What Is A Good Over-The-Counter Sleep Aid?

Question

My son keeps waking up every hour & then most of the time finds it hard to get back to sleep. He is not using the t.v. in his room, & is doing all of the usual things to get ready for bed. He is 24 yrs. old & has no health ins. to be able to go to the doctor. He believes that if he can just get his body in a normal routine again then he will be back on track before college starts up again. Thanks in advance for any suggestions. Also, I would like to know if you actually used the otc sleep aid personally & your likes & dislikes about it.

Answer 1

Melatonin. Buy it where they have the vitamins and herbal supplements.

Answer 2

sorry, prescription or over-the-counter, they all have drawbacks or side-effects.  Ambien, makes you a walking zombie that will either get you hit by a car or will cause you to kill someone with your car.  Melatonin, will give you a headache the next day that you will act like a prick for two days...  Honestly, cut back on the caffeine, get some exercise and try Chamomile tea...

* Lanny, excellent answer!

Answer 3

Unisom is very good. I used it for a few days to get back into a regular sleep pattern. I liked it because it worked so well and I was not drowsy when I woke up. There was nothing I did not like about it.

Good luck

Answer 4

In this house...for OTC...we use Melatonin.  Its a natural occuring sleep substance that the body makes...but sometimes...the body doesnt do such a hot job in producing it.  It can be purchased at Walmart.  Normally they have at least 2 different kinds of it.  Go with the purple lid.  Its Nature something or other.  Its the best of what Ive seen out there.  Start off with 1...if that doesnt work then 2...or even 3...ive never had to take more than 3 at my worse times...when i was on OTC stuff.  Take it about 25 minutes before you think your head is going to actually hit the pillow.  And then, no TV...no radio...lights off if possible... no noise from somebody else in the room.  Put on your regualer go to sleep habits and call it a night.  If for some reason after 1/2 an hour after taking it.....somebody comes to the house or for some reason something external keeps him up...if he stays up for over 2 hours afterwards...then take another dose.  I can't remember how many are in a bottle....its up at my mothers house right now,... but I do remember that the large bottle runs about $8.00 and something.  Not a bad price for a restful night.  That will have at least 100 in it, so even if hes taking 3 at night it'll last at least a month.  Tell him not to start out with 3...maybe 2...and it's not something that is addictive..in fact...once he gets a little regulated with his sleeping habits...he can back off to one and get the same effect. Then maybe slip off of them all together and sleep thru the night.  Good luck...Sweet dreams..and don't let the blahblahblah... lol  none of us have ever experienced any day after problems with the Purple lid.

Answer 5

   I am ...er....60+.  I have had sleep probs.  People laff, but a cup of cocoa really  DOES help you relax and sleep at night.  A tin of cocoa is not going to break the bank, so try it.  Who knows.  It may work  !!

       (And a small glass of brandy before you go to bed........!)

         Best wishes.  Happy dreams to your son.

Answer 6

Give him some Benedryl. It will not hurt him and it will make him drowsy so he  will fall asleep. My son works shift work and that's what he uses. Most sleep aids over the counter have the same almost ingredient.

Answer 7

Tylenol Simply Sleep

Walsom (Walgreens equivalent of the above)

I have taken them and they do work.

Answer 8

benedryl works for me!

Answer 9

I use melatonin its in the vitamin section of the grocery store.  take it about 1 hour or so before going to bed and make sure he can get 8 hours of sleep.  It is natural so there shouldn't be any bad side effects.  Other then that he could take benadryl but that makes you really groggy in the morning.  (With anything that puts you to sleep you should get at least 8 hours of sleep.) There is also Tylenol PM but that's just benadryl and tylenol.

Answer 10

i have the exact same problem, but its going to be hard to get on a regular sleep pattern. In college its almost impossible without sleep issues much less with. This is what ive been trying, he should try the advil sleep aid first to see if they work.  they aren't as heavy as the stronger ones and king of ease you into sleep. and they are non habit forming. If that doesn't work then Unisom is really good but you'll need more than 8 hrs to devote to it after 9 i still feel a little drowsy. they work but you have to be carefull about when and how often you take them and ONLY TAKE ONE!! only take if you know you don't have to be up early. It that doesn't start to help after a while then he's just gonna have to suck up the cost and go to the doctor, but if he goes to his schools health center it'll be much cheaper. Free to get checked out and slightly cheaper prescription prices that a drug store. at least that's how it is at my school.

Answer 11

Please pay attention here. This is the body's "check engine" light coming on. If you just take away the symptom the root of the problem is still there. Just look at what happened to Heath Ledger.

You should take your son to see an Acupuncturist and encourage him to practice Yoga and Meditation. This will help his body heal itself and prevent future health issues.

Answer 12

benedryl