INSOMNIA!! Help??

I have had insomnia for the last several weeks now. I saw a dr. and he put me on a prescription sleep aid which only seemed to work for 4 hours or so and then I was wide awake again. I did not like the way it made me feel either. Kind of aggitated and not feeling right. So, I have melatonin. What is the most of this I can take at night time before I go to bed??? I have 3mg tablets. This won't harm me will it?? I want sleep. I don't drink caffeine or eat chocolate. Does ANYONE have ANY ideas to help me fall asleep and stay asleep?? I don't really have much faith in my dr. after this medicine he put me on. It was horrible the way it made me feel. Someone please HELP me!!

i strongly suggest valerian root. it's great at relieving stress and tension! you can get it over the counter and it's a great sleep aid! if you have one of those "racing minds" or "i can't turn my head off no matter how tired i am" then this will definitely help. you can find at your local grocery store in the pharmacy or herbal remedy section. start off taking 500-1000mgs, 30-45 minutes before you go to bed. now you can get this stuff in capsule form and it's 100% safe (my whole family has been taking it for years and our family doctor actually recommended it) however the only downside is that the more potent the brand your taking the stronger the smell. and this stuff smells AWFUL! but it's worth it. within 5-7 days you should notice a definite change in your sleep.

WARNING! i strongly do not suggest that you take Tylenol PM and booze, in any form or combination. the main ingredient in Tylenol PM and Advil pm, or benadryl for that matter is diphenhydramine. here's what happens when you take it:
You can walk into a drugstore and choose from an array of sleep aids, offered without prescription. The main ingredient of over-the-counter sleeping pills is an antihistamine. Antihistamines are generally taken for allergies, but also make you feel very sleepy. Common over-the-counter sleep medications are Sleep-Eze, Sominex, Nytol, and Unison; they contain antihistamines such as:

diphenhydramine hydrochloride,
diphenhydramine citrate, or
doxylamine succinate.
In general, over-the-counter sleep medications are not a good choice because they:

Are not intended for long-term use.
Interfere with mental alertness during the day, so you should avoid driving and other similar tasks. You may also be at risk for falling asleep
Reduce the quality of your sleep by reducing time you spend in deep sleep.
Use over-the-counter sleep medications only for transient or short-term insomnia and in conjunction with changes to your sleeping habits. Be sure to pay attention to your body鈥檚 physical response to these sleep medications.

also look at the links on the website i've listed they have some good remedies!

I hope this helps!

If Melatonin is giving you problems then you're most likely going to have problems with any other sleep meds since they all will most likely have Melatonin in them.

Here are some helpful tips to help you get a better night sleep:

- Do Not Nap During The Day
This is where alot of people are going wrong. Taking naps during the day will keep you up more at night. Try to do things to keep yourself busy during the day so you are not falling asleep.

- Exercise During The Day
Try to do a little bit of exercise during the day to burn some energy and help you feel more tired at night and fall asleep.

- Stay Away From The Caffeine
Do not drink anything with caffeine at least 4 hours prior to going to bed. Caffeine can remain in your system for hours and keep you awake at night.

- Set A Schedule
Set a time to go to bed and wake up every day. Being on a consistant schedule will help your body get used to knowing when it is supposed to be asleep and be awake.

Try taking a double dose of Valerian root capsules, (it's ok; just a mild herb). Then eat a banana or 2 with a glass of milk. Get down to bed, close your eyes, stretch, take some deep dreaths. It's very hard but don't think at all and you will drop to sleep. Works for me no matter what. Good night.

Hi there-- I know how frustrating this can be; I am a holistic health counselor and have had clients with similar issues. Along with a healthy diet and consistent exercise routine, I recommend you try some breathing exercises and even meditation before you go to bed.
I do this-- as soon as I lie in bed I take about 10 deep breaths, afterwords I breathe normally but stay focused on my breath. With attention on my breath, I can feel my body relaxing, and when it does I actually experience (with awareness) being tired...and eventually I fall asleep. Whats great about this method is that its a life practice, and you will NEVER have to go on any pharmaceuticals. Try it out, and stick with it! Good luck...
Todd Goldfarb
Founder, We The Change
http://www.wethechange.com

Insomnia is often caused by fear, stress, anxiety, medications, herbs, caffeine, depression or sometimes for no apparent reason. Make sure your bedroom is quiet and dark. Soak a tablespoon of mint leaves in a cup of water for an hour, drink every night. Check out http://useinfo-insomnia.blogspot.com/ for more info

What are you stressing out about in your life?
Perhaps, you need to look @ that & see if it carries over into your night sleep & if you can fix some of it...
Keep a journal...try hypnosis, if it doesn't get resolved...
Don't stress out about having insomnia, this will keep you awake @ night too. It takes a while to resume a natural sleeping pattern, so be patient with yourself. You've received a lot of good advice, so far... :)
3mg tbls Melatonin will not harm you. However, if you're on them for a long time, you need to stop them because they also stop working after a while (they help you fall asleep but don't help you stay asleep) then you can resume taking them again. The trick with insomnia is to have a night ritual, this helps your body get ready for sleep before you're even in bed. If it can start out with a nice hot bath, some tea or reading but don't exercise prior to sleeping (don't do anything that will excite you) like watch sci fi on T.V.
*Everyone will experience some insomnia in their life, it's not unusual...