re: Got any good sleep meds?

Typical

OP asks for non addictive sleep aids and you type out three paragraphs on Xanax. It's like you just post things as an excuse to be heard

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Typical

OP asks for non addictive sleep aids and you type out three paragraphs on Xanax. It's like you just post things as an excuse to be heard

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That's why I said to take it for a week or so.... Try it, not for a long term solution, but maybe it can help him get his sleep pattern back on track.

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That's why I said to take it for a week or so.... Try it

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Again, that was fine for you, but OP was fairly specific about his request.

Some people can't take controlled substances as sleep aids due to work restrictions or past substance abuse problems. What is the point of recommending a BZD if someone is specifically asking for alternatives to them?

LINK

Podcast with Dr Kirk Parsley

He is a physician who works with the Navy Seals. His main focus is sleep optimization in the busy / stressed individual

Sleep hygiene
Anchoring your Circadian Rhythm via light exposure
Supplements
Nutrition
Properly dosed exercise (avoiding overtraining)
Breathing /meditation

Learning how to fricking turn off

Follow his work if you want to know more about sleep but want to avoid pharmaceuticals

docparsley

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Optimize sleep by avoid bright lights/blue lights/electronics prior to bed (strive to shut this off 1 hour prior to bed). For that hour you can consider:

-light reading with dim or red band light (blue light disrupts circadian rhythm and melatonin production):



F.lux is a blue light filter program for a laptop that dials the blue light down at sunset. Most newer phones have blue light filter settings

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Other good resources:

Below is a good source for nutrition and wellness:

examine.com

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The delightful and oh-so-Deutsche word for a circadian rhythm factor is zeitgeber. If you spend your workday indoors but watch TV and browse the web at night, work mostly alone during the day but socialize at night, and sit virtually motionless during the day but exercise at night, you’re effectively flipping three of the most important zeitgebers on their heads. So rather than investigating sleep supplements, let’s look into zeitgebers first.

The king of all zeitgebers is blue light. This light wavelength suppresses your body’s melatonin production. During the day, if you look up at the sky, you’ll see a free and powerful source of blue light: the sun. If you see the sun’s glorious light during the day, and shut off lights at night, hormones that vary throughout the day (such as cortisol and melatonin) are more likely to vary in the way you’d want them to.

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Get outside, some sun when you can

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Apps:

Pzizz
Brain.fm

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Supplement to consider:

Magnesium (glycinate or threonate) - 200 to 350mg per day (take in the evening prior to bed as it can assist with sleep)

There is a form of magnesium citrate (natural calm) that can have a laxative effect (beware)

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You can also consider incorporating yoga into your training (breath work and mobility)

You can also use this bad boy for vibrating mobility work, foot/neck massages (prior to bed is great for relaxing)

Parsley is the best resource right now; his Sleep Cocktail is legit.

I also agree on the Magnesium Threonate, great vivid dreams on that stuff.

Unfortunately, most are too lazy to do the sleep hygiene stuff he recommends

DO NOT follow advice to get a prescription for benzodiazepine-class drugs (includes ativan, xanax, klonopin, valium).

They are highly habit-forming and your body will build dependence over time causing you to require higher dosages. Withdrawing from these drugs is worse than any other class of drugs (including opiates). Withdrawing cold turkey can cause seizures and can be fatal.

They are very important drugs for some psychological problems and I guarantee they would knock you out for a good night's sleep but the risks are not worth the possible dangers just for a sleeping problem. Your doctor would be happy to write you a never-ending prescription for them. Don't go down that path.

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With trazadone do you take sparingly? There aren't withdrawals or anything right

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I take it every night because it does exactly what it is prescriped to do. Helps me sleep. I have bad insomnia so I need it. Dr started me on 50mg but I was still waking up at 3am every morning. He upped it to 100 mg and I sleep great with no issues.

If I don't take it for some reason (really tied) I don't have any withdrawals or anything.

Remeron...it's an anti-depressant that is prescribed for sleep aid also.

I use to treat a vertigo problem I have, but meclazine (reg. Dramamine) knocks me out pretty good.