Does Nytol actually work?

[Kenanddreary]

I am at the end of my tether with insomnia. I have found old threads and read all the advice. I have tried most things but they don't really do it for me.

I manage to persuade my GP to prescribe me Zoplicone every so often but I try very hard to ration them as I really don't want to become addicted on top of everything else!

One of the best things I had recently was Benilyn 4 flu (which I did originally take for a bad cold) and ended up finishing the bottle over two/three weeks because it was so good. Obviously I don't want to keep doing that either!

I have tried Kalms (one a night) - they do nothing whatsoever and on the bottle it says it may take 2 weeks to have effect!! A more immediate solution is required. I then went to the chemist to get Nytol and on the advice of the assistant actually bought an 'own-brand' version which she said was exactly the same. OMG - it lasted right through the next day - not a nice sleepy feeling but a really terrible hungover and dizzy feeling. I couldn't go through that again - it was really difficult to function.

So - does anyone have experience of Nytol? Perhaps it is better than my own-brand version? Any help gratefully received.

[TheArmadillo]

nytol will probably be the same as the own brand version as they are anti histimines I think, the old sort that made you really drowsy. They work on me but do make me feel woozy and I know others who say the same.

I use Doxylamine Succinate which you can buy from amazon - its the same stuff thats in syndol as a muscle relaxant. But check what the active ingredient was in the stuff you bought and google the nytol and check whats in there cos no point buying the same stuff.

[vintageviolets]

Hi, I've used Tesco own brand before. I take it between 8-9pm, to avoid the thick head the next day, no later as in bed at 10pm & up at 6am.

Also a couple of drops of lavender oil or karvol on my pillow, earplugs and a hot water bottle. No t.v or Internet, just read my book for half an hour.

I hope you get some rest.

[Trills]

If you don't have to ask for it from behind a counter, it probably doesn't have anything in it.

Nytol is diphenhydramine. 50mg in a one-a-night pill. Yes, it works. For me anyway.

[Trills]

(and any other brand of anything with diphenhydramine works exactly as well - I find 25mg is enough for me most of the time)

[Kenanddreary]

Thank you for all the advice. Yes Trills - the Benidryl had 25mg of diphenhydramine and my version of Nytol had 50mg so maybe I just need a lower dose.

TheArmadillo - will look that up and see what it says. I'm always willing to try something new.

Vintage - I also get up about 6am and try to take any sleeping tablets before 9pm. But I really did feel dreadful the next day! Might try some Karvol though - haven't done that yet.

[topsi]

You could try some Tryptophan as a more 'natural' remedie. Eat foods like bananas, poultry, brazil/walnuts, porridge etc in the evening.
Do you know the cause of the insomnia, stress etc. You need to think of treating the cause not just applying a sticking plaster as it were.
Your GP should be trying to help you in other ways if the insomnia is a chronic condition.
Mine seems to have settled down after about 20 years!!

[Marzipanface]

Nytol does work but the next day I feel terrible! Tired, hungover and really dozy. I don't recommend it at all.

zoplicone is good but loses it's effectiveness after a while.

[noddyholder]

I am in a terrible cycle of this too. Haven't slept properly in weeks. Am tempted to take a syndol but am not in pain so don't like to

[Kenanddreary]

You are right Topsi. I am not the most relaxed of people - although there is nothing to stress about I still manage to be on constant alert!! I find it really difficult to unwind.

Yes - I also noticed that Zoplicone wasn't as effective after a few days.

[Kenanddreary]

Really sorry to hear that Noddyholder. I sympathise.

Hadn't thought about syndol. What's that like?

[noddyholder]

It does make me sleep tbh it has a mixture of things and is amazing for migraines. But I wonder if I take it tonight then back to square one tomorrow!

[TheArmadillo]

They have increased the level of caffeine in syndol (did it just before they took it off sale for a while) so it doesn't make you as sleepy in general.

Its a painkiller that contains paracetamol and codiene but they add the Doxylamine Succinate as a muscle relaxant. The Doxylamine Succinate by itself as a sleep aid is around £5 on amazon for 160 tablets.

[Bluebell99]

When I had a spell of insomnia, I found taking one instead of the two recommended worked for me, but I found I was getting terrible nightmares so I stopped taking them.

[stargirl1701]

Vicks Medinite is better. Hard to find though.

[borisjohnsonshair]

I always buy the Boots own brand behind-the-counter sleep tablets. They do two types - 1 a night or 2 a night. I get the 2 a night pills, but only take 1 and find that this works perfectly.

Just so you know - it says over 16s only on the packet, yet has EXACTLY the same dose of anti-histamine as Medised for children . So you can always take that instead.

[Doyouthinktheysaurus]

Promethiazine is available over the counter. I can't remember the name it trades under, It's an antihistamine which has a very sedative affect. I've not tried it but its prescribed quite frequently for patients I work with (mental health nurse).

I find piriton works well for me. It's generic name is chlorphenamine and is much cheaper than the named brand.

[smilingthroughgrittedteeth]

My mum swears by the herbal nytol, she occasionally suffers from insomnia, she says she takes it for a couple of nights to get back into a routine and although normal nytol left her feeling sick and drowsy the next day the herbal one allows her to wake up with the alarm feeling refreshed.

[lyndie]

I've used Rescue Remedy Night recently with good results. Have you discussed longer term strategies with your GP? Would you consider psychology input? How is your sleep hygiene?

[Kenanddreary]

Thank you everyone for all your advice and tips. I will read up on all the info and have a think about what to do.

Good point Lyndie - I think my sleep hygiene is a bit erratic. Will look into that. Thanks again.

[YoullScreamAboutItOneDay]

I had a period of insomnia as a student and took Nytol,I felt thick headed and woozy all day. Thankfully I seem to have grown out of it - though DD2 stops me sleeping these days!

[TBDZ]

I think I remember it quietly changed to Dyphenhydramine, but in the first year of production it was something else scary. I say that because I abused the shit out of it, by mistake. Scared my parents something fierce, made me sleepwalk and see shit.