Top 3 Best Over The Counter Sleep Aid Products

Insomnia is a major public health issue. Up to 40% of adults in the U.S. have experienced insomnia in some way. In this article, we will discuss some of the best over the counter sleep aid products to combat insomnia.

Getting enough quality sleep on a regular basis is good not only for your physical health but also your mental and emotional well-being. Sleeping enough helps you to maintain productivity and have enough energy to get through your day. Suffering from insomnia not only affects your physical health but also your emotional health as you’re often frustrated with your inability to sleep. This can greatly affect your quality of life.

What You Should Consider

When you purchase over the counter sleep aid products, obviously your goal is for them to help you sleep. The best over the counter sleep aid products have been proven to help you get a restful night. A word of caution however, to make sure you follow the instructions. Always take the recommended dosage and don’t do take it more often than is prescribed. However, keep in mind that you should follow the instructions, especially regarding the dosage and how regularly you can take them.

Most OTC sleep aids are not intended to use on a regular basis over a long period of time. This is especially true for sleep aids that contain antihistamines. If you’re taking these drugs too often, your body will start to adapt and get used to the drugs. This causes them to lose their effectiveness, forcing you to increase your dosage. This can cause unwanted and potentially harmful side effects.

It’s fine to use OTC sleep aids to help you get a few restful nights. However, you should be looking into a healthier and more permanent solution. This can involve changing your daily routine, exercising, or establishing a better bedtime routine so you can fall asleep naturally.

Before taking even the best over the counter sleep aid products, please follow these simple steps:

• Always consult a physician.
• If you’re on prescription medication, it’s even more important to consult your doctor. Some OTC sleep aids can interact with other medications. This can cause a lot of health issues.
• Always follow instructions on the packaging. This includes both dosage and how often you can take the sleep aid.
• Work to improve your sleep routine. Try natural sleep remedies and establish a strict bedtime routine every night.

Top 3 Best Over The Counter Sleep Aid Products For Insomnia

#1: Kirkland Signature Sleep Aid

Source

Kirkland Signature Sleep Aid is known to be one of the best over the counter sleep aid products on the market. This sleep aid contains an antihistamine, which will definitely put you to sleep. Antihistamines work against hte histamine produced naturally by your body’s central nervous system. As mentioned earlier, the problem with antihistamines is your body builds up a tolerance and it’ll require a larger amount of drugs to be effective over time.

The Kirkland Sleep Aid is great to use over a short period of time if you are really struggling with insomnia or other sleep disorders. Keep in mind when you use Kirkland, that some people experience drowsiness the next day. If you don’t have an extended period of time to sleep, it’s not recommended that you use this OTC sleep aid. We recommend trying it the first time on a weekend or a day when you don’t have to get up early. This will give you a chance to see how your body responds to it before using it on a night when you need to get up and be active and alert the next morning.

If you are in desperate need of a solid night of sleep, this is the way to go for sure.

#2: Natrol Melatonin

Source

Melatonin is a sleep aid that can be used on a more regular basis. It doesn’t contain an antihistamine so you don’t need to be concerned about building up a tolerance. Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by our body, and it is a major contributor to establishing a sleep pattern.

Melatonin is produced by getting exposure to natural sunlight, as well as natural darkness at night. Since we are exposed to light so many hours a day, sometimes our bodies don’t produce enough melatonin. This lack of melatonin is one of the main causes of insomnia as well as other sleep disorders.

Natrol Melatonin can help you by assisting your body’s natural Melatonin production. It won’t be as fast-acting as an antihistamine product, but it is much more natural. You can use this on a regular basis for a long-term treatment of insomnia.

If you are looking for a melatonin-based OTC sleep aid with virtually no side effects, Natrol Melatonin is a good, safe choice.

#3: Unisom Sleep Gels

Source

Unisom Sleep Gel is another popular antihistamine sleep aid product. Though Unisom and Kirkland are both antihistamine sleep aids, Unisom contains a different active ingredient. Unisom contains an antihistamine called Diphenhydramine hydrochloride. This is a more gentle ingredient, as opposed to Doxylamine.

Unisom sleep gels are available in either 25mg or 50mg doses. These sleep gels have a lighter but still effective result. They help you to sleep without putting you in too deep of a sleep. This is great if you need a sleep aid but have to rise early in the morning. This is also a good one to use if you’ve never used a sleep aid before. Your body might just need a little bit of something to help your mind to relax.

Remember, this does contain a mild antihistamine so make sure you don’t use this on a regular basis. If you find yourself needing a sleep aid over an extended period of time, consult your doctor.

If you’re dealing with insomnia issues, make sure you discuss the problem with your doctor. Your sleep problems could be a sign of something greater, so it’s important not to ignore.