Hello everyone,
I would like to know any and all ideas for sleep enhancement, including for falling asleep and for staying asleep; ideas can include pharmacological or non-pharmacological, but I'm only interested in options that are legal in the U.S., preferably without a prescription. I have a prescription for Trazodone, but it hasn't been working well enough lately. I'm on a horrible shift work schedule but need to stick it out and suffer through it for a while before looking at other job possibilities. I already take 3 mg of melatonin. Sometimes I take diphenhydramine or doxalymine succinate, but tolerance to these seems to develop quickly, so I only take one of them about once or twice per week at most. Valerian (just little capsules from a local drug store) hasn't helped much. Kava in little capsule form bought off Amazon didn't seem to do much either. Theanine seems to help somewhat with staying asleep. Alcohol is totally useless, just makes me feel nauseous. I suspect that OTC medicines and herbs might work better in combination with each other, but I'm not sure which combinations to try or what's safe to take with Trazodone versus what I should skip the Trazodone when taking. I'm experimenting some with room temperature and already wear an eye cover when trying to sleep in the day time. I often get drowsy at random times like while on the job and have had to take caffeine pills to get through my shifts, yet can't sleep when I need to (which is usually during the day time). Ambient noise has also been a problem, and I'm considering sleeping with ear plugs but am afraid I might not hear my alarm and get up on time. I often have very little time between work shifts to settle down for sleep, sometimes being at work for 14 hours then only home for 10 before having to be back for the next shift. Thanks in advance for any ideas.
I would like to know any and all ideas for sleep enhancement, including for falling asleep and for staying asleep; ideas can include pharmacological or non-pharmacological, but I'm only interested in options that are legal in the U.S., preferably without a prescription. I have a prescription for Trazodone, but it hasn't been working well enough lately. I'm on a horrible shift work schedule but need to stick it out and suffer through it for a while before looking at other job possibilities. I already take 3 mg of melatonin. Sometimes I take diphenhydramine or doxalymine succinate, but tolerance to these seems to develop quickly, so I only take one of them about once or twice per week at most. Valerian (just little capsules from a local drug store) hasn't helped much. Kava in little capsule form bought off Amazon didn't seem to do much either. Theanine seems to help somewhat with staying asleep. Alcohol is totally useless, just makes me feel nauseous. I suspect that OTC medicines and herbs might work better in combination with each other, but I'm not sure which combinations to try or what's safe to take with Trazodone versus what I should skip the Trazodone when taking. I'm experimenting some with room temperature and already wear an eye cover when trying to sleep in the day time. I often get drowsy at random times like while on the job and have had to take caffeine pills to get through my shifts, yet can't sleep when I need to (which is usually during the day time). Ambient noise has also been a problem, and I'm considering sleeping with ear plugs but am afraid I might not hear my alarm and get up on time. I often have very little time between work shifts to settle down for sleep, sometimes being at work for 14 hours then only home for 10 before having to be back for the next shift. Thanks in advance for any ideas.