Need sleep help

Okay, folks, this has gone on long enough. I am TIRED.

For months now, I've had trouble sleeping. Either I can't GO to sleep, or I nod off early, wake up, and can't go BACK to sleep. And I'm over this, damnit!

So---is there a good OTC sleep aid? One that won't leave me a zombie the next day? One that I can take along with sinus meds and pain relievers? (Part of my sleep problems are the pain of arthritis, which seems to get WORSE when I go to bed.)

 Have you tried plain old fashioned Benadryl?  That stuff knocks me for a loop every time.  My only other suggestion would be to speak to your PCP about a prescription sleep aid.  I use Ambien when things get tough (mostly during Lupus flares when the pain is unbearable) and I have no next day grogginess.  It works VERY well for me :)

Benedryl is what I've been taking at night for my sinus trouble. It DID knock me out at first, but I reckon I've become habituated to it. I'm rather leery of Ambien, given what I've seen others post about it.

My only experience with a prescription sleep aid was Xanax. I'm not sure WHY, but my old PCP gave me that about seven years ago when I complained about not being able to sleep. I very plainly told him that I didn't want something to MAKE me sleep, I wanted something to ease my pain so I COULD sleep. Apparently he thought I was a drug-seeker---well, I WAS, but only because I was in pain, LOL!---and gave me Xanax instead. I took it two nights in a row, and after the second dose I thought I was gonna die. It was like having a bad case of the flu!

 Ahhh.  Yeah, Benadryl can definitely lessen in that effect over time.  Well, there are several options for prescription aids these days, besides Ambien.  Lunesta and Restoril are other good ones.  And some anti-anxiety meds can be good for sleep aids, but not all of them for sure (I wouldn't prescribe Xanax for that!).  Also, as mentioned, melatonin is an all natural option out there too.

From one sleep weary person to another, I sure hope you can find something that helps!

Melatonin was suggested to me, as I went through a "phase".  It got better before I got around to trying it, though, so I have no experience with it, I just know that it's a non-drug alternative, so it shouldn't mess with the other stuff you have to take.
I do know other people who use it, and they swear by it, though.
Hope you find something that works!  Being tired sucks.

As far as OTC, I second the Benadryl recommendation (in fact, a product made by the same company to help people fall asleep has exactly the same active ingredient in exactly the same dosage) and also melatonin. I found the combination of the two to be extremely helpful since the Benadryl would knock me out and the melatonin would help me stay asleep.

Do you take OTC drugs for the pain and sinus problems?

Yes, I take Benedryl for my sinuses and Aleve for my arthritis---sometimes tramadol as well. I'll try adding the melanotin and see if that helps.

This may seem like an eccentric suggestion but it worked for me so I'll recommend it to you. Google binaural beats or isochronic tones and if it is something that you think you might want to try, I can provide links to free downloads that you can put on an MP3 player or if you have an ipod or iphone I can suggest an app or two that I use.

Okay, I'm going to have to research that some. Thanks for the suggestion!

I'm a firm believer in isochronic tones.  Not only do they relax you for sleep, but relax the painful joints and muscles from arthritic pain.