INSOMNIA

No ideas here - just a sympathetic voice sharing your frustration with insomnia. Here on the West coast it's only 10:21, but I have no hint of drowsiness either. I'm on my way to take some Theraflu sinus in an attempt to decongest myself and, with any luck, it will make me sleepy too. Wishing you sweet dreams.

Rose

Have you tried Valerian Root? It's an herb that I know a few people who have taken it and it works wonders for sleep. I read that Valerian Root is the herbal equivalent of Valium.

Also my mom has trouble sleeping and her holistic Doctor said that means she is lacking Calcium & Magnesium, she said since taking the supplements it has helped her alot.

She also drinks Sleepy Time Tea. When my little sister was very young she would bounce off the walls at night (ADHD, undiagnosed) and my mom would give her the tea and it would help her calm down and go to sleep.

Just some thoughts!

Valerian root works great, and so does Neurontin for me (eases the nerve pain & makes me a bit sleepy

Valerian root? Is this really a root? Where to get it?

How much to take for heavy duty insomnia?

melatonin and valarian then. my tummy is sensitive because already taking doxycycline and benicar. probably not helping that I have a poor appitite.

My friend was told to take Ashwaganda for his Hyperthyroidism.

Well, as for me, the insomnia was way too severe to be aided by Valarian root, melatonin, benedryl, or other natural stuff. Yes, sometimes they caused a 'drowsiness', but not enough to make me sleep. I believe that they can help, as long as your insomnia is not deep rooted in something somewhere.

I am not suggesting what you should take, but am stating this so that you will know you are not the only one w/ this problem. Your Dr really needs to help you, along w/ all the natural supplements.

I take 100 mg amiltryptiline (sp!?) and at least 1.5 mg xanax at bedtime. I have to knock myself out. And I will still wake up several times in the nite. The good part is, I can get up and go to the RR and get back in bed and go right back to sleep. Without these drugs, I would be up all nite. Oneday I hope to get this all figured out and not have to be such a drugee! Xanax is very addictive, but at least not a narcotic.

Part of this, I believe is Lyme, and part of it is 'me'.

One more thing:  I am hypoglycemic and if I do not eat a snack (and have a little milk) at bedtime, I will not sleep. That simple. The things that have worked best for me, both today and in the past, are : Honey Bunches of Oats (not sugar free , but, oh well...) w/ non fat, no sugar added, yogurt mixed in.  Cereal and milk have always made me drowsy at nite. And although I still need drugs to sleep, I know I will not sleep w/ o and bedtime snack like this.

I sincerely hope that there is something in here that helps you!

Sorry! I have a tremor.

Nefferdun
I will look up corydallis. That Ambien is bad stuff. I took one pill and was walking around taking to people(according to them) total amnesia.
What else might I have done? This guy I know woke up sitting in front of his refrigerator finger painting it in mayonaise and mustard!
Strange stuff!

Ambien, a sedative hypnotic taken for insomnia can cause amnesia, sleep walking and driving, abnormal behavior, hallucinations and agitation according to a report by the US food and drug administration.

MotherNature's child -- sorry, I am behind here. You should definitely try something to eat at bedtime. A little bowl of cereal and milk, and/or yogurt will not cause you to gain weight as long as the rest of your diet is OK. some people claim to get nightmares from this. Again, even during 'healthy' periods, if I do not eat at bedtime, I will not sleep. And if I do, it will be 2 hours and I'll wake up and never go back to sleep.