impossible to avoid going to the gym after 6pm on some days.

3. I usually go to bed and wake up at the same time on the weekdays, but everything gets thrown out of place when the weekends roll around. Saturdays, I sleep in till 1pm or 2pm and I do the same on Sundays usually.
 

krunchykrome

Lifer
Dec 28, 2003
13,413
1
0
Originally posted by: lokiju
Over the counter sleeping pills only make me tired in the morning, I now have a prescription for Ambien and that shyte works!

Plus I don't feel so groggy in the morning (as much) and it's just a restful kind of sleep.


What is Ambien? A sleeping aid? And how did you get a prescription for it. What did your doc diagnose you with?
 

Juice Box

Diamond Member
Nov 7, 2003
9,615
1
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Try melatonin rather than sleeping pills.....it puts you in a deeper sleep but DOESN'T make you groggy in the morning.....been a lifesaver for me! :p
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
25,989
4,598
126
Originally posted by: MrChad
3. (most importantly) Go to bed and wake up the same time every day (including weekends).
Bingo. Do this, and most likely your sleeping problems will go away. Yes, it requires a lot of willpower to start, but once you do it, you'll never want to go back to your old ways.
 

Tremulant

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2004
4,890
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My doc gave me these pills that are like benadryl, but stronger, and they knock me out in about 2-3 hours, but also leave me feeling tired for the next day.

I usually take them about 3 hours before I want to go to sleep, because they take about that long to kick in. (Nyquil, normal benadryl, etc, don't put me to sleep)

Btw, these pills are for my eczema, to quell my itchiness, so I only take them when it's been bugging me through out the day (nights are always worse for me)
 

krunchykrome

Lifer
Dec 28, 2003
13,413
1
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Originally posted by: Juice Box
Try melatonin rather than sleeping pills.....it puts you in a deeper sleep but DOESN'T make you groggy in the morning.....been a lifesaver for me! :p


Is that over the counter? If it is, what brand do you use?
 

SoulAssassin

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2001
6,135
2
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You can get melatonin at most drug stores or GNC. I like the GNC ones better because they dissolve under your tongue instead of having to swallow the pill so I can just keep the bottle next to the bed and pop one if I'm having trouble falling asleep w/out having to get up to get a glass of water. Been taking melatonin 3-4 nights a week for probably 6-7 years and it's the bomb. I travel frequently for work so I'm all over the country and it also really helps you get used to the time changes. Take it at the normal time you go to bed in the local time zone and I can adjust in 2 nights easily.
 

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
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what pill did you take?

i have lunesta and its a wonderful wonderful drug. I dont take a whole pill i dont need that much drug so i have a pill cutter and chop them in half. my script last longer as well by chopping them.

I went to my doc and told her that my insomina was killing me. for years i could not go to sleep earlier than 2am and then i would wake up several times before my alarm clock went off at 7:30. she gave me 6 refills.
 

krunchykrome

Lifer
Dec 28, 2003
13,413
1
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Originally posted by: rdubbz420
Originally posted by: krunchykrome


Hmm, sounds good for $10 a bottle. Gonna give it a try, thanks!

I get mine from here. They work great for me, I used to smoke pot to sleep, but now that I?m older I don?t want to have to do that anymore. Melatonin is also a supplement (antioxidant I believe) so it is good for you.


I'll run to walmart after work or on my lunch today to pick some up. Thanks again!
 

NissanGurl

Golden Member
Sep 4, 2003
1,111
0
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Originally posted by: krunchykrome
Hmm, sounds good for $10 a bottle. Gonna give it a try, thanks!

Melatonin is great for more restful sleep. It won't help put you to sleep. I was consistently having trouble getting to sleep. I would lay down at around 11:30-12 at night and wouldn't be able to get to sleep until 2am or later. After a couple of weeks I was dragging @$$ and mentioned my trouble getting to sleep when I went into see the doctor about some stomach trouble. She gave me a prescrip for Sonata.

I gotta say, I'm not a big one on taking pills but these little suckers work like a charm. The way the doc explained it is that Sonata works over a shorter period of time than some other sleep aids (maybe smaller dose don't really know why). The effects pretty much wear off after only about 3-4 hours. She even said she had some patients that had taken them, slept for a little while and woke back up and were able to take some more that night. They did not wake up groggy in the morning.

She did say were not habit forming (I don't really have an addictive personality so I wasn't really too worried anyhow). I don't take them every night, only when I'm really having trouble getting to sleep. Once I take one I'm ususally out about 20-30 minutes later...I just have to make sure to set the sleep timer on the TV ;)
 
Feb 10, 2000
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Melatonin is definitely the bomb. I've been using it for years. Works great and leaves no hangover the next morning. The only side-effect I've noticed is it tends to give you very vivid dreams - I used to know a girl who took it for that specific reason.