Non addictive sleeping pills?

[RoseWei]

Not sleeping at all well - anxious about a lot of things including workload and household income - kids - the lot really!

And getting headaches to boot.

If I go to the GP and ask for something, is there anything I could mention that wouldn't be addictive - wouldn't make me sluggish the next day - wouldn't be too harmful in the short or long term? I've never asked before though I have a long history of not sleeping well but now it's worst than ever.

I try to lead a reasonably healthy life - walk a lot - eat sensibly - don't drink in the evening - but the pressures of my life are really getting me down and I lay awake at night for far too long ...

Many thanks for any ideas at all.

I took a two week course of Zopiclone, which I found really effective but not in the least bit addictive (never taken it since.)
However, it did make me realise that I would continue to have disturbed sleep until I got to the root of my worries. But I would definitely recommend it, just to get a couple of weeks' decent sleep. No sluggishness either.

I find Nytol 2 a night helpful, only for odd times.

Zopiclone is addictive if used long term, some GPs will still prescribe it for a maximum of 2 weeks but some are reluctant .

Fair enough timid, but for me it really was ok just for 2 weeks. I had tried the over the counter medicines and they really weren't having an effect.

Try this,,,non addictive, not drowsy if you do wake up in the night for an emergency, no tiredness in the morning,,just need take a half. Works for me!

www.amazon.co.uk/kirkland-Signature-Nighttime-sleep-aid/dp/B000UIEIBY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1357239637&sr=8-2

No such thing as a non addictive , non "hangover" sleeping pill. Sedating anti histamine (nytol or piriton) help if you are susceptible to them. Howve the "z" drugs (zopiclone zolpidem etc) are just as bad as the older generation stuff after moe than 2 weeks and just as " hangover" prone.

Practical advice- sort your stressors. Organize the finances, talk to work re workload issues etc (really I mean it they are likely to be more sympathetic than you think, they won't want you ill from sleepless worrying nights).

Then exercise and meal early evening, quite time post 8pm and go caffiene free (that means no tea, coffee cola or energy drinks).

It that's no good institute some serious sleep hygiene. Gadgets/TV out of bedroom etc. It does make a difference.

If you want to go down the natural route, try passiflora, valerian and hops. They work better if you take them separately, rather than in a combined herbal remedy. Try to find a health food store and look for capsules with powder in rather than solid tablets. Dried hops flowers soaked in boiling water makes a very good tea - it doesn't taste that nice, but does work. You can get them from some home brew making places.

I found melatonin really helpful, unfortunately it now seems to interact with other Meds I'm taking.

Could I thank you all for your suggestions and thoughts? I'd rather go down the natural route - thanks hidden for some ideas - and certainly sorting out underlying causes is important. Unfortunately, I can't do anything about work load cos I'm hourly paid and cannot afford to give up even an hour's work.

But I'm trying for a balance - to get other things right in my life which I know will help.

In the meantime, though, sleep is irregular and limited. So, I'll look at these ideas and if I go for zopicione - provided GP agrees - will certainly limit the no of weeks. Thanks again.

Read Paul McKenna "I can make you sleep", it comes with a cd you listen to in bed. Worked for me.