I've been dealing with terrible sleep right along side you. I was taking at first trazodone, then temazepam, and now I have a Lunesta prescription. I started the pharmaceutical route about 6 weeks ago out of desparation. I absolutely had to sleep for important work and school related events. The Lunesta usually makes me sleep for 6.5 - 7.5 hrs, but it is definitely not as refreshing as real, natural sleep. There can also be a slight hangover effect that persists for hours into the next day, even after 7 or 8 hours of sleep.
I'm hoping that I can figure out a natural solution to this problem. The Lunesta simply is not a healthy, sustainable option for the long term. I've been researching some new potential substances for sleep lately, and have put together the following sleep stack, which I take before bed:
Gastrodin (increases GABA, and many other potential benefits)
Seriphos (I believe my sleep problems are partly related to high nighttime and early morning cortisol levels, and this stuff may be able to reverse that. I have an allele that is known to confer glucocorticoid resistance and high cortisol, according to data from 23andme and elsewhere)
Tryptophan (serotonin/melatonin precursor. 5HTP can increase cortisol, so not using that)
GABA (both capsule and sublingual. I also have an allele that confers high glutamate and low GABA)
Taurine (supports GABA function in the brain, supposedly)
Magnolia extract (GABA potentiator, supposedly)
Small dose of melatonin
Kava Kava (agonize the GABA receptor)
I'm also thinking of adding a lemon balm extract to the mix.
I've been using this stack for 2 nights now without the lunesta. It was pretty ineffective the first night. Last night was much more bearable, but still far from great or normal. I think the Seriphos takes some time to slowly reverse the cortisol problems, so I'm holding out hope.