To ask best over the counter sleep aid

[Pgqio]

Currently suffering from anxiety and can get to sleep fine but wake up 2 hours later crippled with fear and can't nod off again.

I've tried Nytol and Kalms Night and they're useless.

Are there any other non prescription sleep aids anyone would recommend?

Thanks in advance x

Recommend Melatonin which you can get off ebay from american (legal) sellers. Its not illegal to own in this country but you cannot buy it here. Many countries such as the US sell it over the counter.

I was going to suggest magnesium as well. I have started taking magnesium tablets and they seem to help, although I have a baby who doesn't sleep all night so I have wake a lot as well.
I have read quite a bit about it and bad sleep can often be a result of a magnesium deficiency and it helps to relax you and your muscles. I have bought a magnesium cream for my baby and been using that for a few weeks which I think has helped her sleep for longer stretches.
Also magnesium oil is meant to be good to use on the skin before bed, I have yet to buy any to try but it sounds good and is meant to help with aches and pains.
If I was you I would try it as it's more natural than taking nytol all the time.

I second and third Promethazine - I've used it for years and it really does work.

Sleepeze from boots as recommended by pp (50mg one)

Does anything work if you fall asleep absolutely fine (as I’m head hits pillow and you’re asleep)

But then you wake early. 4am ish.

So a decent quality 6 hours sleep but absolute pain to start the day that that time.

All sleep aids seem to help you fall asleep rather than help stop early waking

Another Phenergan recommendation

Another vote for Phenergan. Same active ingredient as Sominex but is cheaper in generic form. Definitely works.

Can I ask which brands of products contain Promethazine?

My own experience of otc sleep aids is that nytol is pretty good, my mother in law has one every night.

Sominex works faster but gives me a hellish hangover, even after a long sleep.

For the nuclear, no fucking about option you can ask your doctor for zopiclone. It works, every time, no hangover.

If for whatever you don't want to are aren't able to get them from your doctor you can get them online at ukmeds.com.

Somminex worked for me

Couple of drops of liquid melatonin (buy online). It's brill.

Phenegran 25mg. An absolute life saver!

Yet another vote for promethazine ( Phenergan). Be warned it is strong. Packet says 1 or 2 tablets. Start with 1 (25mg) . 50mg is what they give to calm some mental health patients in hospital.

Brandy hot chocolate for me if I ever get bouts of insomnia

Do you just ask the chemist for phenergan? And tell them it's for sleeplessness? I've never seen it beside the nytol and stuff.

Phenergen is brilliant and usually knocks out first time users so they can have a really solid sleep. You'll be a bit fuzzy the next day so be mindful of that.

Other than that I think Nytol one a night is the strongest you can get without seeing GP.

When I have severe insomnia my GP prescribes me a short course of Zopiclone which is a lifesaver. Very strong though and they don't hand it out lightly.

Good luck OP, not being able to sleep is the worst :(

Boots Sleep-eaze

I can highly recommend an app - Sue and James 12 Weeks to Wow Programme‎Sue and James '12 Weeks to Wow' Virtual Gastric Band - on apple

I know this sounds a ridiculous thing to say. But I suffered horrendous insomnia for years and years. and then about 4-5 years ago I bought the app thinking I would use it to lose weight. I havent lost weight but it so helped my insomnia, you relax so deeply listening that you just drift off and if I wake in the night, I put it on again. I very very rarely get to the end of it. - it's about 30 mins - and I highly recommend for sleep troubles, its so relaxing

Nytol works for me but if I’m anxious I can end up having really weird half awake/ half asleep episodes throughout the night!

I’m going to try this Promethazine. I like the Frankenstein sounding name too

piriton tablets (not piriteze)

Another vote for phenergen, it can also help with anxiety. Asd dd is prescribed this, and it helps with her anxiety.

As a night shift worker some of it is finding what works for you.

Some of my colleagues swear by nytol, some night nurse. I find they knock me out but leave me really “hungover” the next day.

Piriton for me. Or any other hayfever/antihistamine containing chlorphenoramine. Works a treat and i feel fine the next day.

To follow on from Furball's suggestion, have you tried ASMR? There is a huge variety to choose from on YouTube. It is worth trying different styles out to find out what works for you.

@MorrisZapp I've found it's always kept behind counter yes. It's got a wide range of uses so you don't have to say why you want it.

I was going to recommend the same ones as Lovestonap, Kirkland doxylamine succinate. I buy mine off Ebay. Apparently they are as strong as some hypnotics and are the strongest you can get without a prescription. I was having a terrible time with peri-meno induced insomnia.