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Medical Forum / General / Pharmacy / September 2006

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Non-prescription sleep aids- am I addicted?

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Bill Johnston - 25 Jul 2006 18:02 GMT
Hello,
Since I was about 11-13, I've had horrible problems with insomnia.
About 3 or 4 years ago, I started resorting to non-prescription sleep
aids, mainly Unisom.  I used it fairly frequently, occasionally for up
to a month at a time.  In those cases, I was able to stop by using
smaller doses each night.

Well, now,  I've been taking them for about a year straight and haven't
been able to stop for more than a few days at a time.  Most of the time
I only need half a pill, but getting below that seems to be difficult,
and periodically I have nasty bouts of sleeplessness that only a full
pill seems able to cure.

Basically, mainly I'm wondering, how much trouble am I in, and what can
I do about it?

(I already do lots of other anti-insomnia things I've been told about.
Taking rapid 3-mile walks every day, drinking lots of milk late in the
day, trying to relax before bed- I've been doing these all for years,
and they do help, in the sense that if I don't do them I don't stand a
chance of sleep, but don't  quite solve the problem.  Ultimately the
problem is probably depression and anxiety, but its hard to afford
visits to the psychiatrist when you work at a gas station.)
august - 25 Jul 2006 21:17 GMT
> Hello,
> Since I was about 11-13, I've had horrible problems with insomnia.
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> problem is probably depression and anxiety, but its hard to afford
> visits to the psychiatrist when you work at a gas station.)

I've taken lots of diphenhydramine over the years for allergies and as a
sleep aid and I never experienced any dependence symptoms after quitting.

Have you tried taking 5-HTP before bed?  Works ok as a sleep aid and no side
effects I've ever noticed. Supposedly helps anxiety and depression also.

http://www.jomarlabs.com/main/catalog.asp?featureid=1030

Since it is an amino acid, it works best if taken with water on a relatively
empty stomach about 15-30 minutes before bed.      good luck, AW
sleephelpTV - 07 Sep 2006 21:41 GMT
Hey Bill,

I read your post about how you feel you might be very dependent on sleep aids.
I'm doing lots of research for the Montel Williams Show and I can tell you,
you're not alone. If you would like to talk with me about how this is
affecting your life and perhaps we can try to have you talk with an expert,
please feel free to email me.

Mike@montelshow.com

Thanks so much Bill.
 
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