Sleep medication: what’s a good first time med for short term sleep issues?

[Bifty]

Hi,

can anyone recommend any sleep medications which the GP might offer for someone who hasn’t used them before? Something for occasional use/to reset a sleep cycle?

Thanks 😊

Speak to a pharmacist, they can advise you on various options and check how anything reacts with other medication you take.
Try a pharmacist before your GP. Probably quicker too.
Also download a mindfulness meditation app to listen to in bed. Something like ‘Smiling Mind’ app or ‘Balance’ app.

I use hydroxyzine, an anti-histamine. I've tried many many sleep meds over the years and this is the only one that doesn't have some kind of annoying or nasty side effect (most make me drowsy the next morning, melatonin gives horrific nightmares, amitriptyline makes me feel absolutely awful, some other one I tried made me feel even worse, just horrendous physical tension feeling, and one made me hallucinate and I ended up in hospital after a panic attack!)

Have just checked NICE guidelines for insomnia, not seeing anything but usually prescribed Z drugs.... what's the new one called?

We are all being kept in suspense. Don't want GPs inundated with patients rushing to try this new insomnia medicine 🤣

This OTC

Found it under the Changes tab...daridorexant. For those suffering chronic insomnia.

It's the Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride used in purple nytol (and other sleep aids) that cause the restless legs.

I have to avoid it.

Joining if that's ok OP

I tried my first 3.5 of zopiclone last night. GP prescribed me a two week course (obv not meant to be taken for a consecutive two weeks). Actually got them early last week but due to work, driving etc I waited for a night when it wouldn't be the end of the world if I was groggy next day.

Made no difference at all. Awake with the lark at 4.30 Has such high hopes.

May wait a few nights and try two tablets. Feel anxious about side effects though.

Reading your posts makes me worried my GP went straight to Zopiclone so I easily

Short term or occasional use is not problematic for most. You'd know pretty quickly if it caused some of the uncomfortable side effects.
For most it is a very effective medicine.

I worked nights for 30 years plus,so find it difficult to sleep. Did all the sleep hygiene. Zopiclone and nytol don't work on me, they make me go into overdrive,high as a kite,twitchy legs,etc
Sometimes when I haven't slept at all for several nights I take Stergeron 15, which is basically for travel sickness

I had 3 weeks of sleeplessness when peri menopause kicked in. I was given everything I wanted including CBT-I by the GP, up to and including Ambien. All had unpleasant side effects including lowered pulse etc…. The best solution by far with fewest side effects? A glass of red wine, a meditation track and night nurse every night for 5 nights until things reset and settled.

Sorry, I didn’t mean to leave people in suspense! I should have googled it and included the name. It didn’t work for me but might work for others. It was suggested I start with half a tablet. It did make me feel relaxed and able to rest at night even though I was awake. I have very severe sleep problems though.

I find one of the drowsy-making antihistamines works well for me. Just half a cetirizine works most of the time, I very occasionally take a whole one but it usually zonks me out for the following day. Quite often gives me a good night's sleep on the second day too!

Bonus is that it's non-addictive. Disclaimer... check that you can take it with whatever conditions you may have and medications you are taking already - and different drugs work differently on different people, so what works for me may not work for you.

I am having sleep troubles. My legs are a bit restless. I bought feather and down sleep butter. Rub it into legs and feet as you get into bed . Very effective and the lavender smell helps. I listen to an audio book for half an hour too. I’ve tried sleep ease from boots which is an anti histamine ..the 50 mg knocks me for six. If I just take a quarter of a tablet it helps. I’ve also tried valerian but gives me nightmares. When I wake in night I find it helps to get up and go to the loo.

This is all really useful, thanks so much everyone. I’m compiling a list!

Old school piriton

Try feather and down sleep butter..brilliant for restless legs. Rub well into lower leg ad feet as soon as you get into bed. They also do one with magnesium

Bloody wish those worked for me, or maybe that's why I'm always tired... I have to take 4 a day!

The antihistamine ones never worked for me. Just give me horrific restless legs. These worked well for me. It says you take 4 but I could only take 1 as I got such weird vivid dreams. Valerian root really works for me.

I haven’t slept for months ( teenage daughter was raped) I’ve been a wreck since, only thing I’ve had out of them which doesn’t do much is miratazapine ( but it really helps my mum to sleep)

Be very careful with Night Nurse. It does work well but can become addictive and if you take it long term it can affect your liver and kidneys. I got addicted to taking it as it helped my sleep so much but then I had to have a blood test for something and my liver readings were abnormal and that was the wake up call I needed to stop.

I now use Nytol One-a-Night, but Sominex is good too.