Shift work and sleep aids

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

Hi Dr. Steve!

I’ve been working pretty crazy hours. I do a 12-hour shift, but sometimes it’s 1pm-1am, 3pm-3am, or 5pm-5am; I never really know until they tell me. Then sometimes they’ll throw me a curve ball and let me go home “early” (say, 1am) so I can come in at 8am.

Well, my sleep cycle is pretty messed up and, unfortunately, I can’t get to sleep unless I take Tylenol PM or, worst case, Ambien.

Hopefully I won’t be working these crazy hours much longer and I’ll go back to my regular 3pm-11pm shift. My question: am I causing myself some sort of harm by relying on sleeping aids for the time being?

Thanks Dr. Steve!!!

[Dr Steve]

Hi Dr. Steve!

I’ve been working pretty crazy hours. I do a 12-hour shift, but sometimes it’s 1pm-1am, 3pm-3am, or 5pm-5am; I never really know until they tell me. Then sometimes they’ll throw me a curve ball and let me go home “early” (say, 1am) so I can come in at 8am.

Well, my sleep cycle is pretty messed up and, unfortunately, I can’t get to sleep unless I take Tylenol PM or, worst case, Ambien.

Hopefully I won’t be working these crazy hours much longer and I’ll go back to my regular 3pm-11pm shift. My question: am I causing myself some sort of harm by relying on sleeping aids for the time being?

Thanks Dr. Steve!!!

Alice:

The proper short-term use of sleep aids has never really been shown to do any serious harm in normal cases. What they have shown is that people who take them for a LONG time tend not to sleep as well as people who practice "sleep hygiene" for the same amount of time.

Having said that, shift work is inhuman; we just weren't designed to work that way. Some people need Provigil (modafinil) to wake up when they're supposed to be awake when they switch shifts, other people need Ambien or Lunesta or Melatonin to help them sleep when they switch shifts.

My personal opinion is that if you need a sleep aid for a short time it's unlikely that you'll get dependent on it. If you have to take it longer than a few weeks, you may have to taper off of it (depending on what medication you're taking...some are more habit forming than others) to avoid withdrawal effects.

Tylenol PM has benadryl in it, last time I checked...it's non-addictive and if you can take it without getting a hangover, is relatively inexpensive and safe.

hope this helps.


your pal,



steve

[boosterp]

I take between 200 to 400 mg of trazadone (side effect is drowsiness) for sleep a hour before bed and have done so nightly since 9/05. I know that I am unable to sleep without taking trazadone or I get very poor sleep, waking frequently. Add prasozin (side effect also) for nightmares and I am a mess.

I refuse to take any other sleep aid yet my sleep hygiene is dependent entirely on medication. My psychiatrist (nor my past 2) does not see a problem with this as long as I am able to get at least 7 hours of sleep a night.

I am just curious as to what the long term effects are?

[KEITHJAY]

I take melatonin 6-9 mg and throw in a nytol once in a while is this combo bad. I do feel groggy sometimes for hours in the AM.

[FUNKMAN]

hopefully i can add a question or two...

i've tried ambien and lunesta. what i've found out is I can only get no more than 4 hours sleep on either. the next night, "if i don't take them" I will not sleep a wink. and during the day I will feel like I've been drinking espresso throughout the day, especially if i have a regular cup of coffee... the next day affect is a bit of paranoia too, like in the old days if I've been tootin...

tried melatonin, does nothing that i can realize or remember... recently my doc gave me clonazepam... no next day affects and I'll get a good 4 hours on it... then it's off/on for a couple hours

not sure if i asked any questions, just popped in my experiences with different things

[boosterp]

tried melatonin, does nothing that i can realize or remember... recently my doc gave me clonazepam... no next day affects and I'll get a good 4 hours on it... then it's off/on for a couple hours

not sure if i asked any questions, just popped in my experiences with different things

Clonazapam (Klonopin) is my best friend when it comes to anti-anxiety medication. It also helps me fall asleep a little faster in combo with my other sleep meds.

[Liz08]

I would try a more natural sleep supplement before resorting to a prescription drug. I find that they make a big difference, and have never had a problem feel drowsy, drugged, or hungover the next morning. Tranquil Sleep (http://www.seacoastvitamins.com/product_info.php?products_id=2310) is a good one, and has melatonin, 5-HTP, and L-Theanine in it. I would just take it 30-60 minutes before going to bed. I find it works pretty well, and always keep some on hand in the event that I had sleep difficulties.

[travisball7]

I spent a summer working 3rd shift. It was rough at first but eventually I adjusted naturally, but then I went back to school I had even more trouble adjusting back to that schedule.

[goreds2]

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[jlehane]

and whack off if you can't sleep ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.Problem solved. NEXT!!!!]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a221/jlehane3/CarFireSeasonWT.jpg[/:annoyed::wallbash::help::wacko::tongue::lol::happ y::blink:

[keithy_19]

Clonazapam (Klonopin) is my best friend when it comes to anti-anxiety medication. It also helps me fall asleep a little faster in combo with my other sleep meds.

Klonopin and benadryl will help you sleep.

But Ambie is the best because you'll do things you don't remember which is always fun. So hooray for that.

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

Klonopin and benadryl will help you sleep.

But Ambie is the best because you'll do things you don't remember which is always fun. So hooray for that.

It's always an adventure waking up the morning after taking an Ambien. I think the weirdest thing I discovered was an unopened bag of corn starch on the kitchen counter. I looked in the cabinet and there was the empty box.

I've been really stressed lately and I tend to sleep walk in my sleep. The other morning I discovered a decapitated chocolate Santa on my kitchen counter. I looked in the bathroom mirror and there was chocolate on my face. The scary thing is I found no evidence that I had unwrapped it.

At least my poop will be festive. :smile:

[PapaBear]

I tend to sleep walk in my sleep.
It's not as bad as sleep walking when you're awake. :wink:

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

DAMMIT!! I meant to say I tend to sleep walk when I'm stressed!!

[jlehane]

It's always an adventure waking up the morning At least my poop will be festive. :smile: after taking an Ambien. I think the weirdest thing I discovered was an unopened bag of corn starch on the kitchen counter. I looked in the cabinet and there was the empty box. At least my poop will be festive. :smile:

I've been really stressed lately and I tend to sleep walk in my sleep. The other morning I discovered a decapitated chocolate Santa on my kitchen counter.At least my poop will be festive. :smile: I looked in the bathroom mirror and there was " festive poop" on my face. The scary thing is I found no evidence that I had unwrapped it.

At least my poop will be festive. :smile: I can't compete with your exciting life...I feel like a PLAIN M&M :smile: You are a PEANUT in the game of LIFE !