In a flair since Sept and now I have my days and nights turned around. I need something strong to put me out for a few nights just to get be back in line. I've tried all the standard ones like ambien, temazepam, lunesta and about 5 or 6 others. I think I need the real sleeping pills (yes the addictive ones) but I only for a few days to get turned back around. Any ideas on what to ask for; I think my GP will wright me a few of anything that will help. Thanks - 8am here and going to bed.

Ask your PCP what they think you should use, your will get your best answer.

Keep a good schedule. go to bed at the same time, up at the same time.

DARK room! make sure that any TV lights, alarm clock lights, lights from the humidifier, or cell phones are dark! Even tiny lights from appliances can tell the pineal gland in the brain that its time to get up!

Avoid Caffiene after 12 noon. Loads of hidden caffiene everywhere. read lables.

Practice meditation and relaxation. Lay in a soft, comfortable, dark space, and say good night toes, and feel them relax. Good night ankles. and feel them relax. Up to your hair. Deep breathing! pullin air, and move that diaphram. Put a book on your tummy and watch it go up and down with each breath.

melatonin is also awesome. its the natural substance that we make naturally at night to trigger sleep. 5 to 10 mg at night with warm milk helps!

AVOID alchohol. it prevents you from entering rem sleep.

When meditating, move your eyes left to right. right to left. up and down. down and up. it helps trigger the REM response we normally use when we sleep. REM is the restful stage of sleep. REM=rapid eye movement (dreaming)

DONT stress over it if it takes a few days. with practice it can get better.

Last but not least, please tell your MD. Sometimes it can be part of a flare, and sometimes its just part of the disease. There are things you can do to become more comfortable at night. Comfy PJs, good sheets, soft blankets, and if need be remove pets! I love my cats, but sometimes they keep me awake. If I am in a sleep distrubed cycle they get removed from the room. When I am in a better space, they can come back.

Feel better

in addition, no computer or television right before going to bed. I think it creates a stimulation that makes going to sleep more difficult.

Reading is good. I only read a page or two each night. There is no hurry to finish anything.

Thanks for all your reply's - I do have a major prob with many issues I should not and need to re adjust ie( Keep a good schedule...) Hopefully, with all your kind help listed I will be able to sleep. If not, time tells all ... thank you

Melatonin. If it doesn't actually keep you asleep, it may help you (as it does me) to fall back to sleep when you do wake up too early.

you've gotten some great advice.
i'm also on trazodone. it's an AD but also can put you to sleep.
i turn the lights out an hr before i plan to go to bed. that gets your melatonin levels to come up.

have you tried anything like tylenol PM? check with your dr before trying any drugs. if you do try it NEVER overdose on it. tylenol can have serious or life threatening side effects on your liver.

you also might try something that works as "white" noise. or some really relaxing music.

and, don't nap during the day.
boy, good luck.

Thank you again for all your advise and I have tried all advise but Melatoni. I don't go out often so have not got to the right store for that yet. I've been been down the list of most common sleep meds and have tried them all in past.

With your help, I seem to be doing a bit better (4hrs last night - no sleep today YES!!!!) But still just a mess here. I have a Dr appointment tomorrow, if I keep it. She was advised of this problem before, but like most only gives minor pills.

End result - like everyone has stated, but has been so kind as not to put in my face - I have to learn to deal with this w/o meds. For this and many other I thank you.

Trying

Reduce daytime sleeps to essential recharge power naps only.
Dark room at night.
Light reading before settling in a nice temperature room.

and a Body Shop Sleep spray containing Jujube date extract and Camomille. Just the job for good zzzzzzz's

I've had insomnia off and on for years. The older I got, the longer it lasted. I've been on 1 mg of Klonopin at bedtime for six months or so, and it works great.

Do talk to your doctor. If natural methods don't work, you have to look into other things. You've got to get your sleep.