Just wondering if you can buy sleeping tablets OTC or if they are generally prescription only? Never really had to use them before so I don't know but I'm supposed to pick some up for someone and they don't want to use valerian etc.
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AADD Moderators: andyturbo
sleeping tablets OTC
- Thread starter entropope
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melancholic
Bluelighter
Unfortunately, I can't actually answer your question, however I was wondering if there was any particular reason behind not wanting to use valerian? I know a couple of people who don't like the vivid dreams and nightmares that often occur while using valerian, yet I found it enabled me to sleep soundly now and I don't need them anymore. Its as if my body has now compensated for the dose and developed its own way of allowing me to sleep restfully.
If your friend doesn't want to use valerian because they're suffering from insomnia, and they think they need something stronger, then perhaps you should suggest one or two valerian forte, a cup of camomile tea and a book (not a magazine). Inability to sleep can often be a habitual mindset that needs breaking, and a change of setting may be productive
If your friend doesn't want to use valerian because they're suffering from insomnia, and they think they need something stronger, then perhaps you should suggest one or two valerian forte, a cup of camomile tea and a book (not a magazine). Inability to sleep can often be a habitual mindset that needs breaking, and a change of setting may be productive
Pleonastic
Bluelighter
Restavit. OTC, but you gotta ask them for it. And they'll probably quiz you about how often you're going to take it, so have an answer ready. The shift work line is usually good.
CynaKill
Bluelighter
I find Phenergan Forte stronger than Restavit if it doesn't do it for you. It is OTC and is sold only on demand (ie you can't walk in and pick it up off the shelf). It's a strong antihistamine.. Problem is the next day hangover, but it's a small price to pay for a good sleep.
superbabydoc
Bluelighter
Most OTC sleep "aids" are sedating antihistamines. This includes Dramamine, Restavit, Unisom and Phenergan. I find it ironic that these are so freely available when their side effects are worse than a prescription hypnotic like temazepam. The antihistamines do not cause dependency like benzodiazepines, but do tend to commonly cause daytime hangover, and other problems (due to their anticholinergic effects) including dry mouth, constipation, urinary difficulties, blurred vision etc. See here for side effects from Unisom/aka diphenhydramine.
Personally I find herbal sleep aids less bothersome than OTC ones. Passionflower (sold as Sedasleep) is pretty good. Failing that, if the person is having legitimate sleep problesm they should talk to their Dr as shorterm, supervised use of a prescription hypnotic may be appropriate.
Personally I find herbal sleep aids less bothersome than OTC ones. Passionflower (sold as Sedasleep) is pretty good. Failing that, if the person is having legitimate sleep problesm they should talk to their Dr as shorterm, supervised use of a prescription hypnotic may be appropriate.
BigTrancer
Bluelight Crew
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Good post babydoc I wanted to mention that while I agree that OTC sedating antihistamines are not dependence-inducing like benzodiazepines, they can be quite habit-forming from a psychological standpoint, because they are an easy solution to a recurring problem. Insomnia can be such a hard 'craving' to resist.
BigTrancer
I wanted to mention that while I agree that OTC sedating antihistamines are not dependence-inducing like benzodiazepines, they can be quite habit-forming from a psychological standpoint, because they are an easy solution to a recurring problem. Insomnia can be such a hard 'craving' to resist.BigTrancer
Samadhi
Bluelight Crew
OTC...
Doziles are exactly the same as restavits, they both contain 25mg of Doxylamine Succinate, restavits are a little cheaper though (Doziles are a pretty little clear purple Temazepam-like gel-cap)
I definitely agree with superbabydoc. Although, when serious insomnia has hit me in the past (doesn't now), i've found, short-term, that prescription sedatives work better, there's no hangover, as there can be with anithistamines. I've only been prescribed 10mg Temazepam, and they're only very short-acting (2hrs) so really, they induce sleep, but don't "keep" you asleep like other heavier benzos, ie Mogadon, etc. If you are having trouble sleeping at all, then perhaps ask for something longer-acting. Personally, i find herbal sedatives haven't worked for me when i REALLY couldn't sleep (no doubt to do with my mind-set), but as a relaxant, herbals are quite good. I've not needed help sleeping for a long time now, but Doziles have really "come to the rescue" when i've occasionally needed them.
*edit* Just wanted to add that i've heard of quite a few people taking meds like Mersyndol, Dolased, etc to help sleep. These meds also contain smaller doeses of Doxylamine Succinate, as well as codeine and paracetamol. Paracetamol is quite bad for you at high doses and codeine can cause quite serious constipation, as well as be habit-forming. So, if you're really wanting to get something OTC, go for the doziles et. all, as you're only getting the one ingredient. It's also interesting to note, that through chatting with some friends who still indulge regularly in recreational substances and choose OTC sedatives as a sleep-aid, some chemists are requiring that you provide ID to purchase them...
sorry for the ramble...
Doziles are exactly the same as restavits, they both contain 25mg of Doxylamine Succinate, restavits are a little cheaper though (Doziles are a pretty little clear purple Temazepam-like gel-cap)
I definitely agree with superbabydoc. Although, when serious insomnia has hit me in the past (doesn't now), i've found, short-term, that prescription sedatives work better, there's no hangover, as there can be with anithistamines. I've only been prescribed 10mg Temazepam, and they're only very short-acting (2hrs) so really, they induce sleep, but don't "keep" you asleep like other heavier benzos, ie Mogadon, etc. If you are having trouble sleeping at all, then perhaps ask for something longer-acting. Personally, i find herbal sedatives haven't worked for me when i REALLY couldn't sleep (no doubt to do with my mind-set), but as a relaxant, herbals are quite good. I've not needed help sleeping for a long time now, but Doziles have really "come to the rescue" when i've occasionally needed them.
*edit* Just wanted to add that i've heard of quite a few people taking meds like Mersyndol, Dolased, etc to help sleep. These meds also contain smaller doeses of Doxylamine Succinate, as well as codeine and paracetamol. Paracetamol is quite bad for you at high doses and codeine can cause quite serious constipation, as well as be habit-forming. So, if you're really wanting to get something OTC, go for the doziles et. all, as you're only getting the one ingredient. It's also interesting to note, that through chatting with some friends who still indulge regularly in recreational substances and choose OTC sedatives as a sleep-aid, some chemists are requiring that you provide ID to purchase them...
sorry for the ramble...
gleep
Bluelighter
My experience with Restavit
I had serious trouble sleeping last week, for no aparent reason. After exercising for 1 hour/day and getting no real results from Blackmores "Tranquil Night" (300mg Valerian, and others) and Blackmores "Valerian Forte" (2000mg valerian) I decided to ask at the chemist.
I explained what was happening, and what I'd tried, and was handed drug mentioned above, "Restavit" (25mg Doxylamine Succinate). After 1x25mg tablet, I did finally have a good nights sleep, but at a cost. The next day I was spaced-out. I found myself zoning out or dozing off for 5-60mins whenever I sat down for a moment :-/
This was the 1st time I've had trouble sleeping for no aparent reason, and the 1st time I've used a sleeping tablet (apart from valerian). Even though the hangover was pretty bad, I would use them again if I began to stress about not being able to sleep.
Perhaps I have a strong reaction(hangover) to this type of chemical, but it's something for all to consider.
Oh yeah, before I swallowed it, I did a bit of a search on the net and found info on "Dozile". It's the same chemical (25mg Doxylamine Succinate) under a different name.
PDF Version (easy to read)
There is a HTML version translated by google, It's quite dificult to follow though. I can't paste that URL here directly, so a search for Google Search "Doxylamine succinate capsules" and click the first link where it says "View as HTML".
gleep
I had serious trouble sleeping last week, for no aparent reason. After exercising for 1 hour/day and getting no real results from Blackmores "Tranquil Night" (300mg Valerian, and others) and Blackmores "Valerian Forte" (2000mg valerian) I decided to ask at the chemist.
I explained what was happening, and what I'd tried, and was handed drug mentioned above, "Restavit" (25mg Doxylamine Succinate). After 1x25mg tablet, I did finally have a good nights sleep, but at a cost. The next day I was spaced-out. I found myself zoning out or dozing off for 5-60mins whenever I sat down for a moment :-/
This was the 1st time I've had trouble sleeping for no aparent reason, and the 1st time I've used a sleeping tablet (apart from valerian). Even though the hangover was pretty bad, I would use them again if I began to stress about not being able to sleep.
Perhaps I have a strong reaction(hangover) to this type of chemical, but it's something for all to consider.
Oh yeah, before I swallowed it, I did a bit of a search on the net and found info on "Dozile". It's the same chemical (25mg Doxylamine Succinate) under a different name.
PDF Version (easy to read)
There is a HTML version translated by google, It's quite dificult to follow though. I can't paste that URL here directly, so a search for Google Search "Doxylamine succinate capsules" and click the first link where it says "View as HTML".
gleep
superbabydoc
Bluelighter
samadhi: re: the half life of temazepam, while I have heard people say it is as short as 4 hours, the MIMS states "the average half life is 10 hours" with a range of 5 - 15 hours. In my experience, when I have to wake early after temazepam, I still feel groggy up until about the 7 - 8 hour mark. Imovane (zopiclone) and Stilnox (zolpidem) seem to have a shorter duration of action, so might be better in terms of reduced hangover, but they are a great deal more expensive than temazepam.
I find herbal sleep aids interesting, as all the ones I have tried give me freaky vivid dreams. This includes kavakava (now unavailable), 5HTP and occasionally with passionflower. Unfortunately, these dreams are so freaky they usually wake me up, defeating the purpose of using them.![:\](https://bluelight.org/xf/BL_Images/Orig_Emoji/wrygrin.gif "wry grin :\")
I find herbal sleep aids interesting, as all the ones I have tried give me freaky vivid dreams. This includes kavakava (now unavailable), 5HTP and occasionally with passionflower. Unfortunately, these dreams are so freaky they usually wake me up, defeating the purpose of using them.
Pleonastic
Bluelighter
I find that the groggyness I get the day after taking sleeping pills is far better than the total shittyness I feel if I don't manage to sleep at all and have to do a whole day at work. Sleeping pills can be bad, but they're the lesser of two evils IMO.
That said, I only use them once every two weeks (I work till midnight every second tuesday and have to be back at 8:00am Wednesdays). The only other time is after a big weekend, but there are plenty of reasons besides the sleeping pills that cause me to feel shit the day after that!
That said, I only use them once every two weeks (I work till midnight every second tuesday and have to be back at 8:00am Wednesdays). The only other time is after a big weekend, but there are plenty of reasons besides the sleeping pills that cause me to feel shit the day after that!
Cowboy Mac
Bluelighter
I've been using 25mg doxylamine succinate for a while now when i have needed to as restavit and dozile. If your able to get restavit as it is tablet and you can take half doses whereas dozile is sealed liquid caps. In my experience about 37.5mg (approx one and a half doses) is a happy medium to get me to sleep without being too fatigued the next day. doxylamine succinate has a half life of 10 hours [ref: datasheet] which means that if you took 37.5mg when you went to bed, assuming you had a 10 hour sleep, there would still be 18.75mg left. Unless you are able to have a long sleep there will be a considerable hangover, however its degree differs from person to person. My advice is to sort out another form of sleep aid unless you have the time to have a long sleep.
BigTrancer
Bluelight Crew
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Great thread :D
Samadhi
Bluelight Crew
superbabydoc: I was just repeating what the doctor told me (the discussion we were having was comparing the longer-lasting seds ie, Dozile and mogadon)... I've found that after having 2 10mg temazepam, and having a 6-8 hr sleep, i feel rested, but quite refreshed, and definitely no hangover. I guess it comes down to the individual
codiene_boy: I've found that codeine doesn't help me sleep at all. It has kept me in an "in-between" feeling, one that isn't at all comfortable. I compare it to when i've had pethadine for pain in the past. I feel like I really want to sleep, but i'm left with a feeling as if i've had a "twighlight" anaesthesic, which i've also had. ew. Again, it's an individual thing.
codiene_boy: I've found that codeine doesn't help me sleep at all. It has kept me in an "in-between" feeling, one that isn't at all comfortable. I compare it to when i've had pethadine for pain in the past. I feel like I really want to sleep, but i'm left with a feeling as if i've had a "twighlight" anaesthesic, which i've also had. ew. Again, it's an individual thing.