Question by Paradise C: Are there any over the counter sleep aids?
And what do you think of them – safe?
What is the best over the counter sleeping aid medicine? I’m having sleep disorder maybe due to stress…
ALSO – any over the counter aids for ANXIETY?
DEPENDENCY risks??
Okay, thanks, I’m actually not really that interested in using medication. I like the all natural approach.
Best answer:
Answer by abby_momo_tucker
Well it always smart to try and cure the reason you aren’t sleeping first. Just because the sleep aid helps you sleep, it doesn’t mean your stress and anxiety is gone and it could start manifesting in new ways.
I know that dramamine works as a sleep aid. But I would never use a sleep aid on a nightly basis. And I don’t know of any anti-anxiety meds that are OTC.
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You are not going to buy any medications over-the-counter that would have beneficiary effects.
Some sleep aids do not carry a risk of dependency; however, anxiety medications do. That’s why they are “ONLY TAKEN WHEN NEEDED.”
You can take benedryl, or OTC meds such as unisom etc. There are no OTC meds for anxiety. Dependency risks….anything CAN cause a dependency. But these are not narcotics so it is doubtful you will become physically dependent on them, but psychologically.. no doubt…unless you intend to use them very short term
Go to a Whole Foods grocery store and get a little bottle of something called Rescue Remedy. It is a combination of a whole bunch of herbs. My sister showed it to me. The vet recommended it to her to use for her cat, when she had a cat that “talked” waay too much. The stuff is for humans, but the vet recommended it for the cat. Sure enough, it calmed the cat down some. (The cat was a rescue and my sis was only a temp. home).
Then I found out that the kennel where I board my dogs, also uses Rescue Remedy in the pet water, to keep all the dogs and cats calm.
SO, my sis tried it, since she also has sleep disorders and has trouble sleeping. She puts about 4 drops into a small glass of water and drinks it, and it just lets her relax and go to sleep.
Then I tried it (for me and my cats who fight to be the alpha). It didn’t work on my cats so much. They still bicker with each other. But it has helped me to relax and sleep deeply enough to feel rested in the morning.
1 bottle is about 16 dollars… but it lasts a long time. It is a bunch of herbs (and I am not against regular OTC meds, but I do like to steer clear of “sleeping pills”).
yes, but they all have drawbacks, side effects.
first, give up all caffeine, all alcohol, any of the soft drinks that are supposed to be for alertness.
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then, there is a tea that even sleep doctors recommend.
it was NOT sleepy time herbal tea.
it was VALERIAN or
Valerian root tea
Two or even one benadrylls will really help you knock out. Herbal tea works a little.