13 replies to this topic

[staz]

Here's my situation: When I don't have anything to go up for in the morning (school, work) It's easily occured that I stay up to 6 in the morning or whatever, and sleep until the next days afternoon. If I then have work the day after the day where I slept until the afternoon, and I want to be well rested for the working day (lets say i gotta get up at 7), It's best if I fall asleep before midnight. However, having slept to say, 3 in the afternoon makes it hard to fall asleep that early. I sometimes manage to fall asleep but just wake up a few hours later and then I am the opposite of tired and won't be able to sleep again until many hours later. Or I simply don't manage to fall asleep until alot later.

So I was wondering if there is any supplement, drug, call it whatever you will that could prove helpful in those regularly occuring situations of mine, so that I can have slept late and still fall asleep early (without waking up after a few hours preferably).
You might say that I should just go up early in the morning the day before, so I will be tired later on, but the offer of a job might come on one of those days when I've slept late..

I've heard melatonin 5htp & ghb can help with this.. however, none of them are allowed in Sweden.. but I'd still be interested to hear if you have used any successfully for this purpose.

Otherwise, anything you think can be obtained in the pharmacies or health shops here..

[chubtoad]

I can certainly relate to that staz. My sleeping scedule is just like yours. I asked my doctor and he didn't recommend any drugs so I just deal with it.

[JonesGuy]

I find working my brain to exhaustion, and then working my body to exhaustion means that I have very little "lying awake" time every day.

[staz]

heh, well yeah I guess I could exhaust myself too.. but I usually go to the gym and it doesn't help me falling asleep at night.. I guess aerobic training would but I cant be bothered with that How do you work your brain to exhaustion?

The problem is just that 'dealing' with it as you say chubtoad can mean one day at work with just 1-2 hours sleep, which is damn hard, especially when you sit down all the time, happens so easily that ya fall asleep. Coffee works for that purpose, but still, it's nicer to be fresh and rested...

[Bruce Klein]

Wow, so melatonin is not avail. in Sweden? From the extensive research I've done on this hormone over the years.. its quite safe.. strange they would ban it there.. wonder why? as that'd be my first suggestion..

the second and more important suggestions is to get at lest 8hr of sleep in any 24hr cycle... and the duration doesn't have to be continuous. i do this myself from time to time... as I will sleep for 4hrs.. stay up for 8 sleep for 4 etc.. but for a regular scheduled job ect. this would not be possible, of course.

[staz]

I just know it's not sold in health shops or pharmacies. It can be prescribed by doctors though I have read. But I don't consider my 'problem' serious enough for a doctors visit, it would just be a relief to be able to get tired quickly.

[Bruce Klein]

Well, of course.. you may wish to cut back on all caffeine and sugar before trying to get come sleep.. this will also ensure greater overall health and assist in longevity..

[Mind]

The replies of Qjones and BJklein put together are a great remedy. Get mental and physical exercise and cut out some of the caffeine and sugar. These together should get you sleeping well. It takes commitment. It is not easy. Oh, also I would not recommend dropping caffeine "cold turkey" because the withdrawal can be wicked (headaches).

Edited by Mind, 28 October 2003 - 09:19 PM.

[staz]

I never drink coffee except when I'm tired at work, which was a while ago since I didn't work in a while.. Neither do I consider myself eating an excess amount of sugar.. Yet I still won't be able to fall asleep and sleep a full night after just having been awake for less than 12 hours.. I guess I could cut down on eating closely to bedtime though, but when my schedule gets wicked, and you just had one meal during all day, it's usually hard not to give in for the hunger even if it comes before going to bed, cause falling asleep on a hungry stomach is harshly unpleasant.
I have taken your advice though, and I shall see what I can do with it.

Edited by Mind, 28 October 2003 - 09:20 PM.

[shpongled]

No melatonin, 5-HTP, or even GHB? Glad I don't live there... anyway, here are my suggestions:

1) The only thing that is really going to help you out is a prescription drug in my opinion. I have the exact same problem. Trazodone works wonders, and improves sleep quality as well.

2) If you can't sleep, don't lie there in bed - do something - read, watch a movie, anything.

3) If you're on only 4 hours of sleep or something, even a 20 minute nap can really help out.

4) Some herbs that may help out, assuming they're legal - valerian root, forskolin, high dose taurine, GABA. Valerian has a mild hypnotic effect but it can not be increased by taking large amounts.

Not taking stimulants is sound advice, however research has found that sugar does not have a significant wake-promoting effect. Of course you should be limiting sugar intake to begin with, but being satiated (not full) can help you get more restful sleep.

[staz]

I guess with an effort I could get ghb from the street, but not knowing the concentration and seeking up a drug dealer keeping the drug commonly known as the "Demon Date Raper" by most people at home just to get some sleep doesn't quite seem worth the effort.. 5htp might be obtainable , I was planning to order some stuff from the US soon enough anyway, so I might be able to get some 5-htp or melatonin then, would you recommend any of those?
If I would go to my doctor and ask him to prescribe something he'd probably just say "sort out your sleeping habits instead, don't stay up so late" because after all I don't really have a good reason to stay up all night.

[shpongled]

I've tried melatonin - it's ok, but the effect quickly disipates (sp)

[David]

On those nights you can't sleep, try getting up and doing something undemanding. The urge to sleep comes in waves around every 20 to 30 mins. Wait for one of these waves and hop aboard. Most of all, don't stress about it. Stressing about it will keep you awake, and/or make you tired the next day. Males are by nature evening creatures anyway. Unlike our female counterpart, we don't like mornings as a rule. Mornings are for sleeping!

Oh yea, Lay off the drugs. Naughty!

[greeneyed]

THEANINE, 100 mg before bedtime, no food for two hours b4, or about an hour after, kicks quite a punch, its an amino acid derived from green tea that produces alpha waves within 40 min of ingestion, stress relief, great for depression, anxiety, social anxiety disorder, a must have!