What is a good sleep pill? Please help!?

[Persephone]

I'm 13 and in 7th grade. I take about 1 or 2 hours to fall asleep at night. I don't get bad grades or anything, and I'm never too tired, but it's just boring laying in bed every night. I've never tried a sleeping aid pill, but my mom would like me to get an idea of what might work. Also, I still want to be able to get up in the morning without a hangover kind of thing.



Please help, I really do want to sleep better.=D

[PillPoppinAnimal582]

Trazodone works really good for me! =]

[NinaM]

Most sleeping pills come with warnings that they are "habit-forming," so I would avoid them, particularly since your sleep troubles are daily. Instead, try melatonin. It's an all-natural herbal supplement you can take 30 minutes before going to bed. Melatonin is a chemical your body naturally produces during sleep, so taking it in supplement form is believed to be a safe, non-habit forming way to help you get to sleep faster and sleep through the night.

[oldtimekid2898]

Well, any OTC sleep medicine could carry a big risk of addiction, so you want to be careful about those. If you'd like, there are popular and effective natural sleep aids that don't have a risk of addiction, but some of them are only recommended for those 18 and older.
The main ones that are safe for 13 year olds are Chamomile, Hops, L-Tryptophan, and L-Theanine. You can try any one of those to help you sleep naturally.

Also, make sure you avoid sugar, caffeine, and exercise for at least 2-3 hours before you want to head to bed to eliminate other common possibilities of sleeping problems. If none of those help, it's possible you may need to see a Sleep Specialist to see why you aren't sleeping right, but most people don't get to that point after trying some of these options. Good luck and I hope I helped!


[edit]: You should not use Melatonin. There is a specific warning on Melatonin that says that people under 16 (or 18 on some) should not use it. The reason is because Melatonin is a hormone that occurs in your body and whenever you add more of any hormone before 16 years of age, it can throw off the delicate balance that a teenager's hormones are already at. I've heard of hormonal fluctuations like that causing more acne, but I've heard of more extreme examples where the person couldn't make as much of their own Serotonin after using Melatonin too much when they were too young... it's best to avoid it until you are at least 16.

[duane4ta070]

Look in2 taking Melatonin....I'd prefer you Google it or go to Wikipedia 1st...This is a natural occurring hormone, & it is secreted by the body @ nite to induce/assist sleep...This is @ any Health Food Store, or even a Target/WalMart should have it...I'd prefer you 2 look in2 something more natural like this than going to an over the counter sedative...

I take a 4mg. each nite, but I am older & larger than you are, so you may need to adjust down...I sleep very well & deep & not groggy oin the a.m.....

[superstar4]

try Melatonin
Melatonin is a natural horomone produced in the brain to aid in sleep. Its not habit forming and it can purchased at any store. since its a natural supplement you wont feel drowsy or hungover the next morning