what are some brands that i can buy at a drugstore, & how much are they??
thanks
Melatonin is great. It is a natural chemical in your brain so it is safe. Not sure about the cost but it is not too bad.

According to the American Lung Association, smoking-related diseases claim an estimated 438,000 American lives each year, including those affected indirectly, such as babies born prematurely due to prenatal maternal smoking and victims of exposure to tobacco’s carcinogens through secondhand smoke.

Approximately $167 billion each year in health-care costs, an average of $3,702 per adult smoker. It has been shown that quitting smoking now greatly reduces risks of heart disease, emphysema, and other serious medical conditions, and several drugs have been developed to assist patients in quitting smoking.

Chantix or Champix, known also as Varenicline Tartrate, is a prescription medicine given to patients seeking to end their smoking addiction. In the past, quitting aids have mostly focused on Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT’s) which use a limited release of nicotine into the body to ease cravings.

The drug operates without using any nicotine. Instead, it focuses on reducing cravings and decreasing the pleasurable effects of cigarettes and other tobacco products, specifically as a partial agonist that activates release of 35 to 60% of the dopamine that nicotine would have caused.

Common side effects of the drug include nausea, headache, difficulty sleeping and abnormal dreams. It is estimated that 5 million prescriptions have been written and Pfizer, the medicine’s manufacturer, reports there are 3 million Americans taking Chantix now.

In November 2007, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) began investigating reports of depression, agitation and suicidal behavior among patients taking the medicine, after they had received reports of 37 suicides and more than 400 of suicidal behaviors in connection with the non-smoking aid. A link between Chantix and serious psychiatric complications is becoming progressively probable, according to the FDA.

Additionally, the drug may further worsen preexisting psychiatric illness or cause a recurrence of past issues. Two weeks after this report, Pfizer added stronger drug warnings to the drug’s packaging, stating publicly that while a direct link between the drug and the reported psychiatric problems did not exist, the possibility of the drug-induced psychotic episodes could not be ruled out.

Pfizer has suggested that these episodes of irrational behavior have been caused by nicotine withdrawal. However, the FDA’s findings stated that even those patients who had continued smoking had similar psychiatric episodes. Indeed, cases of such extreme psychiatric problems have not manifested themselves as prominently in over the counter quitting aids, such as NRT’s.

The most publicized case thus far has been that of Carter Albrecht, who, after assaulting his girlfriend, was shot and killed by his neighbor who mistook him for a burglar. Some questioned the bizarre circumstances surrounding Albrecht’s death, and many close to him blamed his irrational behavior on the drug. In fact, after ABC published the story on their website, they received over 200 comments on the article, the large majority of them describing similar reactions of nightmares, depression, suicide ideation, broad mood swings, and generally abnormal behavior.

Many of these cases involved consumption of a moderate to heavy amount of alcohol, but an almost equal number reported these severe side effects with no alcohol imbibed. The possibility of real serious adverse side effects from the drug, including a relationship between the drug and suicide seems more and more likely.

Considering the evidence, it would appear that the drug has produced extreme or serious effects in a larger percentage of patients than what was originally found in the FDA tests.

Thoughts of suicide, euphoric to depressed mood swings, anxiety, and hallucinations appear to be almost common in the majority of available information from patients reporting back. As such, patients taking the drug should seriously consider consulting with their health care provider about the continued use of the drug, especially in cases where patients have a history of psychiatric illness.

If you or someone you know is taking the drug, or has taken the drug in the past, it may be in your best interest to consider consulting with an expert Chantix attorney about the prospect of any Chantix lawsuit, especially as the possibility of a Chantix class action lawsuit looms.

Alan Haburchak
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/possible-dangerous-side-effects-of-chantix-353606.html

just wondering

I guess my biggest question would be WHY would you want to? They don’t make you feel good. They make you sleepy and even groggy the next day! Just go to bed, turn off everything around you, close your eyes and fall asleep. A minor doesn’t need sleep aids…and if you do, have your parents take you to your doctor. There could be something wrong with why you are having a hard time falling asleep. Nighty Night!

We all know we live in a fast world! Our lifestyle is harried, our food is fast and statistics now show itâ??s taking a toll on one of the most important parts of our life–our sleep. The 2002 National Sleep Foundation (NSF) Sleep in America poll found that 74 percent of American adults are experiencing a sleeping problem a few nights a week or more, 39% get less than seven hours of sleep each weeknight, and more than one in three (37%) are so sleepy during the day that it interferes with daily activities. Our fast paced way of life is getting the best of us. What about you?

Answer True or False?

1. Five hours of sleep at night is good enough.
2. It’s ok to skimp on sleep during the work week as long as you make up the time over the weekends.
3. The effects of sleep deprivation are short-term (e.g., darkness under the eyes and dull and/or splotchy skin after a bad night’s sleep) and has no effect on long-term health.
4. Drinking caffeine early in the evening does not affect sleep.
5. Keeping a TV or computer in the bedroom has no effect on sleep.
6. The amount of sleep I get has nothing to do with my weight.

If you answered â??trueâ? to two or more questions you may need to make a few changes in order to achieve the highly coveted â??goodâ? nightâ??s sleep and keep yourself in optimal health.

Experts suggest that most people need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night but that doesnâ??t apply to everyone. Some people only require 6 hours while those who are more active or have an illness may require more.

So how do you know if you are getting enough quality sleep? Those who are sleep deprived often look the part. Dark circles and the â??sleepyâ? look are common, but they also can have unpredictable moods, drowsiness during the day, have difficulty concentrating, weak immune systems, recover poorly from injury and get sick more often. Sounding a little too familiar?

In fact, poor sleep has been found to impair the ability to perform tasks involving memory, learning, and logical reasoning. This may contribute to mistakes or unfulfilled potential at school or on the job as well as strained relationships at home. Even more disturbing, inadequate amounts of sleep have been linked to an increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, weight gain, obesity, heart disease and depression, to name just a few.

But what if you go to bed early, have every intention on logging in your 7-9 hours but only to lie awake watching the clockâ?¦eyes wide open? Well, there are several simple adjustments you can make to stack the cards in favor of a better nightâ??s sleep.

1) Avoid watching TV before bedâ?¦especially in bed!- The bed should be reserved for two thingsâ?¦sleep and romanceâ?¦not Desperate Housewives or football! Research shows that those who experienced the most sleep disturbances had televisions in their bedrooms and used the TV to fall asleep.

2) Try a different pillow or mattress. Itâ??s scary to think how long some of us have been sleeping on the same pillows and mattresses for years and years. Does your mattress provide the support you like? Do you wake with your back aching? Is there enough room for you and your sleep partner? Do you sleep better, or worse, when you sleep away from home? These are all things to ask
yourself to determine if your mattress could be the â??sabotagerâ? of your good nightâ??s sleep. Or more simply, just replacing your pillow with a new, fresh, higher quality version could be all that you need.

3) Avoid caffeine late in the day. Did you know that even a small amount of caffeine even 10-12 hours before bedtime can cause problems falling asleep! Try eliminating the tea, soda and even chocolate and see if sleep improves.

4) Listen to relaxing music. Establishing a relaxing bedtime routine, such as listening to music, could be just the thing you need to signal your body it is time to sleep. So, dim the lights and throw some slow jazz or purchase a â??relaxing soundsâ? CD to help slow your mind and body down for an evening of peaceful sleep.

5) Try mind- body techniques. After an action-packed day, your brain and body need to unwind and detox before sleep can occur (a.k.a. you need to chill!) Create a â??ritualâ? for bedtime - take a bath, meditate, do some easy stretches or yoga. Try to do your â??ritualâ? in the same way, in the same place, at the same time each night. The repetition will trigger your mind and body that it is time to relax and sleep.

6) Try a natural sleep aid. For many people, while the above tips and suggestions may help, it often isnâ??t enough. if you are one of those people who really have a hard time getting to sleep and staying asleep, you may want to try a natural sleep aid.

While over the counter sleep medications may help you fall asleep, they cannot be taken long-term and have risky side effects. A sleep aid that uses natural ingredients is a better approach to getting a solid nightâ??s sleep.

Jennet
http://www.articlesbase.com/sleep-articles/6-things-to-get-a-better-sleep-tonight-729153.html

Anyone who has had to wear prescription glasses during the hot humid summer months will be thrilled to know that they can enjoy the summer months prescription glass free. Lasik surgery is an easy procedure that will allow you to be free from wearing glasses on a daily basis.

In order to make sure that your recovery is fast and pain free you need to follow certain guidelines that are enforced by your doctor. Keep in mind that there will most likely be some dryness and discomfort in your eyes once the numbing eye drops have worn off.

The good thing is this discomfort should go away fairly fast. In order to prevent infections your doctor will give you antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication to reduce any swelling. You may also be given special eye drops to keep them from becoming dry.

After the surgery is completed you are not allowed to swim in a pool, hot tub, or whirlpool for eight weeks. This is because the water can get in your eyes and damage it as well as irritate it. At night you need to shield your eyes for up to four weeks. It is possible for people to rub their eyes or roll over on them while they are sleeping. This can irritate the eyes and slow down the healing process.

For eight weeks you are also not allowed to participate in any contact sports or other strenuous activities. This can hurt anyone with normal eyes - but also with those people who are recovering from lasik surgery.

Before you begin to panic you need to make sure that it takes three to eight weeks for the personâ??s eyes to stabilize and completely recover. Because of that you might experience symptoms that can develop. These symptoms include; haloes, glare, and a difficulty in driving.

If these symptoms last longer than you should wait until the vision is fully functional. Preexisting conditions that occurred before the surgery may not be fixed after the surgery is completed.

nlwest21
http://www.articlesbase.com/vision-articles/lasik-eye-procedure-recovery-742406.html

A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is a serious injury that can have an impact on every aspect of the victimâ??s life, and even the lives of their loved ones. Whatâ??s worse is that a traumatic brain injury can occur with few obvious outward signs.

There are many different types of brain injury, but the two most common types of brain injury are closed head injuries and open head injuries. While open head injuries can be almost immediately diagnosed, closed head injuries can be misdiagnosed, and their symptoms can be wide ranging.

Closed head injuries occur when the head come in contact with an object, forcing the brain to move and hit the inside of the skull. While there may not be any outward signs of the closed head injury, the impact on the brain can create many different problems.

Open head injuries are caused when an object pierces the skull, injuring the brain inside. Open head injuries may be cause by bullets or other projectiles, or violent accidents, where the skull is fractured. Open head injuries are usually more serious than closed head injuries because they often result in death.

Traumatic brain injuries are sometimes difficult to diagnose because the symptoms may affect thinking, memory, or emotions, rather than causing outward symptoms like other, more common injuries. Traumatic brain injury symptoms can include:

· Constant headaches

· Difficulty concentrating

· Mood swings

· Difficulty performing normal tasks

· Slurred speech

· Slower comprehension

· Blurred vision

· Difficulty focusing on objects

· Lack of energy

· Change in sleeping patterns

· Lack of balance

Because TBI have these kinds of symptoms, and the injuries have the potential to stay hidden for a long period of time, it is important that if you or a family member has suffered an injury to seek out professional help as soon as possible. Furthermore, because TBIs can ruin lives and livelihoods you should find an experienced traumatic brain injury attorney in your area.

Lynn Fugaro
http://www.articlesbase.com/personal-injury-articles/what-is-traumatic-brain-injury-695136.html

Many of us has had at least one restless or sleepless night.  The tossing and turning you encountered could have been caused by a multitude of factors; including stress, illness, anxiety, or perhaps, the over consumption of caffeine or alcohol.

Whatever the reason, chances are you hate not sleeping.Our ability to be productive at work and even at play is due to not having enough sleep.  We feel tired, cannot concentrate, and are far more sensitive to emotional and physical stressors.  Basically, we just aren’t ourselves.

The fact remains: sleep and relaxation are equally as important, if not more, than diet and exercise.  It’s our body’s way of recuperating.  Think of us as sayâ?¦ a rechargeable battery.  When we sleep our mind and body go through a replenishment process.  We can compare batteries being inserted into the charger to our climbing into bed for a long slumber.  Only when the charger is plugged in, however, do the batteries begin to recharge.  We can equate this to our sleep process.  But for some, “plugging in” to good sleep remains extremely difficult.

Your mood and performance can be severly affected due to a few nights of bad sleep.Experts state ,as well, that the longer a sleep problem persisits,it is unlikely to go away without some form of intervention by treatment.  Insomnia should not be ignored.  It is not a fact of life, as so many of us believe, and there is help. 

Do you have Insomnia?

Are you are constantly struggling with sleep quality, not getting enough sleep, and suffer from the following symptoms, you may have insomnia.  Ask yourself these questions.

Do you Have problems falling asleep?
Are you frequently waking up during the night and cannot fall back asleep?
Getting up earlier than you want in the morning?
Even after sleeping a good 7-9 hours,you awake un-refreshed.

You are not alone if you have said yes to any of these questions.According to a recent study, reports indicated 35% of all adults get the required amount of sleep,and that nearly half of all Americans have some difficulty sleeping.

Experts,however,have suggested that only 1 in 3 people suffer from a chronic disorder.  But regardless of its frequency, our emotional and physical well being is in danger as a loss of sleep wreaks havoc.Impaired concentration, diminished memory, constant headaches and the increased risk of substance abuse and motor vehicle accidents are some of the major factors of prolonged insomnia.

Signs and Symptoms:

Signs and symptoms of insomnia/lack of sleep differ from person to person.  Some individuals may suffer from anxiety approaching bedtime, while others fail to feel refreshed even after getting and abundant amount of sleep.  Other symptoms may include; not being able to sleep despite being extremely tired, daytime drowsiness, irritability, feeling of depression, and impaired ability to perform normal activities.

Types of Insomnia:

Two types of insomnia are prevalent; chronic and short term.  Chronic diagonoised insomnia, or on-going insomnia, occurs at least three nights a week over a month’s time.  There are two classifications of chronic insomnia;

Primary Insomnia: Insomnia not related to any other health or medical problems.
 
Secondary Insomnia: Insomnia caused by an underlying medical condition (physical and mental), medication, or poor sleep environment.
Short term (transient) insomnia is lack of sleep lasting for one night to a few weeks.  Intermittent insomnia is the last class of insomnia and is characterized by ’bouts’ of insomnia, or insomnia occurring from time to time

It has proven extremely difficult for treating insomnia for patients and care providers alike.Every person presents his/her own set of unique problems and circumstances.  There exists no cure-all for people suffering from chronic sleep problems; rather physicians aim to treat the condition through a multi-factorial approach. The Four of the most popular methods for treating insomnia include:

Reconditioning: Reconditioning therapy is a method which involves re-organizing the environment a person uses to nothing more than a place of rest.Reading or watching TV in bed  must be stopped, and used  only to sleep.

Sleep Restriction: Sleep Restriction is done under the guidance of a medical proffesional.  This technique is used to alter andlessen the time spent in bed by the person.  People with insomnia often spend too much time in bed trying to fall asleep.  Going to bed later or waking earlier is done until normal sleep patterns return.

Relaxation Therapy: This type of theory aims to reduce stress, tension, and anxiety in a person relaxing the muscles and diminishing ‘racing’ thoughts.

Medications: Perhaps the most controversial of all treatments, despite its success, medications are used to alleviate anxiety and treat underlying medical conditions (e.g. depression) that may be contributing to the condition.The medications used to treat insomnia (over-the-counter and prescription) carry an extreme risk of physical and psychological dependency.  In addition, there are many side effects associated with the use of these drugs; including morning grogginess, dry mouth, dizziness, and nervousness.  Lastly, the majority of these medications are recommended for a maximum of 14 days of continuous use.

 
What you need is an all natural, safe, and long-term solution for Your insomnia, or other sleep related-issues.Understanding that sleep is essential,one needs to find treatment that bridges the gap between your sleeplessness and a great night’s rest.  Trouble sleeping is often the result of naturally occurring chemicals in the brain, particularly adrenaline and non-adrenaline.  These chemicals are used by the body for alertness.  However, in insomnia these “awake” chemicals are more active than your “sedentary” chemicals.The most important of all the “sedentary” chemicals, as far as sleep is concerned, is GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid).  This chemical slows down brain activity, relaxing the body and allowing you to sleep.  In the majority of insomnia sufferers, GABA doesn’t work as it should. 

The result? Restlessness and problems falling asleep.

Kevin Naidoo
http://www.articlesbase.com/sleep-articles/insomnia-why-cant-i-sleep-727780.html