That depends upon whether you want to go Rx. or OTC. Lunesta is a recently approved non-benzodiazepine available by prescription with which many people are having great success. Melatonin supplements are a natural approach which are ineffective for some people. Others swear by it, however. Lastly, there is diphenhyramine. It's the active ingredient in Benadryl which is also utilized as a sleep aid in formulations like Tylenol PM. It makes me groggy, but some people like it.
Oh, there is also a medication (prescription) called trazadone. It's actually an old school antidepressant that really isn't all that effective for depression and is heavily sedating. For depression it's prescribed in doses up to 300-400mg, but many docs prescribe low doses (50-100mg) as a sleep aid because of it's sedating properties. Some docs prefer that to drugs like Lunesta and Ambien because it's non-addictive. It's also very cheap.
shakespeare38625.3603356481Ambien and Lunesta are VERY expensive - a pill. They are ADDICTIVE. I know, I take it every night. I depend on them to knock me out.
If I were a doctor, I'd prescribe Ambien and Lunesta over Bendryl and trazadone. Bendryl and trazadone are too dangerous for just getting sleep. Bendryl and trazadone has strong systemic effect on your body causing serious side effects while Ambien and Lunsta target more specific brain chemicals - GABA and give less side effects. If you have mental disorders, then Ambien/Lunesta are NOT good since they can easily induce psychotic eposides.
Melatonin works if you need to shift your sleep pattern. It doesn't induce sleepiness effectively as Ambien or Lunesta or benzos.
By the way, I don't like Lunesta.. it gives me a bitter taste that lingers for 24 hours. Not worth it.
Hi all, im 31 years old and just started taking 5mg's of ritalin twice a day. I have had sleep problems for about 10 years. I fall asleep fine but wake up constantly. It hasnt gotten any better or worse since i started the ritalin. Can anyone recommend a good med to "keep me asleep"?