What's everyone's favorite sleep aid or the most popular
that you use for combatting the sometimes annoying side-effect of insomnia?

Insomnia rarely annoys me. I've always had difficult getting to sleep, or going back to sleep if I'm wakened. These days I keep a dim reading lamp burning next to the bed and a book to read beside my pillow. I read myself to sleep and if i wake up and don't feel like I can drop off again, I read myself to sleep again.

I have used Benedryl in the past to help me sleep back in the days when I was married and my hubby didn't like having a light on all night. Too bad he didn't understand that his snoring kept me awake as much as my light kept him awake, eh? I've tried Melatonin a few times in the past year and found it helpful.

I took Ambien for about 6 months. It didn't work well for me. I'd be lucky to get 5 hours of sleep after taking it. My pdoc just prescribed 50mg of Seroquel at bedtime. I only take 25mg and it gives me a solid 8 hours sleep. I took it approximately a year ago for sleep and it worked good then too.

Seroquel is used to treat bipolar depression. You would need to take 200mg or more of Seroquel daily to be effective for treatment of bipolar. Doctors prescribe it in low doses as a sleep aid.

lunesta

Seroquel is used to treat bipolar depression. You would need to take 200mg or more of Seroquel daily to be effective for treatment of bipolar. Doctors prescribe it in low doses as a sleep aid.

I take 100mg at bedtime, knocks me out. Only sleep aid I've ever used that got me to sleep.

I've taken Ambien for years and it has always worked for me.

I've also found that keeping my TV on all night helps me. Most people tell me this is "bad" for me and only interferes with sleep. It is very soothing for me though and it distracts my mind so it isn't running around keeping me from sleep.

I have used melatonin and it works some. I have a problem going to sleep and staying asleep. The pdoc gave me samples of lunesta both 1mg and 3mg, I took the 1mg and it put me to sleep but I still woke up several times. With the 3mg I don't wake up as often. I don't know yet if I will discontinue it.

I take lunesta 3mg to help me sleep at night. It works very well for me.

I've tried Ambien, 10 mg. and it does nothing. I can't even tell I've taken it.

I am bipolar also and take Seroquel. I was taking 500 mg. but it started causing elevated prolactin levels so I had to decrease it. I take about 100-150 mg. now and it doesn't do a thing. However, I'm totally manic and have been this way for about a month.

Last time I went to see my psychiatrist, he asked me if I wanted Ativan, Xanax or Klonipin. I declined as I'm enjoying being manic after a suicidal depression this winter. When I go back, I might ask him to prescribe me one of those so I can take it if I get sick of being manic.

BTW, I am taking all of my meds right now (adderall & lamictal), they're just not working.

ps. Benadryl is like crack for me and keeps me up all night. I absolutely can't take it. Melatonin gives me migraines.

Well, no more lunesta for me. I have been having nightmares, which I have anyway occationally. The horrible metallic taste I thought I could live with but last night I had sleep paralysis, never ending nightmares, when I finally really woke up I was terrified and was afraid to go back to sleep. Its like having a panic attack in your sleep, I looked online and see this is common.

Well, no more lunesta for me. I have been having nightmares, which I have anyway occationally. The horrible metallic taste I thought I could live with but last night I had sleep paralysis, never ending nightmares, when I finally really woke up I was terrified and was afraid to go back to sleep. Its like having a panic attack in your sleep, I looked online and see this is common.

Yah nitemares are one draw back.. the tase howeve over time has grown on me.. i don't lke it, bt don't really notice it anymore. I'm from Cnada so take imovane at 7.5mg

I just got started on adderall today, 20 mg at 6 pm and 20 mg ambien at 11pm. I agree with Persephone the tv helps. it kinda interfears with my dreams to "help them out" hopefully i ca sleep soon.