Nodding off on the couch, but then can't sleep in bed

@ Judy Bradford: Hi! Sleep is an increasing illusive problem. My latest remedy is working well for me: take 1 or 2 Magnesium Glycinate 240mg capsules when you are ready for sleep. Sweet Dreams!

Yeah, that worked for me for a while, but no longer does. It's the same story with everything else: It works great for a while, until it doesn't. Plus, I just discovered that I cannot take any of the anti-anxiety (anti-depressants) that contain histamine blockers. That includes Doxepine and Trazodone. They keep me awake all night. So it's back to taking a different sleep aid each night. _Ambien, or Quivivic, or Unisom, or Xanax.

@judybradford , I’ve been struggling for a couple of years. I used to have difficulty getting to sleep. I’d be wide awake at 2:00 a.m. most nights. Eventually, I’ve gotten to getting sleepy between 9:00-10:00 p.m. Now my problem is waking up 4 hours later. Usually, I can return to sleep and get 7-8 hours of sleep. I have to really focus on it though.

For me, I suspect it’s due to my post covid syndrome. It started right after my covid and other symptoms started. I had been an excellent sleeper my entire life until this sleep issue started. I also had a lot of stress and anxiety during that time. I worked on that and the sleep improved. I occasionally get a full 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. That’s my goal.

@judybradford I know you won't be thrilled with this idea, but a sleep study could help you.
Good for you to read in another room, and not in the bed. I too read until I am very sleepy, and stay awake until 11: 30pm. Since I have been staying awake longer, I have been sleeping without waking up as often as in the past.

When I have this problem and the meds do not work.
I will read in the den but I pick a very boring book. I have kept of few of these. That usually puts me into sleep in short order. If I read a book that interests me that takes a lot longer before I get tired enough to sleep.
I do use some of the PM OTC products, they usually work OK but I have to take them around 9PM. Any later and I am still groggy the next morning.

@judybradford Similarly, i can't take Trazodone, probably due to histamine blockers - and benadryl makes me anxious and wakeful (similar mechanism I believe) and hydroxyzine, same thing. Taking Lorazepam which doesn't work very well - so sometimes I take 1mg melatonin an hour before going to bed and 1 or 2 Calm's Forte homeopathic tablets if needed. Ambien used to work great for me, but it stopped working after a course of Flagyl and Cipro. Maybe after 6 months i can go back to it, especially the CR version. Am moving to CA, so will have a new doctor soon. Good to know that Unisom works for you - that's doxlyamine succinate, which is different than diphenhydramine (benadryl) - so i might give it a try, thanks!

Hi, if your couch is comfortable, just stay there, cover up and sleep all night there. That's what I do sometimes. Maybe you'll get a full night sleep there.

I use a cpap however recently started drinking chamomile tea before bed. And I use an Alpha Stim, which I use for anxiety but also works for insomnia. I also take magnesium but the tea helps the best.

@pta Some nights I get restless in bed, or too warm - and head to the couch and sleep well for a few hours, until I go back to bed. And then I can sleep there again, too.

@pta: Your sleeping ritual is identical to mine. I am trying to make peace with this issue and not over-react. I’m sure you have tried any/all suggestions of our peers, as have I and continually wish for my regular, reliable sleep pattern to return to my life. Honestly, I can’t recall how a person feels after 8hrs continuous peaceful sleep, can you?