Almost everyone will suffer from sleep problems at some point in their lifetime and some will experience them more than others. Sometimes it can be very difficult to get away from the marketing of sleep medication if you are having sleep difficulties and you may at some time give them a try.
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.
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