# Best non-RX sleep aid?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-rx-sleep-aid/784726
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [April 18, 2017, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-rx-sleep-aid/784726 "2017-04-18T18:49:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Lee\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lee_Q)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2017, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-rx-sleep-aid/784726/1 "2017-04-18T18:49:43Z")
I’m battling insomnia lately. Not interested in Rx sleep med, hoping to find an effective alternative to that. Got OTC Unisom – absolutely worthless for me, does not work at all. I’ve taken it for several nights in a row and had no noticeable effect. For example, took it last night around 10 pm, was still awake at 3:30 a.m. What I want is something to help me get to sleep more quickly.
Helping me sleep longer/quality of sleep is important too, but the main thing is I want it to help me get to sleep\*\* quickly.\*\* Anybody have any suggestions? I’ve had insomnia off and on over the years but this latest bout is really proving hard to overcome. ☹
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### Author:  [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-rx-sleep-aid/784726/2 "2017-04-18T18:54:22Z")
I’ve always had good luck with Diphenhydramine (Benadryl or any other brand/generic you might find it under, also it’s the PM in Tylenol PM).
50 mg (two Benadryls) usually works pretty well. If I’m awake for a reason (ie a med is keeping me wired), I’ve taken 3 or 4 on a few occasions.
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### Author:  [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2017, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-rx-sleep-aid/784726/3 "2017-04-18T19:10:21Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#):
>
> I’ve always had good luck with Diphenhydramine (Benadryl or any other brand/generic you might find it under, also it’s the PM in Tylenol PM).
>
> 50 mg (two Benadryls) usually works pretty well. If I’m awake for a reason (ie a med is keeping me wired), I’ve taken 3 or 4 on a few occasions.
I’ve also used Tylenol PM in the past, and it worked for me, but after about a week of using it I became habituated and had to slowly wean myself off of it. It I tried to stop cold turkey I was guaranteed a very bad night’s sleep. So I can use it for a night or two now and then, but I have to be careful. YMMV.
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-rx-sleep-aid/784726/4 "2017-04-18T19:59:23Z")
Melatonin works for me. Has a tendency to make my dreams weirder than usual, though.
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### Author:  [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2017, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-rx-sleep-aid/784726/5 "2017-04-18T20:24:33Z")
Have you looked at your sleep habits? Things like not taking naps, going to bed at the same time every night, no noise or lights in your bedroom, whatever?
Perhaps someone here has some recommendations.
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### Author:  [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2017, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-rx-sleep-aid/784726/6 "2017-04-18T22:45:47Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#):
>
> I’ve always had good luck with Diphenhydramine (Benadryl or any other brand/generic you might find it under, also it’s the PM in Tylenol PM).
>
> 50 mg (two Benadryls) usually works pretty well. If I’m awake for a reason (ie a med is keeping me wired), I’ve taken 3 or 4 on a few occasions.
Unisom IS benadryl. Isn’t it?
-anyway, if that’s not helping, and you need to conk out right away, that’s what zolpidem is designed for. Yes, it’s RX, but it’s generic now, so price wouldn’t be an object.
IDK what problems prevent you from getting an RX though, and of course ambien has its own curious properties and potential for misuse, IANAD, &c
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### Author:  [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2017, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-rx-sleep-aid/784726/7 "2017-04-18T23:00:06Z")
> [@Lee\_Q](#):
>
> I’m battling insomnia lately. Not interested in Rx sleep med, hoping to find an effective alternative to that. Got OTC Unisom – absolutely worthless for me, does not work at all. I’ve taken it for several nights in a row and had no noticeable effect. For example, took it last night around 10 pm, was still awake at 3:30 a.m. What I want is something to help me get to sleep more quickly.
>
> Helping me sleep longer/quality of sleep is important too, but the main thing is I want it to help me get to sleep\*\* quickly.\*\* Anybody have any suggestions? I’ve had insomnia off and on over the years but this latest bout is really proving hard to overcome. ☹
Do you drink anything with caffeine in it?
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### Author:  [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2017, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-rx-sleep-aid/784726/8 "2017-04-18T23:56:26Z")
> [@4d3fect](#):
>
> Unisom IS benadryl. Isn’t it?
No, it’s doxylamine.
Which brings me to something else I forgot to mention earlier. The OP could also try other antihistamines. Cetirizine (Zyrtec) I’ll only take at night if I can schedule it that way. When I first started using it, I’d fall asleep about 10 minutes after taking it. It’s one of the only meds that ever made it harder for me to wake up in the morning.
Allegra never has any effect on my wakefulness. I’ve never tried Claritin, but that would be another one to try (wiki says Loratadine is marketed as non-drowsy but that’s not really the case).
So, yeah, I’d start with antihistimes, Benadryl works great for me. As others said, pay attention to what you consume during the day. For example, I don’t drink coffee/tea/soda etc. So on the rare occasions that I get some caffeine in me, it can keep me kinda wired. With that in mind, look into any meds you’re taking, alcohol you’re drinking etc.
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### Author:  [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2017, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-rx-sleep-aid/784726/9 "2017-04-19T00:10:50Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#):
>
> I’ve always had good luck with Diphenhydramine (Benadryl or any other brand/generic you might find it under, also it’s the PM in Tylenol PM).
>
> 50 mg (two Benadryls) usually works pretty well. If I’m awake for a reason (ie a med is keeping me wired), I’ve taken 3 or 4 on a few occasions.
Benadryl works for me, too. I’m not a good sleeper, but I will only take 2 if I know I don’t have to get up the next morning. One helps me go to sleep, two knock me out.
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### Author:  [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2017, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-rx-sleep-aid/784726/10 "2017-04-19T00:16:47Z")
600 mg Ibuprofen and 3 mg melatonin does it for me.
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### Author:  [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2017, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-rx-sleep-aid/784726/11 "2017-04-19T00:52:48Z")
> [@PastTense](#):
>
> Have you looked at your sleep habits? Things like not taking naps, going to bed at the same time every night, no noise or lights in your bedroom, whatever?
>
> Perhaps someone here has some recommendations.
I agree with this. Perhaps assess your situation before reaching for drugs. As stated, create a good environment for you to get into sleep mode, such as no screen-time while trying to get to sleep, a cool, quiet and dark sleep environment, routine, etc. Also, eliminate caffeine in the afternoon, watch what you eat before bed-time, etc. There are all kinds of advice out there, you need to explore what may work for you.
Also, porn and self-gratification can help with the “quickness” thing, if you are so inclined. 🙂
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### Author:  [@tuesdayweld](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tuesdayweld)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2017, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-rx-sleep-aid/784726/12 "2017-04-19T01:55:02Z")
Nyquil works like a charm. As a (mostly) recovered insomniac, I don’t really recommend hitting the Nyquil too frequently. I used to drink a dose nightly for longer than I am willing to admit - but will say it was out of desperation for sleep.
I eventually ended up getting help from a doctor. I was instructed in developing good “sleep hygiene”, put forth a lot of effort to break bad nighttime habits, and slowly but surely I am now in at least a remission. I’m sorry for your woes.
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### Author:  [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2017, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-rx-sleep-aid/784726/13 "2017-04-19T14:03:27Z")
Benadryl and Unisom are both antihistamines, and I think Unisom is the strongest Otc sleep aid you can get.
So no idea. It may be time to see a doctor if Unisom doesn’t work. Maybe you just react bad to that drug, does benadryl do anything?
Also Tylenol pm is benadryl and nyquil is Unisom. They have other ingredients but that is what causes the sedation.
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### Author:  [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2017, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-rx-sleep-aid/784726/14 "2017-04-19T14:54:16Z")
> [@tuesdayweld](#):
>
> Nyquil works like a charm. As a (mostly) recovered insomniac, I don’t really recommend hitting the Nyquil too frequently. I used to drink a dose nightly for longer than I am willing to admit - but will say it was out of desperation for sleep.
>
> I eventually ended up getting help from a doctor. I was instructed in developing good “sleep hygiene”, put forth a lot of effort to break bad nighttime habits, and slowly but surely I am now in at least a remission. I’m sorry for your woes.
I was going to suggest zzQuil, which is basically whatever it is in NyQuil that puts you to sleep, but without the cold medicine component. My wife has used it a few times when she’s had trouble getting to sleep. It doesn’t seem to make it hard for her to wake up, which is a problem she’s had with other Rx and OTC sleep meds. (And she has enough of a problem waking up in the morning anyway, even without the meds.)
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2017, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-rx-sleep-aid/784726/15 "2017-04-19T14:58:26Z")
A few glasses of red wine, and I’m off the ZZZZZZZZZ-land, no problem.
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-rx-sleep-aid/784726/16 "2017-04-19T16:38:29Z")
Speaking as a guy who has battled poor sleeping all his life,
1. Absolutely 100% agree on looking at your own “Sleep hygeine,” as it were. There is a very, very, very high chance that poor habits prior to sleep are, if probably not your whole problem, PART of your problem.
2. Once you’ve eliminated that, take this from me;
- Don’t lie in bed fighting it. If you go a legitimately long time without sleeping, get up and do a reset. Leave your bedroom and do something quiet for ten minutes.
- Get cold. I know this sounds weird but it does help; once you’re out of bed, try to cool your body down. That’s easier in some places than others, I guess.
I would not recommend taking Benadryl or whatever. The effectiveness of such things for nighttime sleep can be a little dicey.
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2017, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-rx-sleep-aid/784726/17 "2017-04-19T17:16:46Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#):
>
> Melatonin works for me. Has a tendency to make my dreams weirder than usual, though.
Yes, try Melatonin first.
Hot chamomile tea.
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2017, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-rx-sleep-aid/784726/18 "2017-04-19T17:17:53Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#):
>
> A few glasses of red wine, and I’m off the ZZZZZZZZZ-land, no problem.
More than a half a glass and your sleep cycle will be disrupted so that your sleep is not restful.
This can be offset a little with melatonin.
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-rx-sleep-aid/784726/19 "2017-04-19T17:20:37Z")
> [@Shoeless](#):
>
> I was going to suggest zzQuil, which is basically whatever it is in NyQuil that puts you to sleep, but without the cold medicine component. My wife has used it a few times when she’s had trouble getting to sleep. It doesn’t seem to make it hard for her to wake up, which is a problem she’s had with other Rx and OTC sleep meds. (And she has enough of a problem waking up in the morning anyway, even without the meds.)
It’s just Benadryl , marked up 100 times. Diphenhydramine HCI 50mg. A jar of generic Diphenhydramine is $1-5 for a hundred pills.
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### Author:  [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-non-rx-sleep-aid/784726/20 "2017-04-19T17:57:54Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#):
>
> A few glasses of red wine, and I’m off the ZZZZZZZZZ-land, no problem.
Seriously, a serving of alcohol about a half hour before bedtime works wonders for some folks.
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