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I Need A List -- The Longer The Better --
Question: I need a list -- the longer the better -- of *purely physiological and biochemical* interventions (supplements, etc) that I can take that put me to sleep or make it vastly easier.
I say "purely physiological and biochemical" because I have had sleep issues all my life that have *never* been an issue with bad sleep habits, but due to an erratic nervous system. Right now I am taking the practically coma-inducing Seroquel at night, and the last week, even that is not putting me to sleep until 2:00 AM -- and I cannot be falling asleep that late, because if I do not sleep in alignment with my circadian rhythms, my already severe health problems are vastly worse the next day and I am in physical agony.
I say "purely physiological and biochemical" because I have had sleep issues all my life that have *never* been an issue with bad sleep habits, but due to an erratic nervous system. Right now I am taking the practically coma-inducing Seroquel at night, and the last week, even that is not putting me to sleep until 2:00 AM -- and I cannot be falling asleep that late, because if I do not sleep in alignment with my circadian rhythms, my already severe health problems are vastly worse the next day and I am in physical agony.
Brief Answer:
Purely Physiological and Biochemical Intervention
Detailed Answer:
Dear Sir
Greetings from Ask A Doctor service.
There is only one Purely Physiological and Biochemical Intervention that can put anyone to Sleep
That is called Melatonin
It is available both as Tablet (eg Tablet Meljio) as well as Oral Sublingual Spray (Melsoma Nano Oral Spray)
Other than this, you can try the following ideas
First and foremost, maintain a natural circadian rhythm. this means, you have to go to sleep at the same time every day and get up at the same time every time.
Have an alarm for going to sleep.
This is most important. as soon as the alarm goes off, stop the work you are doing and hit the bed.
Going to sleep at proper time every day is the single most efficient method to cure insomnia or sleeplessness.
Those who sleep too much need an alarm for waking up. But, if your problem is sleeplessness, you need an alarm for going to sleep as well.
The next part of solution lies in proper food. Avoid coffee, tea or other stimulants after 6 pm. you can take milk.
After food comes the environment. Close the windows. use dark curtains on the windows. Avoid flickering lights in the room. Avoid watching TV in bed. Avoid XXXXXXX phones or tablets in the bed.
Simple methods like taking a bath or walking for 45 minutes after dinner will also help.
Try these simple steps for 4 weeks and you will find the difference yourself.
Purely Physiological and Biochemical Intervention
Detailed Answer:
Dear Sir
Greetings from Ask A Doctor service.
There is only one Purely Physiological and Biochemical Intervention that can put anyone to Sleep
That is called Melatonin
It is available both as Tablet (eg Tablet Meljio) as well as Oral Sublingual Spray (Melsoma Nano Oral Spray)
Other than this, you can try the following ideas
First and foremost, maintain a natural circadian rhythm. this means, you have to go to sleep at the same time every day and get up at the same time every time.
Have an alarm for going to sleep.
This is most important. as soon as the alarm goes off, stop the work you are doing and hit the bed.
Going to sleep at proper time every day is the single most efficient method to cure insomnia or sleeplessness.
Those who sleep too much need an alarm for waking up. But, if your problem is sleeplessness, you need an alarm for going to sleep as well.
The next part of solution lies in proper food. Avoid coffee, tea or other stimulants after 6 pm. you can take milk.
After food comes the environment. Close the windows. use dark curtains on the windows. Avoid flickering lights in the room. Avoid watching TV in bed. Avoid XXXXXXX phones or tablets in the bed.
Simple methods like taking a bath or walking for 45 minutes after dinner will also help.
Try these simple steps for 4 weeks and you will find the difference yourself.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
I am already doing melatonin, and it is not making a difference.
I am also already doing all the habitual things you prescribe -- in fact, I am essentially religiously ritualistic in maintaining good sleep habits and always have been. Yet I still need medication to go asleep, which shows that, in my case, insomnia is purely biological and physiological in origin and is unrelated to sleep habits, since they have always been pristine. And even the medications are not always powerful and potent enough to sleep.
I have to take the extremely potent, extremely powerful seroquel to force my body to shut down at night. For some reason, the last week it has not been allowing me to sleep until about 2:00 AM. Given my multitude of very severe neurological health problems, I *absolutely cannot afford* not only not falling asleep at night but falling asleep out of alignment with my circadian rhythms.
So I need a hyper-potent, hyper-powerful medication or other solution, even compared to sequel, of absolutely forcing the nervous system to shut down so that I can not only sleep but sleep in alignment with my circadian rhythms. Doctors all my life have only given me treatment, none of them have ever even bothered to investigate why my body doesn't naturally shut down at night.
The only thing I can think of that might be the cause of my insomnia is my POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). Do you know anything about how POTS might cause insomnia?
P.S. I recently learned that, as far as the wake-sleep cycle goes, melatonin and serotonin are opposites insofar as melatonin prepares you for sleep and serotonin prepares you for awakening in the morning. I also learned that the best way to increase serotonin as supplement is to take 5-HTP in the morning, which the body then converts into serotonin. If I take 5-HTP in the morning, should that help further lessen my chronic problems with sleep?
I am also already doing all the habitual things you prescribe -- in fact, I am essentially religiously ritualistic in maintaining good sleep habits and always have been. Yet I still need medication to go asleep, which shows that, in my case, insomnia is purely biological and physiological in origin and is unrelated to sleep habits, since they have always been pristine. And even the medications are not always powerful and potent enough to sleep.
I have to take the extremely potent, extremely powerful seroquel to force my body to shut down at night. For some reason, the last week it has not been allowing me to sleep until about 2:00 AM. Given my multitude of very severe neurological health problems, I *absolutely cannot afford* not only not falling asleep at night but falling asleep out of alignment with my circadian rhythms.
So I need a hyper-potent, hyper-powerful medication or other solution, even compared to sequel, of absolutely forcing the nervous system to shut down so that I can not only sleep but sleep in alignment with my circadian rhythms. Doctors all my life have only given me treatment, none of them have ever even bothered to investigate why my body doesn't naturally shut down at night.
The only thing I can think of that might be the cause of my insomnia is my POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). Do you know anything about how POTS might cause insomnia?
P.S. I recently learned that, as far as the wake-sleep cycle goes, melatonin and serotonin are opposites insofar as melatonin prepares you for sleep and serotonin prepares you for awakening in the morning. I also learned that the best way to increase serotonin as supplement is to take 5-HTP in the morning, which the body then converts into serotonin. If I take 5-HTP in the morning, should that help further lessen my chronic problems with sleep?
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