Many of us are faced with insomnia on a regular basis, we lay there hour after hour just hoping to fall asleep. Here is a warning to the wise, if this pattern continues for more than a month you may need to seek medical advise. Sleep deprivation is a serious matter, than can cause more problems than just a lack of sleep.

If you are only missing a few dates with the sandman per week, you may want to consider choosing from some of the best over the counter sleep aids that are out on the market today. Now it is not a good idea to wait until 2 a.m to finally decide that you might need a pill to help you sleep. By taking a sleeping aid at such a late hour, you may not even hear your alarm clock.

“Getting a Good Nights Rest is Key to Productivity”

After suffering through a night without much sleep, you should start planning ahead for the next night. End the misery, and head to your local drug store. Don’t be surprised when you arrive in the isle of confusion either. There are litteraly hundreds of sleeping pills to choose from, how will you know which one to pick? This can be a difficult decision, you will have to rely on your own judgement call for this one. Try to find something that says it is a natural sleep aid, these seem to have less waking side effects.

Once you finally do get a good nights sleep, you may want to examine your sleep pattern. Many times stress is the main cause for our lack of sleep. Give yourself ample time to relax before attempting to call it a night. Turn the lights down some, read a book, stay away from coffee, cola, and cigarettes for at least an hour or two before bedtime. Once you decide to turn in, try to focus your thoughts only on things that are calming to you such as the sound of waves, or a waterfall.

There are a few remedies that you can try also like warm milk, or maybe even earplugs but if they don’t work you will be sorry you didn’t reach for some of the best over the counter sleep aids that are available for your sleeping pleasure.

Many people do not want to take prescriptions or addictive drugs for sleeplessness and that is very understandable. A very popular supplement making people are choosing is melatonin. It is economically priced and also a natural supplement helps enhance sleep. This supplement increases the production of Serotonin in the body and helps you to have a better sleep. It does not have any side effects and is not-habit forming. Melatonin can be found in various drug stores and health departments over-the-counter.

The main ingredient found in over-the-counter sleeping aids is antihistamine, which is typically taken for allergies. However, histamine is a chemical messenger found in the brain that promotes wakefulness, so antihistamine has the opposite affect and makes you feel sleepy.

Common over-the-counter medicines include:
1. Tylenol PM. This is a bestseller and trusted because it promises to never create a physical dependency. Acetaminophen and diphenhydramine are the active ingredients
2. Simply Sleep. This mediation is made by Tylenol but marketed as a different drug than Tylenol PM. It does contain diphenhydramine but no acetaminophen, but the effectiveness is just the same.
3. Advil PM. Contains ibuprofen and diphenhydramine. This is a good choice if your sleep problems are coming from aches and pain.
4. Excedrin PM. This product is basically the same as Tylenol PM but with a different name. It does have the same active ingredients of acetaminophen and diphenhydramine.
5. Unisom. Its active ingredient is doxylamine succinate and much more effect than antihistamine. This medicine does not put you to sleep or make you feel very sleepy, but it does make the body relax enough to the point of being able to fall asleep easily. This seems to work very well in that it helps the body stay asleep through the night without any disturbances.

Many people swear by the other the counter sleep aid Unisom. Unisom now has three different types of sleep aids you can take to help you fall asleep faster and have better quality sleep throughout the night. Unisom Sleeptabs contain no narcotics so it is much safer to take than some other sleep aids. You can find it at most drug stores and stores such as Walmart and Kmart.

Another option is Melatonin capsules. Melatonin is a hormone that is created by the pineal gland and helps to promote healthy, normal sleep cycles. They come in 3 MG and you should take one or two capsules with water when it is close to your bedtime. You can purchase a bottle of these at most health food and vitamin stores.

Some people take Tylenol PM to help them fall asleep at night. This is especially beneficial to people who have problems sleeping because of frequent headaches at bedtime or other aches and pains that keep them up. Now they can get some pain relief as well as that extra boost they need to fall asleep. You an find Tylenol PM at most drug stores and even places such as grocery stores.

When taking any sleep aid you will always want to read through the labels very carefully and follow the exact dosage instructions. You should never give yourself an extra dosage or try and up the dosage even if you do not find immediate relief. If you start to experience strange side effects you should contact your doctor immediately.
All in all, if taken correctly you can find great relief in over the counter sleep aids.

There are two basic types of sleep aids on the market; antihistamines and herbal remedies. Most antihistamines contain either doxylamine succinate or diphenhydramine hydrochloride. Products like Compoz, Tylenol PM and Sominex contain the diphenhydramine hydrochloride and Equate and Unisom contain the doxylamine succinate. Both of these ingredients are designed to inhibit neurotransmitters than affect the central nervous system. These ingredients are also used to treat allergies and that’s why allergy medications make you sleepy. Antihistamines tend to stay in the body longer than herbal treatments. A hangover effect seems to be a common complaint the next morning.

Herbal remedies have been around for centuries. Indigenous people used them to cure anxiety and restlessness. No one knows exactly how they work once they enter the human system, but they produce results. Passionflower, valerian root, chamomile and humulus lupulus are the most popular herbs and melatonin is also used as a sleep aid even though some people experience frightening dreams when they use it. Prescription sleep aids are available through a doctor, but they can be habit forming. Most of them contain benzodiazepines, which slow down the central nervous system. Xanax and Halcion are the most prescribed medications. Ambien and Sonata don’t contain benzodiazepines, but work the same way.

Over the counter sleep remedies work in different ways depending on the situation and the physical condition of the person taking them, but they all perform adequately when you do a little research. Some people prefer the herbal method, others claim antihistamines are best. It’s an individual choice based on your present mental and physical state. It always helps to get some advice from a pharmacist or a holistic healer.