Comments on: Over the Counter Sleep Aids http://ifitandhealthy.com/over-the-counter-sleep-aids/ Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:18:44 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: ilks42 http://ifitandhealthy.com/over-the-counter-sleep-aids/#comment-97789 ilks42 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:56:51 +0000 http://ifitandhealthy.com/over-the-counter-sleep-aids/#comment-97789 I would not take any of the over the counter supplements like Melatonin and Valerian root. These supplements are not regulated by the FDA and may contain various amounts of impurities, some of which could unknowingly harm the body (especially if you were allergic to an ingredient you didn't know was added - because they aren't required to list all of them). Also, there hasn't been a healthy dosage set for these supplements, so you may be taking more than is actually healthy for your body, but no one would know it. I would suggest trying to improve sleep patterns without drugs/supplements...though I know they're very tempting when it's 3 am and you have to give a presentation in the morning and want to go workout etc. etc. etc. It will benefit you in the long run, and save your liver the extra trouble. One article I read suggested something like this: Try going to sleep 4 or 5 hours before you need to wake up (if you have to wake up at 6 am, go to sleep at 1 am). It might feel like you're still depriving yourself of sleep at first, but that's kind of part of the plan. Increase the amount of sleep by going to bed 15 minutes earlier each night until you fall asleep easily and feel rested during the day. I would not take any of the over the counter supplements like Melatonin and Valerian root. These supplements are not regulated by the FDA and may contain various amounts of impurities, some of which could unknowingly harm the body (especially if you were allergic to an ingredient you didn’t know was added – because they aren’t required to list all of them). Also, there hasn’t been a healthy dosage set for these supplements, so you may be taking more than is actually healthy for your body, but no one would know it.

I would suggest trying to improve sleep patterns without drugs/supplements…though I know they’re very tempting when it’s 3 am and you have to give a presentation in the morning and want to go workout etc. etc. etc. It will benefit you in the long run, and save your liver the extra trouble. One article I read suggested something like this:

Try going to sleep 4 or 5 hours before you need to wake up (if you have to wake up at 6 am, go to sleep at 1 am). It might feel like you’re still depriving yourself of sleep at first, but that’s kind of part of the plan. Increase the amount of sleep by going to bed 15 minutes earlier each night until you fall asleep easily and feel rested during the day.

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