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[pren5711]

I never taken any sleep pills and knew nothing about them.  Some times I have difficulties sleeping and I just let it be.  But I would like to be able to sleep before my campus interview.  I wonder if you could recommend some non-prescription pills to help me sleep.  Thanks in advance. 

[latis]

Whatever you take, practice with it ahead of time to see how you react to it and how you feel the next day.  Don't wait until the pre-interview night to take something new.

Otherwise, Benadryl  can work for some.

[waxwingofashadow]

Seconded about testing anything out beforehand, but Melatonin works pretty well for a lot of people (and, intermittently, for me).

[gaeta]

I have had to take Benadryl on many occasions for severe allergies that other antihistamines weren't working for. Although I never have taken it for the purpose of sleeping, it works quite well in that sense—for me.

That being said, I remember a long family road trip when I was I child when my mother took Benadryl (my Benadryl, in fact) for the first time because she started to get hives. Instead of making her sleepy, the medicine had the opposite effect and she became manically hyperactive for about three hours (as we were driving to Washington, D.C. from the Northeast) and drove my father and me absolutely crazy. After the "attack" passed, she vowed to never take the drug again. We were happy with her promise.

All this points to the importance of latis's comment: do a dry run first!

[pren5711]

Thank you all for answering.  Yeah I realize testing it beforehand is a good idea, which I haven't thought about.  By the way, I took Tylenol before and it put me into sleep.  Can it be used as sleeping pill?  How is Tylenol campared with the sleeping pills?

[sugaree]

I don't know about regular Tylenol, but tylenol also has a "PM" version where the acetominyfin is combined with sleeping medication (diphinhydromine hydrochloride). It works well, but I find that only 1 pill is enough to help me sleep without feeling groggy in the AM. 2 pills, the recommended dose, is too much for me.

[mozman]

Last time I checked, Jack Daniels was non-prescription :)

[pink_]

Whoever makes Tylenol also makes something called "Simply sleep," which is basically Tylenol PM without the Tylenol.  I've taken that and had no problems.  One pill is usually enough.  I've also taken Benedryl, and it works too, but I feel groggy the next day.

 

[rodentmind]

Just buy whatever over-the-counter stuff they have at CVS or any drugstore. It'll work fine.

[womanofproperty]

I'm not a fan of antihistamines or alcohol as sleep aids.  I've found valerian to be helpful in getting to sleep.  (Note: it won't knock you out & keep you asleep if you have a tendency to wake up during the night but it also won't leave you drowsy the next day.)   

I take two valerian capsules, do progressive relaxation exercises and that usually works.  Progressive relaxation is easy to do & very effective.  The more often you practice, the better it works.  There's how-to information at this website:

http://hws.edu/studentlife/counseling_relax.aspx

Progressive relaxation is also helpful for times when you wake up during the night and want to get back to sleep easily. 

[turing_complete]

Whoever makes Tylenol also makes something called "Simply sleep," which is basically Tylenol PM without the Tylenol.  I've taken that and had no problems.  One pill is usually enough.  I've also taken Benedryl, and it works too, but I feel groggy the next day.

What I find hilarious for some reason is that Simply Sleep and Benadryl are *exactly the same drug*: Diphenhydramine HCl, 25 mg.  Benadryl lists drowsiness as a side effect, and I guess "reduced allergic reactions" would be a side effect of Simply Sleep?

[englitprof]

I, too, have found a half-dose (1 pill) of Tylenol PM/Simply Sleep to work reasonably well without leaving me groggy the next day.

Melatonin can help get you to sleep, but make absolutely sure you have had no alcohol.  Maybe it's just me, but I found that if I had even a glass of wine an hour or so before taking the melatonin, the two interacted in such a way that I ended up with terrible insomnia.

[thenewyorker]

I'm not a fan of antihistamines or alcohol as sleep aids.  I've found valerian to be helpful in getting to sleep.  (Note: it won't knock you out & keep you asleep if you have a tendency to wake up during the night but it also won't leave you drowsy the next day.)   

I take two valerian capsules, do progressive relaxation exercises and that usually works.  Progressive relaxation is easy to do & very effective.  The more often you practice, the better it works.  There's how-to information at this website:

http://hws.edu/studentlife/counseling_relax.aspx

Progressive relaxation is also helpful for times when you wake up during the night and want to get back to sleep easily. 

I second the valerian suggestion. I use the tincture (available at any "real" natural food store...not GNC type stores) instead of the pills. Just 12-15 drops in about a tablespoon of warm water...it works faster for me than the pills.

[romance]

I'm not a fan of antihistamines or alcohol as sleep aids.  I've found valerian to be helpful in getting to sleep.  (Note: it won't knock you out & keep you asleep if you have a tendency to wake up during the night but it also won't leave you drowsy the next day.)   

I take two valerian capsules, do progressive relaxation exercises and that usually works.  Progressive relaxation is easy to do & very effective.  The more often you practice, the better it works.  There's how-to information at this website:

http://hws.edu/studentlife/counseling_relax.aspx

Progressive relaxation is also helpful for times when you wake up during the night and want to get back to sleep easily. 

I second the valerian suggestion. I use the tincture (available at any "real" natural food store...not GNC type stores) instead of the pills. Just 12-15 drops in about a tablespoon of warm water...it works faster for me than the pills.

Valerian works, but watch out. It can induce nightmares and can affect you the next day. I've taken melatonin and that works. Try hops tea or hops tincture. It's what they put in beer. If you don't have a natural foods store handy, try chamomile or lavender tea.
I have a friend who drinks a beer or two every night to go to sleep, but when I do that it keeps me up. So, I second the suggestion of trying out whatever sleep aid you plan on using a few nights before the interview.
FYI, I asked a pharmacist to recommend a sleeping aid and he said that any antihistamine (sp?) will work. The effectiveness of most otc sleeping aids is based on Diphenhydramine, which makes you drowsy. Hope this helps.

[womanofproperty]

I'd forgotten about hops. 

Generally valerian is regarded as safe, although some side effects have been reported.  The literature doesn't mention nightmares.  You can get more information at:

http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/valerian.asp

It's not a good idea to combine valerian (a mild sedative) with other sedatives like alcohol but interestingly a valerian & hops combination seems to work as well as antihistamines:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16335333

In any case, hope you sleep well & waken refreshed.  Enjoy your interview.