View Full Version : OTC Sleeping Pills
spfleisig
06-17-2019, 07:06
Which is your go-to to get some solid sleep while on trail?
Thx
Following...I sleep like ***** on the trail
chknfngrs
06-17-2019, 08:40
Physical exhaustion first, then Melatonin or Tylenol PM.
Gambit McCrae
06-17-2019, 08:54
As well as earplugs. If you dont need sleeping pills at home you shouldnt need them on the trail
TexasBob
06-17-2019, 09:18
Never have needed anything on the trail. If I did need something to help me sleep, I would take 2 benedryl which works for me at home.
I know where he is coming from, I don't sleep what I consider well as I wake pretty often on trail. Funny thing is, I am never tired the next day. I have considered Motrin PM but my reservation is not waking up if I need to...
On my first solo overnight I took a Xanax at bedtime and slept well except for awakening briefly when some coyotes started up nearby. The downside was that when I read my journal the next day it had a high level of gibberish.
At home or away I have used either diphenhydramine (found in Unisom and other over-the-counter meds) or Benadryl with varying success rates.
Which is your go-to to get some solid sleep while on trail?
Personally, I sleep soundly after a day of hiking, paddling or adventuring.
For those with problems acheiving sleep:
Diphenhydramine, doxalamine and chlopheniramine are sedating histamine blockers. These would be the ideal choice for those also seeking treatment for allergies to pollen/hayfever or robust reactions to mosquito or other insect bites. They are less appropriate as we age as we are more likely to experience hang-over due to slower metabolism or increase adverse affects, especially confusion, due to changing phisiology.
Melatonin is ideal for those who are exposed to inappropriate Daylight cycles. Shift workers or those living in nursing homes benefit greatly. Those who watch TV from 6-11PM also get there melatonin cycle deranged and benefit with supplementation. It would be less likely that someone spending their days outdoors would benefit from melatonin supplement.
Alcohol consumed in modest quantaties is a CNS depressent and can improve sleep. Consume too much and it actually interferes with sleep by promoting the need for mid-slumber urination.
Marijuana can promote sleep. THC is pharmacologically active. CBD is most likely a placebo.
Valerian and Lavender are herbals which reportlt relive anxiety and promote restful sleep. Perhaps they do. Perhaps they are also placebos.
Good luck
HooKooDooKu
06-17-2019, 14:25
I started taking two Benadryl tablets each night to try to stave off the congestion I often get when sleeping in cold air. Found that it also helped me sleep at night without that drugged feeling sleeping pill leave me with.
I've since learned that some night-time pain relievers (that include a sleep aid) use some of the same active ingredients found in Benadryl.
Traveler
06-18-2019, 09:06
FWIW - Sometimes I will have trouble sleeping for the first few nights of a long hike, which usually ends at night 3 or 4. New environments, different night noises, weather, new sleeping quarters, and the relative excitement of being on a long walk can conspire to either keep me awake or wake me up frequently. Typically after a couple of difficult nights I am so tired I will sleep the night through and not have a problem after that.
If I feel something to help sleep is necessary, I gravitate towards Motrin that helps ease body aches that are usually the culprits conspiring to deny sleep.
perdidochas
06-18-2019, 10:39
I started taking two Benadryl tablets each night to try to stave off the congestion I often get when sleeping in cold air. Found that it also helped me sleep at night without that drugged feeling sleeping pill leave me with.
I've since learned that some night-time pain relievers (that include a sleep aid) use some of the same active ingredients found in Benadryl.
Most OTC sleeping pills like Sominex are the same active ingredient as benadryl, but the generic benadryl is cheaper than the sleeping pills.
devoidapop
06-18-2019, 11:20
Read a book, have some chamomile tea, a little whiskey, try breathing exercises, a calming mantra.
I have had insomnia since I was a teenager. Sometimes these things help. Sometimes they don't. My goal is always to reach a restful state, even if I can't actually sleep. Time passes so slowly when your mind is spinning in circles.
As well as earplugs. If you dont need sleeping pills at home you shouldnt need them on the trail
While I agree with the earplugs suggestion, I, and I suspect many others, respectfully disagree with the rest of the post. I've always slept like a rock at home but on the trail it's a different matter. After trying all types of pads and pillows with little difference, I've resigned to having the doc write me a script for Ambien which I only use when on the trail. Unfortunately, the Ambien only works for about 4 hours. With hiker midnight for me usually coming around anywhere from 7:30 to 9:00 depending on the season - makes for a long night even with the sleep aid.
Being used to sleeping on a nice queen sized hybrid mattress (which are super expensive these days!) getting a really good nights sleep on a 20 inch by 72 inch camp mattress is a bit less accommodating. A few years ago I got a BA Q-Core SL which is 3 1/2 thick, and found it so much better than anything I had used prior. Closed cell foam pads did nothing for me, but some like them fine. The Q-Core is Very compact, very light. Just a suggestion to anyone having sleeping problems, go to REI, and lay on a few better air mats, you’ll feel the difference, I did.
I go to Aisle 12 of the Mrs Nature Pharmacy on the corner of elm and oak streets.
Water...flowing over rocks, lapping at the shoreline
Breeze through the tree tops.
Plant fragrances...pine, cedar, hemlock, flowers. When pink/white Carolina Azalea or Turks Cap Liily or Greys Lilly are in bloom make a point to sleep around them. After a long rain stops, the earthy woods smell appeals to me.
All electronics off and lights out other than the stars long before bah bah time.
Sleep not around the commotion of others.
All else fails CBD oils. It calms some folks down. I know busy anti drug folks...mothers/fathers, biz owners, athletes, etc that swear by legal CBD oils. They don't smoke anything.
Time passes so slowly when your mind is spinning in circles.
That is my problem... the mind will not stop working!
KnightErrant
06-19-2019, 15:51
I sleep like a mummy in "normal life" and almost always wake up in the morning without having moved an inch, but on trail I sleep like a rotisserie chicken. My sleeping pad is quite comfortable, but pretty noisy, so I tend to wake myself up a lot throughout the night when I roll around. Usually I fall back asleep immediately, but on my thru-hike, the from mid-VA to mid-VT, I often had so many insect bites that I would have difficulty falling back asleep because of all the itching. So I got into the habit of taking one ibuprofen PM before bed to aid in recovery from normal hiking aches and pains and for the sleep aid to keep me asleep through the bug bites. I'm sure Benadryl would have had a similar effect, but as I was also dealing with a lot of pain, the ibuprofen was a good solution for me. Had no difficulty sleeping once I stopped taking it, so I didn't experience any dependency.
Traveler
06-22-2019, 08:53
That is my problem... the mind will not stop working!
If your mind is whirling, try this:
Starting from the most recent act, rewind the day much as you would a video in reverse, in a non-emotional manner. From the decision to rewind the days events to laying down, to removing boots, to cleaning up after a meal, etc. This is what your brain will do in the first hour or so of sleep and you can help it along by doing the rewind in a conscious state. If you rewind through all the events of the day, from small details like tying a shoe lace to large details like selecting a campsite, you likely will be fast asleep before you complete the day's rewind and will have a good rest.
Instead of adding more drug compounds to what U.S. citizens are accustomed to en masse, consider eliminating food drug compounds and behaviors that interfere with sleep: pre hike weening myself off caffeine, MSG(loaded in processed foods), chocolate before bed, sugars(U.S citizen's diets are often high in simple sugars often disguised in foods that interferes with sleep), high fat and protein content foods just before bed as heavily digesting a meal can interfere with sleep, and not eating while watching TV or on the computer or ph or in bed helping my mind to be less stimulated all help me sleep better on trail.
AllDownhillFromHere
06-22-2019, 18:40
Which is your go-to to get some solid sleep while on trail?
Thx
Walk all day with a pack on up and down many hills. Set up camp. Cook dinner. Eat dinner. Lay down.
Walk all day with a pack on up and down many hills. Set up camp. Cook dinner. Eat dinner. Lay down.Not that simple for some, I can hike 14 hours and still not sleep soundly.
Not that simple for some, I can hike 14 hours and still not sleep soundly.
Right, so perhaps it prudent to consider and examine why that may be? Perhaps, it could be substances in food or prescription drugs or otherwise related to lifestyle that can all be changed rather than adding yet another substance like synthetic OTC or prescription sleeping pills into the mix? Could there be things in our culture/societal norms/habits that promote an ADHD, insomniac, mind scrambling always on the mental go, and anxiety prone life that keeps us on the mental and drug filled merry go round?
ADK Walker
06-22-2019, 21:51
Eye mask, ear plugs and Bengal Spice tea 15 minutes before bed have all worked for me.
Right, so perhaps it prudent to consider and examine why that may be? Perhaps, it could be substances in food or prescription drugs or otherwise related to lifestyle that can all be changed rather than adding yet another substance like synthetic OTC or prescription sleeping pills into the mix? Could there be things in our culture/societal norms/habits that promote an ADHD, insomniac, mind scrambling always on the mental go, and anxiety prone life that keeps us on the mental and drug filled merry go round?
I feel personally attacked...;)
In all seriousness some good food for thought though. Personally, I always struggle to get any sleep at all the first night but sleep pretty good the rest of the way. Wake up a lot but usually fall right back asleep. Herb-aided. Unfortunately the lack of sleep on night one makes me more hesitant to pull one or two-nighters.
garlic08
06-23-2019, 10:05
Instead of adding more drug compounds to what U.S. citizens are accustomed to en masse, consider eliminating food drug compounds and behaviors that interfere with sleep: pre hike weening myself off caffeine, MSG(loaded in processed foods), chocolate before bed, sugars(U.S citizen's diets are often high in simple sugars often disguised in foods that interferes with sleep), high fat and protein content foods just before bed as heavily digesting a meal can interfere with sleep, and not eating while watching TV or on the computer or ph or in bed helping my mind to be less stimulated all help me sleep better on trail.
I first heard this concept a couple of years ago. Rather than adding something to the mix to make us feel better, often removing something is the much better solution, though it's seldom considered. We are bombarded by advertising and professional advice urging us not to.
As I aged, alcohol started interfering more with sleep and next morning performance. Rather than looking for better additives, I removed the alcohol. Chocolate keeps me awake too, so that's gone. Fatty meat used to bother me at night, so no more of that.
What's the fun, you ask? Nothing beats a good night's sleep. But as they say, "All things in moderation--including moderation!"
Feral Bill
06-23-2019, 11:17
Sore legs can keep me awake. Ibuprofen fixes it. I rarely use it though.
I first heard this concept a couple of years ago. Rather than adding something to the mix to make us feel better, often removing something is the much better solution, though it's seldom considered. We are bombarded by advertising and professional advice urging us not to.
As I aged, alcohol started interfering more with sleep and next morning performance. Rather than looking for better additives, I removed the alcohol. Chocolate keeps me awake too, so that's gone. Fatty meat used to bother me at night, so no more of that.
What's the fun, you ask? Nothing beats a good night's sleep. But as they say, "All things in moderation--including moderation!"
You get it as an evolved questioning the rote answers Luddite ULer culturally sobered up intentional living minimalist. ;)
I feel personally attacked...;)
He he. Cornering people into considering being personally accountable often has that effect. At some point I began realizing I was personally accountable for the life I was experiencing and visiting upon others. I've learned to thrive by keeping friends who are not like me, diverse, willing to offend if necessary, to mutually elevate understanding and humility, to bring each other face to face which that which we're ignorant. I'm very fortunate to have close friends so strong that we can be civil yet willing to share this way rather than constantly shallowly agreeing or coddling each other's feelings.;):)
Traffic Jam
06-23-2019, 17:35
He he. Cornering people into considering being personally accountable often has that effect. At some point I began realizing I was personally accountable for the life I was experiencing and visiting upon others. I've learned to thrive by keeping friends who are not like me, diverse, willing to offend if necessary, to mutually elevate understanding and humility, to bring each other face to face which that which we're ignorant. I'm very fortunate to have close friends so strong that we can be civil yet willing to share this way rather than constantly shallowly agreeing or coddling each other's feelings.;):)
I certainly agree with you in a broad context but you have to take into account biophysical and endocrine-metabolic issues that contribute to sleeplessness. What would you suggest to those people experiencing a condition that is unaffected by lifestyle changes and offensive friends?
Not challenging...just curious.
garlic08
06-23-2019, 17:49
You get it as an evolved questioning the rote answers Luddite ULer culturally sobered up intentional living minimalist. ;)
What's the worst thing about being a vegan who does Crossfit and has a shelter dog? Deciding what to tell people about first.
What's the worst thing about being a vegan who does Crossfit and has a shelter dog? Deciding what to tell people about first.
I thought it might be how to start the static electricity between fingers discussion. :D
I certainly agree with you in a broad context but you have to take into account biophysical and endocrine-metabolic issues that contribute to sleeplessness. What would you suggest to those people experiencing a condition that is unaffected by lifestyle changes and offensive friends?
Not challenging...just curious.
I agree, based on limited knowledge what I find works for others and myself that has been clinically researched. Indeed, we have to be careful not to jump to hasty judgements ignoring wider sleep disorder research that considers a wider number of factors, perhaps including lifestyle choices that may have yet been unexamined in greater detail. I'm not a M.D. or professional trained sleep disorder researcher. You have greater daily personal educational access through your career.
In some incidences endocrine metabolic disorders can be affected by hormone therapy. I don't consider endocrine disorders such as Type 2 Diabetes not to be largely lifestyle related. If Addisons or Hyperthyroidism, such as Graves, and depending on their cause(s) prescription drugs can have therapeutic affects.
Analog_Kidd
06-24-2019, 20:18
I never have a problem when I'm by myself in a tent, but sleep really bad when in a shelter. I always wake up around midnight having to pee, or with bad gas from dinner, and worry about disturbing everyone by getting up. So I lay there fretting over whether or not to get up. In my tent i just do whatever and don't worry about anyone but me.
Each individual's body chemistry is different, so what works for one may not for the next. Even "safe", "natural" supplements can have adverse effects, particularly when combined with other supplements or drugs.[/disclaimer]
I don't have trouble sleeping on the trail, but used to at home. Have worked night shift for most of the last 2 decades, so sleep during the day.
I tried 5-HTP for awhile. To say it worked for me is an understatement. I actually DON'T use it, because it makes me sleep too well. Have to have a solid 8hrs set aside, because I'm gonna sleep for at least 8 hours, maybe more. And that's just occasionally taking a minimal dose an hour before bed.
I don't recall seeing it listed among 5-HTP's side effects, but it made my dreams more vivid and memorable, which is consistent with increased dream activity from the serotonin it encourages production of.
Sensory deprivation, courtesy of covered eyes and a noise-canceling+"relaxing ocean surf" audio track, is what I do now. If I had problems sleeping in the woods, ear plugs and a Buff over my eyes are what I'd try first.
FlyPaper
06-25-2019, 10:19
Which is your go-to to get some solid sleep while on trail?
Thx
I always use Melatonin. The good thing is that it is not addictive at all. I've been using it everyday for 8 years and having become addicted yet.
chknfngrs
06-25-2019, 10:30
Have you tried not using it in the last 8 years? That sounds like an addiction! ��
I always use Melatonin. The good thing is that it is not addictive at all. I've been using it everyday for 8 years and having become addicted yet.
trailmercury
06-25-2019, 10:55
Have you tried not using it in the last 8 years? That sounds like an addiction! ��
Gee...I drive a car to work everyday for eight years and I'm addicted to driving folks!
trailmercury
06-25-2019, 11:10
Gee...I drive a car to work everyday for eight years and I'm addicted to driving folks!
Kidding of course. Melatonin is not addictive. (I'm an MD)
the best treatment of chronic insomnia is actually Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
It's very hard to get the patients to actually go to therapy for sleep issues; most want a quick easy (lazy) fix i.e. a prescription.
Which is your go-to to get some solid sleep while on trail?
Thx
Bourbon. Actually, exhaustion, and then bourbon.
Exhaustion. If not then melatonin.
Never brought the melatonin, exhaustion is pretty much fail safe for me.
Feral Bill
06-29-2019, 17:38
Sore legs can keep me awake. Ibuprofen fixes it. I rarely use it though.. Update: Recently used it on a trip. Worked like a charm.
greenmtnboy
07-09-2019, 20:23
There are so many natural sleep aids, herbal like hops and valerian, and the popular melatonin and 5htp milk protein type aids. Would never even think of a drug option.
Wise Old Owl
07-17-2019, 20:52
Found out by accident, that the kids Melatonin gummies are better than a lot of pills and other options. Just two for adults.