mental_floss magazine
SUBSCRIBE >
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS >
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS >
subscriber services >
Not sure if you all heard the news yesterday that the F.D.A. is forcing sleeping pill manufacturers of Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata, etc. to include labels warnings for insomniacs like me stating that the drugs can cause sleep-driving and sleep-eating. While I’ve never experienced either (to the best of my, my wife and my neighbors’ knowledge), I have experienced serious lapses of memory. What I’ve forgotten, I really can’t say because I have no memory of the actual forgetting. But my wife tells me I frequently forget whatever it was we were discussing before the drug kicked in. (In some marriages, this is merely known as being a guy, but whatever…) One of the articles that mentioned the new FDA laws also said that in Australia, where Ambien is marketed as Stilnox, one woman actually painted the front door of her home while asleep!
So I’m opening the floor. If you’ve got crazy sleeping-pill induced stories, or can recommend a good way to get to sleep without drugs (someone recently told me chewing apple skin works) we’d love to hear ‘em. Meanwhile, here’s a few factoids on some ancient sleep aids:
- Centuries ago, herbal potions and the opiate laudanum were used to induce sleep.
- By the early 1900s, barbiturates were introduced.
- Barbiturates may have put people to sleep, but they actually prevented patients from going into REM – a stage that has been proven to be a vital part of healthy, restful sleep.
- In the 1960s and 1970s, a new type of sleeping pill, called benzodiazepines, began replacing barbiturates. But benzodiazepines were found to produce personality changes that linger several weeks beyond the cessation of the drug.
- My friends with newborns tell me the best sleep-aid is something called a live-in nanny.
Comments (14)
Comment
Been there, done that, forgot to send the postcard.I find Benedryl works the best.
posted by CropTillDawn on 3-15-2007 at 8:55 am
My husband has sleep problems and does all kinds of wierd things (especially if he has not taken his sleep meds). One day he went flying out of bed so quickly that managed to break his knee cap. He never managed to get any painting done while sleeping though. Maybe I should switch him to Ambien!
posted by RogersWife on 3-15-2007 at 9:06 am
I find that the herbal remedies work best without side effects. Melatonin (sublingual) is very effective, as is KavaKava Root, Valerian Root, Skullcap, and several others.
These can be used in combination. Visit a reputable herb/supplement store for a qualified health care representative to help make your selection.
posted by Jo Ann Frank on 3-15-2007 at 9:12 am
i take a melatonin every night and wake up very refreshed.
posted by Rebecca on 3-15-2007 at 9:18 am
I have a friend who does alot of things asleep. They range from talking (actually responding to questions and such) to eating (as in getting out the pots and pans and making a fried egg sandwich). He doesn’t take any sleep aids, and is known to have to be punched in the arm sometimes to wake up. one morning i got there early and had brought breakfast. He snatched it, started eating and talking to me about stuff and about 1/2 way through the food he stops and looks at me and says when did you get here and what am i eating??? He is still currently seing a doctor about it and they are still currently stumped.
posted by phillip on 3-15-2007 at 9:19 am
My husband tried several sleep medications before settling on Benedryl as the best of the lot. He only used Ambien for a short time, and said he’d never try that again as it was the weirdest feeling he’d ever had. He never slept long enough to do anything strange, though.
posted by Miss Cellania on 3-15-2007 at 10:54 am
I’ve found that when I really need to sleep, and sleep hard, nothing works better than a prescription muscle relaxant. (Currently have Flexiril, prescribed for TMJ related locked jaw.) It knocks me out for about ten hours, however.
When I just need to sleep the normal length of time but I’m not really tired, Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Extra with valerian does the trick.
posted by Cathy on 3-15-2007 at 11:01 am
Phillip.
This is a form of parasomnia. Considered to be both a sleep disorder and an eating disorder. Half the members of my family have/had it (including a 3 year old who used to get up in the middle of the night, climb onto counters etc to get food - all while asleep). Seems to show up more during times of stress. It is freaky to watch!
posted by Jane on 3-15-2007 at 12:17 pm
I’ve been taking a combination of Benadryl and melatonin for six years. I wake up refreshed and with a bounce in my step. Takes 45 min. to 1.5 hrs to get really sleep, but it works.
posted by Cheryl on 3-15-2007 at 3:30 pm
I tried Ambien for awhile, but I’d never had such horrible nightmares in my life, and therefore had to discontinue that. I’m trying Lunesta. So far, so good. For 8 hours, I’m useless to the world. As opposed to the rest of the day…
posted by Kali on 3-15-2007 at 3:31 pm
I’ve been taking a combination of Benadryl and melatonin for six years. I wake up refreshed and with a bounce in my step. Takes 45 min. to 1.5 hrs to get really sleepy, but it works.
posted by Cheryl on 3-15-2007 at 3:32 pm
I currently take deseryl, which works pretty well. It is an anti depressant that had the annoying side effect of knocking out the users. Think Viagra as a heart medication with the annoying erection:) It works, but some nights I get really jumpy legs where they spasm and move before I sleep. After years of not sleeping well I’ll take the annoying side effect!
posted by Krick on 3-15-2007 at 7:45 pm
Was severely jet lagged the other day and took my first ever sleeping tablet, cant tell you if it worked or not but I certainly slept either way!
posted by Garth on 3-19-2007 at 4:14 pm
Melatonin gives me the worst headaches (once I wake up). The only thing I can come up with is that there’s something I’m allergic to in it… But, it did put me to sleep.
posted by greenstrawberries on 3-23-2007 at 2:24 am