Many people all over the world suffer from various forms of insomnia.  Contrary to popular belief, insomnia is not actually a disorder itself.  It's simply a symptom of some other underlying sleeping problem.  The fact that so many people suffer from sleeping disorder has everything to do with the massive sleeping aid medication industry.  It's impossible to watch TV at night without seeing an advertisement for the latest and greatest new sleeping pill.  Are prescription sleep aids really the answer though?  In this article, we'll consider a few different things.  Most of all, we're going to focus on a few alternate medications to the ones prescribed by most doctors.

Before we get into some non prescription sleep aid advice, let's consider the common causes of insomnia.  In this article, we're talking about what's known as transient insomnia.  This basically means that the trouble sleeping isn't a real serious issue.  Transient insomnia usually lasts for only a couple of days.  One very common cause of this condition is jet lag.  If you've ever flown great distances across a few time zones, you know how out of whack your body's internal clock can get.  It's very difficult to get back into a normal sleep cycle.  Men and women who work shifts often experience the same thing.  Another cause of this type of insomnia is stress.  It's quite normal for people to lose sleep over financial, love, or work problems. 

Non Prescription Sleep Aid - A Natural Way To Get A Better Sleep

There are quite a few reasons to stay away from insomnia drugs. This is particularly true if the insomnia you suffer isn't really of the serious variety. These drugs are meant for men and women who have serious sleep disorders. If your insomnia only lasts for a couple days, and you can pinpoint the source, prescription sleeping pills aren't for you. There are also numerous downfalls to these drugs. The scariest part of them is how quickly one can become dependent on these drugs. Other side effects that are common include drowsiness, dry throat and even constipation.

Now, really the best non prescription sleep aid isn't even a medicine! A term that's quickly gaining traction in the sleep aid industry these days is sleep hygiene. This basically refers to the practice of having clean, healthy sleeps. There are quite a few factors that lead to good "sleep hygiene". The easiest way to combat mild insomnia is to make sure your sleep schedule is the same. If you are constantly going to bed and waking up at different times, your body's natural clock gets messed up. This, naturally, leads to poor sleeping habits and insomnia. You also want to make sure that your bedroom is cool, dark and quiet. This is important for both falling asleep and staying asleep through the night. Other things you can do to ensure a restful night have a lot to do with your diet. Take care not to ingest any sort of stimulant after noon. The most common one that gives folks trouble is caffeine. Try switching to decaf or green tea if you are a coffee lover like me. Eating dinner too late can also effect your sleep patterns in a negative way. Leave at least 2 hours between your final meal and the time you go to bed. This is an excellent way to ensure a good sleep.

If improving your sleep hygiene just doesn't work, you may want to consider a different kind of non prescription sleep aid. I'm referring, of course, to over the counter sleeping aids. These medications are available without a prescription and can be very effect at alleviating the effects of temporary insomnia. They are not for serious issues, however. If you suffer from chronic insomnia, you need to see a doctor. If, on the other hand, your sleeping problems are brought on by jet lag or some kind of injury, these drugs can be great.

Typical OTC sleep aids are very similar to common antihistamines. The biggest difference is they also have a mild sedative engineered into them. Some of the more popular ones on the market include Unisom, Nytol and Sominex. A few side effects that some people experience include a bit of drowsiness the day after. Generally speaking, this symptom will go away once your body is used to it. Now although these sleep aids are available without a prescription, it's still a good idea to contact a doctor before deciding on which one is right for you. Good luck and sweet dreams!