# Damnit! I really want to sleep! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 25, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damnit-i-really-want-to-sleep/554973 "2010-09-25T04:37:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damnit-i-really-want-to-sleep/554973/1 "2010-09-25T04:37:13Z")
I’m not tired at all, as per my chronic insomnia. I’ve even been drinking in hopes of bringing on alcohol-sleepies. But no. Nothing so far. GODDAMNIT! ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damnit-i-really-want-to-sleep/554973/2 "2010-09-25T04:41:41Z")
Reported for drunk-posting. Goodnight. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damnit-i-really-want-to-sleep/554973/3 "2010-09-25T04:41:50Z")
Right here with you, sister. I am tired, but it’s not as if that was at all relevant. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damnit-i-really-want-to-sleep/554973/4 "2010-09-25T05:15:38Z")
You, me, and lorene could have the first ever 4AM dopefest. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damnit-i-really-want-to-sleep/554973/5 "2010-09-25T05:35:40Z")
Hi Opal! I will probably be awake with you until the wee hours too… ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damnit-i-really-want-to-sleep/554973/6 "2010-09-25T06:20:19Z")
Alcohol is probably the worst choice. I find melatonin works for me–but you have to use it in small doses-- 300 mcg (not mg). And then augment with benadryl on particularly bad nights. If you are manic, then I’d suggest something else, of course, like maybe Seroquel. I’ve never met a single person who couldn’t be knocked out by that drug. (though it does make some people feel worse in the morning). ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damnit-i-really-want-to-sleep/554973/7 "2010-09-25T07:12:17Z")
Well, drinking isn’t really going to help except for maybe a few hours - but you probably know that. As long as you are having a few sips though, toss back 50mg of benedryl with it (double check with rxlist or something, but I think it’s pretty safe). Booze and antihistamines get a nice, warm synergy going that is much more effective that just the booze. Actually, to be sure you get the right doses, just get some Nyquil (generic, brand, whatever you prefer). They don’t call it the poor man’s qualude for nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Accident](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Mr.Accident](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Accident)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damnit-i-really-want-to-sleep/554973/8 "2010-09-25T12:09:05Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I find melatonin works for me–but you have to use it in small doses-- 300 mcg (not mg). This. It’s the only thing that keeps my insomnia in check, and it’s totally worth the $3 for a 180 day supply. Without it I get 6 hours of sleep a week, and with it I get 6 to 8 hours a night. It does have the drawback of giving me very vivid, very disturbing dreams though. From what I’ve read not everyone has that side effect. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damnit-i-really-want-to-sleep/554973/9 "2010-09-25T12:36:29Z")
I had that side effect, but it went away with time–although it may occasionally pop up if I oversleep. Yes, I went from not sleeping to oversleeping when I took the melatonin.