Trouble staying asleep often waking in early hours

Trouble staying asleep often waking in early hours

Author
Discussion

RTB

8,273 posts

257 months

Monday 17th July 2017
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I had a similar problem. I used to take nytol for a few nights which would sort of reset my sleep patterns but I found I was taking it for more and more nights.

The thing that worked for me in the end was to cut out all caffeine and start taking zinc and magnesium supplements (ZMA). I don't know whether the ZMA is having an actual biochemical effect or it's just placebo effect, but I'm certainly sleeping much better now.

Patch1875

4,893 posts

131 months

Monday 17th July 2017
quotequote all
RTB said:
I had a similar problem. I used to take nytol for a few nights which would sort of reset my sleep patterns but I found I was taking it for more and more nights.

The thing that worked for me in the end was to cut out all caffeine and start taking zinc and magnesium supplements (ZMA). I don't know whether the ZMA is having an actual biochemical effect or it's just placebo effect, but I'm certainly sleeping much better now.
I also take magnesium before bed does seem to make me sleep better but I feel a bit groggy for a few hours after I wake up.

LiamD

253 posts

200 months

Monday 17th July 2017
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I had something similar recently, for around 10 years I've been used to shift work, but I always slept through. A few months ago I started seeing someone and I found myself waking in the middle of the night, I put it down to my mind stressing about the relationship as when it ended, I started sleeping like a baby again laugh

ninja-lewis

4,226 posts

189 months

Monday 17th July 2017
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Do you worry about missing your alarm going off/sleeping in?

Wacky Racer

38,099 posts

246 months

Monday 17th July 2017
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I know most people have a general distrust of drugs/sleeping tablets but try Boots Sleepeze (one a night)....take one about an hour before bedtime they certainly work for me......around £6.00 for 20, no prescription required.


  • For short term use only.....three or four days max.

ReaderScars

6,087 posts

175 months

Monday 17th July 2017
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Try potassium as well as magnesium. Maybe your diet could do with a bit of an assessment if the minerals work.

Thurbs

2,780 posts

221 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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Perfectly natural mate, don't worry about it.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/feb...

Johnnytheboy

24,498 posts

185 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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Thurbs said:
Perfectly natural mate, don't worry about it.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/feb...
Ah yes, that's what I was referring to above.

TwistingMyMelon

6,385 posts

204 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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Magnesium helps for me, I tried ZMA, that was too strong , I now just take two of these before bed with a little but of food:

https://www.vitabiotics.com/shop/osteocare/origina...

I find when I run out of them I often wake about 3am and cant dose off, with them I still wake up but dose straight off, could be placebo but if it works it works


marcosgt

11,011 posts

175 months

Wednesday 19th July 2017
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TonyRPH said:
@Peanut Gallery - I drink decaf, and tend not to drink coffee after 9pm however sometimes I've had a coffee as late as 10:30 and I sleep fine... :
Errrrr.... Answered your own question? Have a coffee before bed! smile

M.

Riley Blue

20,915 posts

225 months

Wednesday 19th July 2017
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
I've slept badly for decades and now listen to comedy programmes on iPlayer via my phone and in-ear headphones. It seems to work well, I'm often having to 're-wind' several times before I hear the end of a programme sleep....

Dogwatch

6,222 posts

221 months

Wednesday 19th July 2017
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Thurbs said:
Perfectly natural mate, don't worry about it.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/feb...
Perfectly normal apparently. I used to wonder about the monks being hauled from their slumbers at stupid O' clock for a service but it was probable that they were naturally awake anyway.

TonyRPH

Original Poster:

12,963 posts

167 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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I'm not quite sure how this return to our old style sleep pattern is going to fit in with modern life though!

Our forebears were not bound to get up for work and probably had more time to themselves during the day maybe?

I'm "fortunate" to be unemployed at the moment, however when I did have a full time job, I would struggle to get through a normal day, having to deal with epic slumps due to being so tired.


Riley Blue

20,915 posts

225 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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TonyRPH said:
I'm "fortunate" to be unemployed at the moment, however when I did have a full time job, I would struggle to get through a normal day, having to deal with epic slumps due to being so tired.
My 'epic slumps' last all day thanks to medication for my dicky ticker. Three of my pills have the same side effect: 'may cause tiredness'.

AJB88

12,269 posts

170 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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Normal for me, 10 years of night and day shifts.

If I go sleep at 2200-2300-2400, I always wake at 0200.

Find my best sleep comes between 0600-1100, no good when my day shift alarm goes off at 0500 like today.

rich350z

359 posts

161 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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This sounds familiar. I also have no problem going to sleep but wake in the night, then find it hard to get back to sleep as I over think things.

I have no affiliation with the company but get one of these and like someone else said listen to voice only podcasts or an audio book. Just nothing too exciting!

http://www.soundasleeppillow.co.uk

It's so much more comfortable than headphones and my wife can't hear it at all.

I soon go back to sleep as I concentrate on whatever is playing and stop over thinking.

Try it!



Edited by rich350z on Thursday 20th July 07:30

DE1975

432 posts

105 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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There was an episode of Doctor in the House on BBC recently with a chap who had a trouble sleeping and chronic fatigue in the day as a result. After struggling to get to the bottom of it, and ruling out sleep apnoea, stress, anxiety etc it was only a blood test that revealed the guy had elevated homocysteine levels, which they put down to a genetic defect. The treatment was high dose of a vitamin B complex, and all the symptoms subsided.

Here's the episode, but I think it expires on iplayer tonight

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b08rzs35/ad/d...

randomeddy

1,430 posts

136 months

Saturday 24th March 2018
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During the week I get up at 5:15am, I wake up for a pee usually about 4:00 (This can vary wildly, SOME nights 12:00 then again at 3:00 then 4:00). Not exact times, just an example.

When I have the early pee during the week I can nod off again but usually lie awake waiting for the alarm to go off but then just want another five minutes.

Now then, the weekend, why can't I have a lie in like a normal person, I try to go back to sleep after the 4:00 pee but just end up tossing and turning and end up getting up about half four ish.

Alcohol consumption is zero. Coffee probably three cups a day. Age early 50's, big boned laugh

Kermit power

28,635 posts

212 months

Tuesday 24th April 2018
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rich350z said:
This sounds familiar. I also have no problem going to sleep but wake in the night, then find it hard to get back to sleep as I over think things.

I have no affiliation with the company but get one of these and like someone else said listen to voice only podcasts or an audio book. Just nothing too exciting!

http://www.soundasleeppillow.co.uk

It's so much more comfortable than headphones and my wife can't hear it at all.

I soon go back to sleep as I concentrate on whatever is playing and stop over thinking.

Try it!
Thanks for posting this! I bought one after reading the thread and it's brilliant!

I've found that so long as you don't get too riled by the overwhelming sense of smug self importance of Melvyn Bragg and his guests trying to appear more intelligent than each other, the ideal soporific to go with it is the Radio 4 "In Our Time" podcast.

Rather conveniently, you can get about 19 years' worth of podcasts to download!! hehe