HELP Can't sleep, work night shift. What should I do?

Question

Can't get to sleep, when i get up at night have to force myself to get out of bed and am a zombie all night. HELP

Answer 1

Try not to drink caffeine too close to the end of your work shift. It can keep you from falling asleep.

Avoid smoking near the end of your shift. Nicotine is a stimulant.

Prepare for bed as you normally would at night, and establish a routine.

Eat something light before going to bed. Otherwise, hunger pangs can awaken you.

Darken your bedroom. Too much light can interfere with the quality of sleep. Hang up "black out" curtains, drape dark sheets over the windows or use a sleep mask.

Minimize noise and possible distractions. Unplug the phone; close the bedroom door; use earplugs.

Get a full "day's" sleep. Sleep the same number of hours you would at night. Schedule appointments or other activities during your waking hours, not during the middle of your sleep time.

Try to go to sleep and get up at the same time every day/night. It will help train your body to adjust to its new sleep routine.

Melatonin may help your body adjust to its new sleep/wake cycle. Take a low dose before going to bed, follow directions on the bottle.

Answer 2

Sleeping medicine can help you when you first start getting use to sleeping during the day. Any over the counter sleep aid or tylenol PM, etc. The benadryl can help as the other answer you got said also. Something that actually works better than anything for me but can be addictive, and that is a box fan. Like a 20 inch. I use this 365 days a year on medium or high. I and others I know find it has a calming effect and helps keep out noises also. The fan is addictive because now my wife and kids that sleep regular nights have gotten use to the fan also and use one to help them sleep even at night time. Also put dark shades over your windows. If you work nights, you'll probably never get use to sleeping normal on the nights you're off. That's just something you'll have to except.  

Answer 3

I am a night shift worker too and I have found that when I am having trouble sleeping, I can take benadryl 25-50 mg when I have at least 6 hours left to sleep. This is a non-habit forming medication that wears off in 6 hours. Try the 25 mg dose first as if it works, why take more? Check with your doctor to be sure that this medication won't interact with any medicine you may already be taking. Be careful taking this medicine and then thinking you can drive, it may affect your reflexes and ability to judge distances.