Best Over The Counter Sleep Aid

A person spends a third of his life in a dream, therefore it is natural that good and full sleep is the key to good health. That is why pharmacies offer a large number of different prescription and non-prescription drugs to normalize sleep. And if it is rather difficult to get a prescription for a sleeping pill, while over the counter sleeping aid can be purchased at almost any pharmacy. Let’s review the most popular and effective non-prescription sleep medications that can be inexpensive.

Best sleep medication you can buy without a prescription

Midnite Sleep Aid (Melatonin)

This drug can be bought at almost any pharmacy, but it is quite an effective remedy. The preparation contains artificial synthetic hormone melatonin in the amount of 1.5 mg per tablet. This is a full-fledged analogue of natural melatonin, which is synthesized from plant materials. Taking 1-2 pills speeds up bedtime and improves the quality of dreams, nightly awakenings become less frequent, and there are no unpleasant sensations in the morning. Melatonin intake is indicated not only for insomnia but also to restore circadian rhythms, for example, for a quick flight to a sharply different time zone, when the so-called jetlag effect appears. You need to take Midnite Sleep Aid half an hour before the planned sleep. Patients are advised to take no more than 1 tablet. For a planned flight to another time zone, the drug should be started one day before the flight and within 3-5 days after it. You should take no more than 2 tablets per day. This drug has contraindications: pregnancy and lactation, severe damage to the liver and kidneys, blood diseases, autoimmune pathology. It is important that a patient should refrain from sunbathing, staying in bright sunlight. Besides, this aid can cause a weak contraceptive effect, therefore it is not recommended to use melatonin products when planning a pregnancy.

Glycine

Glycine is the simplest amino acid that we absorb with various protein products. Glycine is available in regular tablets and tablets for sublingual use. It is necessary to use them only at bedtime. To improve the absorption of the drug, you need to put a pill or two under the tongue and slowly dissolve. Glycine has a sweet taste, and some people even like it. The drug is released by a very large number of manufacturers. This is the most popular effective drug for mild sleep disorders. Since Glycine is part of many proteins and circulates in our blood, it is almost impossible to get an overdose or poisoning. You can also use it during the day, the medication has a slight sedative effect, relieves anxiety symptoms and is able to improve memory, especially during stress. It is widely used in various fields of medicine. The disadvantage of glycine is the fact that it is not able to cope with severe sleep disorders. The cost of these sleeping pills is quite low, which leads to its widespread use. This is truly the most popular drug.

Unisom

Unisom (Doxylamine) belongs to the prominent representatives of histamine receptor blockers. The antihistamine effect of this drug is mainly aimed at the appearance of general drowsiness since its antiallergic effect is extremely weak. It is quite strong in rare bouts of insomnia, which can sometimes happen in healthy and strong people. It’s recommended to use tablets immediately before bedtime. The drug is not indicated for regular use. Perhaps the most unpleasant side effect of Unisom is a heavy and unpleasant feeling in the morning, heaviness in the head, drowsiness in the afternoon. That is why it should not be used by those who will drive in the morning. In addition, the medication can cause dry mouth, possible irregularities and delayed urine outflow, palpitations and other effects. The drug may also interact with other medications, so it is necessary to consult your doctor before the first use. You should also avoid drinking alcohol during treatment. Doxylamine acts fairly quickly and immerses a person in sleep, even when Glycine does not work.

Persen Forte

Persen Forte is a rather soft plant tranquilizer. This drug is recommended for treating mild sleep disorders. It consists of extracts of valerian, mint and lemon balm. This over-the-counter sleeping pill is available in brown capsules. In addition to sleep disturbances, Persen Forte can be used for anxiety, neurosis, and increased excitability. In the typical case of insomnia, it is recommended taking one capsule 40 minutes before sleep. The main advantage of Persen Forte is its good hypnotic effect in case insomnia is associated with nervous feelings and increased excitability of the nervous system. In other cases, it may be ineffective. Another advantage of this remedy is that you can safely get behind the wheel in the morning. Besides, the drug does not cause addiction and does not interact with other medications. Keep in mind that it should not be used in patients with various lesions of the liver, patients with gallstone disease and diseases of the biliary tract. Also, it should not be taken by lactating/pregnant women and children under the age of 12 years.

Corvalol

Corvalol is a unique drug, the only one on the domestic market that contains an anticonvulsant compound – phenobarbital, and is also sold without a prescription. And that is why it can compete with much more serious sleeping pills, and its low cost makes it even more popular. In order to improve your sleep, you need to take 20-40 drops dissolved in a small amount of water just before bedtime. In addition to insomnia disorders, this hypnotic is indicated for neurosis, irritability, attacks of a heartbeat, tachycardia. In addition to phenobarbital, Corvalol contains isovaleric acid ester. That is why the drug has a characteristic, specific, fragrant smell of valerian. Corvalol is produced by many companies. This sleeping medicine is very cheap. The advantage of Corvalol is quite a fragrance that is able to calm and make you want to fall asleep. But at the same time, this smell is quite stable. Corvalol is contraindicated for people suffering from chronic alcoholism, as well as while driving vehicles and working with machines and mechanisms. This sleeping pill is also contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation, in children, as well as in patients with severe damage to the liver and kidneys.

Novo-Passit

Novo Passit belongs to sedative and hypnotic drugs of plant origin. In addition to sleep disorders, this medicine helps with tension headache, urticaria, itching, neurasthenia and anxiety disorder. The composition of this over-the-counter sleeping pill includes an extract of valerian and lemon balm, hawthorn and passionflower, hop and elderberry. In addition, Novo Passit includes guaifenesin, which has an anti-anxiety effect. This solution can be taken orally undiluted or diluted in a small amount of water. Adults are recommended to take 15 ml of the drug in three doses during the day. its price is rather low. Perhaps the main disadvantages of this drug are daytime sleepiness and the alcohol base, which interferes with driving vehicles and is contraindicated in patients with alcohol dependence. Gvayfenzin, which is part of the drug, is not well tolerated by all people. It can cause a tremor in the hands – in this case, the medication should be stopped. An overdose may cause drowsiness and depression may. During treatment, it is necessary to limit sunbathing since St. John’s wort (its constituent parts) can cause sunburn. This sleeping pill is contraindicated in myasthenia gravis and can interact with other medications. Alcohol intake enhances the effect of this remedy.

Infusion of Lemon Balm

In the summer, you can easily find a well-known plant – lemon mint or lemon balm. It also helps relieve spasms, soothes, and the essential oil contains bioflavonoids that help you fall asleep. You can pick a few fresh sheets of lemon balm, and brew them in a teapot like regular tea. After infusion for 20 minutes, you can simply add 100 ml of this infusion to ordinary green weak tea. The hypnotic effect will be small, but it will be quite enough for mild sleep disorders. You can also buy lemon balm infusion in a pharmacy. The undoubted advantage of fresh lemon balm is the aroma of freshly prepared infusion containing essential oils. The disadvantage is a weak hypnotic effect.

Important! This rating is subjective, is not advertising and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying any sleep aid, you should consult a specialist.

Category: Healthcare