most’ over the counter sleep aids" are just antihistamines marketed on the fact that taking an antihistamine makes you drowsy
sleep medications like Ambien are formulated specifically for sleep problems.

Ok I have taken Tylenol PM, Advil PM and SImply Sleep when I tried Tylenol PM it first made me drowsy within 30 minutes then a month later it no longer worked for me so I tried other and yet the other 2 did nothing so I take 3 Hydroxyzine 2-3 hours before bed and using sleep mate white noise machine and sometimes ear plugs and within 30 minutes I am sleeping but I do wake up in the middle of night.

My father had the same problem. After I took him to many doctors and the ambien not having agreed with him, we discovered that you have to alternate bedtime over-the-counter sleep aids. In other words, take tylenol pm one night, the next night take equate sleeping aid (sold at walmart), then perhaps some valerian root and sleep aids from the VitaminShoppe, then Simply sleep, then advil pm, etc. etc.

Good luck. I know its hard to get a good nights sleep but if you alternate the meds, it should do the job.

I want to be drowzy while watching 24.

Diphenhydramine is not the only OTC sleep-aid you can buy. It is one of them though. Doxylamine succinate is another ingredient in some sleep aids. Tylenol PM and Unisom both contain diphenhydramine, which is an antihistamine that makes you drowsy. If you don’t have pain associated with your sleeplessness don’t take Tylenol PM, Motrin PM or Excedrin PM. Those are for people who have pain and can’t sleep. I’d go with Unisom (or the generic of). It works, contains only one active ingredient and it doesn’t make you "foogy" in the morning. DO NOT drink alcohol with any of these meds, especially tylenol. You can drop dead (seriously) if you mix alcohol with tylenol. So no Jack Daniels and Tylenol PM, ever. Drink or take sleep aids, one or the other.

I need something that will help me go to sleep, but is not habit forming.

THANKS FOR ALL ANSWERS!!

Catnip is a natural growing, healthy herb that contains a non addictive sedative called nepelectone. It is in the mint family and when brewed in tea using a table spoon of fresh or dried leaves it ensures a great nights sleep. You can purchase a plant at any garden shop which can be used immediately, either by taking all the leaves off and drying them or by simply letting the plant live in your house. It has attractive white flowers and thrives inside. Its completely safe and has been used for thousands of years, mothers give it to childs to fight colds and calm them down and people with trouble sleeping use it to sleep. Here is a great sight which i use daily and here is the page on catnip, ignore the dumb people who tried to smoke it but read all about it. Google cat nip tea for tasty recipes. Happy sleeping ! (:

I live in Delaware.

Yes, I actually just bough a bottle of 400 Benadryl at Costco for $7.95, which is the same medication use in some sleep aids.

My sweet fiance lives in the UK and he’s having trouble sleeping and he’s sick right now. Do you guys have any over the counter medicines that can help him? Non-herbal please. Thank you so much.

<33–Melissa

Hi Melissa!
Nytol one a night are fantastic but they can make you a bit drowsy so they need to be taken quite early on in the evening if your fiance is going to drive or work machinery next morning. I usually take them round about 7 in the evening as the effects tend to last about twelve hours, and they knock me out completely. I don’t think they are addictive but I would try and stick to perhaps taking them three to four nights in a row until your fiance is in a better sleep pattern and then using them as and when he desperate to sleep.
Hope this helps.

I have really bad insomnia..especially when I worry about things and Trazodone helps me sleep and is approved by the psychiatrist, but I have been told that Trazodone is not good for you.

I can’t give you real medical advice as I am not a doctor.

However, I don’t trust these anti-depressants and their kin. They are now often prescribing the anti-psychotic drug Seroquel to people who suffer from insomnia because one of its side effects is sleepiness. Despite the fact that they are not schizophrenic. As far as I am concerned, this is mis-use of a medication for other than it’s intended purpose: to treat psychotic illness.This drug has many serious side effects, including diabetes. This doesn’t apply to Trazodone however

Overall, I would think the over the counter sleep aid (which I do take) would be much safer so long as you do not exceed the recommended dosage without consulting your physician.

I’ve been having trouble falling asleep but never chose to do anything about it. I wanted to know if Ambien or Lunesta is the way to go. I hear these drugs might have some serious side effects. If anyone knows the best one to take with the least side effects that would be great. Also if anyone knows of any otc sleep aids..Ive tried nyquil a couple times and seemed to work only some of the time.
Thanks

Benadryl or Tylenol PM work for me!!

I’m on generic augmentin for a sinus infection right now and I want to take a Kirkland sleep aid (doxylamine succinate) to ensure I am knocked out tonight. Is this safe?

I wouldn’t recommend taking OTC medications while also taking prescription drugs. I’d ask your physician before you do.