New job hours...what sleep supps work the best? |
1Fast400 Forums > Supplements |
| Posted by: colin.muller Aug 21 2009, 11:46 PM |
| Im not looking to try OTC sleep drugs, but would like to try some sleep supps. I just got a good new job where we do 24 hour shifts for approximately 30 days in a row starting next week. Since Im new, I've received the 8pm-5am shift where Im driving a very large piece of machinery the whole time. What sleep supps have worked the best for everyone? I will be needing to sleep during the day and wake up around 7 pm. So basically opposite hours of what im working now. |
| Posted by: Josh47933 Aug 22 2009, 01:08 AM |
| Melatonin, valerian, etc are good as far as OTC supps. The best thing for me is research ketotifen though. Hands down the best thing for sleep. |
| Posted by: Jayv24 Aug 22 2009, 12:57 PM |
| The only ones of value are 5htp and melatonin. GABA kinda works...but you need a lot to cross the BBB...and at those high doses, you get flushed. your face will tingle and you may even start breathing erratic. Phenibut is awesome. But stay away. its addictive and a bitch to kick. Ive slept 13 hours on that stuff before. The herbal route is sketchy and hit or miss for some. Valerian, Kava, skullcap, chamomille are effective for some, junk for others. Valerian needs to be standardized. only one company i know has it standardized. Kava feels almost like a mild alcohol buzz tranquil feeling. It may not make you sleepy though and it can be hepatoxic. As far as the Pharm route...The best bet is Trazodone. It knocks you the eff out quickly. And it isnt addictive. plus it has the added benefit of being an anti-depressant. Actually, its an anti-depressant with the side effect of making you sleepy. Keto was nice as josh said. I find it slightly more powerful than doxylamine. Diphenhydramine and Doxylamine stacked with melatonin is about as good as it gets OTC. Or you could just drink a beer and JO left handed. That might work GICH!! |
| Posted by: Jayv24 Aug 22 2009, 01:02 PM |
| Another herb i messed with as a kid was Lobelia. I even grew it in my parents yard. Its comparable to a mild (extremely mild) MJ buzz followed by a dull lethargy that forces you to just go lay down. I would smoke it or brew it in a tea. Made me sleepy. But i doubt you'll find it at a supermarket or supp store. You need to buy the seeds, the plant itself or go to a wholistic healer and buy the tincture. |
| Posted by: FitnessFreak Aug 22 2009, 03:37 PM |
| I've only tried Melotonin a few years ago. It's produced by the brain and I don't think any young person should really be taking it. I don't have any decent suggestions for you. Good luck with the job though.  |
| Posted by: Josh47933 Aug 22 2009, 05:01 PM |
| The thing I don't care for w/ melatonin is sometimes it doesn't seem to kick in as far as making me sleepy but will have me draggin' ass the next day trying to wake up and snap out of it. |
| Posted by: RandyOrton Aug 22 2009, 06:14 PM |
| none, trust me ive worked night shift like you are doing now, i was the most tired i have ever been as soon i got home i would have a shake and go to bed and be out within minutes, i could never get used to the hours, i would get home around 600 and sleep from about 700 to 400 get up eat go lift, come back change and go to work |
| Posted by: Jayv24 Aug 22 2009, 08:12 PM | ||
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| Posted by: jcanton Aug 23 2009, 04:10 PM |
| I've had pretty good success with melatonin, as long as I relax for a bit before taking it and going to bed. |
| Posted by: colin.muller Aug 30 2009, 11:33 PM | ||
Good thing I am left handed. That would just be another day at the office.  |
| Posted by: metalmuscle Sep 9 2009, 03:10 PM |
| Yeah GABA will have you thinking you're about to die! I've taken a high dosage several times before, and after the extreme tingling and flushing, the breathing difficulty starts. You feel like you're gasping for air, but your breaths are shallow. It scared the crap out of me the first time it happened. I take 3mg of melatonin at night for the supposed extra GH release while sleeping. It doesn't really make me sleepy though...Getting used to your new schedule will be the main key. Once you get your sleep time regulated, you should be fine. |
| Posted by: chakmak Sep 9 2009, 03:40 PM |
| Colin, have you even started your new shift yet? Why don't you wait and see how it plays out? I had a job with similar hours once and I thought I was going to have trouble sleeping too. Turns out I didn't. On the other hand, if you're not so lucky, melatonin is pretty good and phenibut is amazing, but addictive as Jay said. I tried valerian root before too. It was ok as long as you can tolerate the stench, smells like assholes. |
| Posted by: ftank Sep 9 2009, 03:51 PM |
| DO NOT TAKE 5-HTP. Get Tryptophan instead (the shit in turkey that makes you sleepy) -- it's an amino acid and what your body naturally converts to 5HTP. Taking 5HTP directly can have adverse effects on your heart. Shit, it's illegal in the UK. If you like reading scientific journals... http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T02-4C4X4DK-1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1006288774&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=2bddf39ef98cc16abc6726e8a238ce84 Melatonin is an obvious sleep mode enhancer. This is great for resetting your biological sleeping clock as it can incite the sleep-stage earlier than your typical "bed time". Usually takes a couple weeks of recurrent usage at the time you "need to sleep" for it to fully reset your internal sleep timer. Grossly unscientific, but you get my point. I once worked a night shift. "Good luck" is probably your best "supplement" to be quite honest. And it doesn't come in the form of a powder, liquid or gelcap. Just make sure your sleeping area is pitch black, silent or there's constant ambience -- like a fan turned on low. You're not going to be able to sleep when you hear cars driving by or a beam of intense sunlight flickers onto your face. |
| Posted by: ShakesAllDay Sep 9 2009, 03:51 PM | ||
Most herbal sleep supplements smell funkeeee! |
| Posted by: colin.muller Sep 9 2009, 04:02 PM |
Yeah I keep getting thrown on and off of this graveyard shift, so I just havent had a chance to get used to it. I woke up after four hours of sleep today and feel hungover, although I havent drank in weeks. Its a pretty rough one, especially doing close to 11 hours overnight. Nearly impossible to get to the gym at this point because I feel so delirious and wishing I had a miracle supplement to keep me going through the end of my next shift, which will start a 2 day break.  |
| Posted by: metalmuscle Sep 9 2009, 04:25 PM |
Maybe you should be the one testing the E-911  |
| Posted by: colin.muller Sep 9 2009, 04:39 PM |
| Yes I think I do have a pretty decent case for this. I'm looking into it for the near future and may be logging it as well. |
| Posted by: metalmuscle Sep 9 2009, 06:46 PM |
| I hear you. I've been through that terrible work schedule crap myself. Close up past midnight and come right back to work at 4 am the next day. Makes for some really drowsy days. Good luck to you. |
| Posted by: wayne80332 Sep 18 2009, 10:54 AM | ||
This myth needs to die! Google it! 5-htp is superior IMO. It is one step closer to melatonin. Trytophan is many steps further and also converts to other things. It can give you energy. I hate to say this because I don't know what your circumstances are but ASAP get a new job where your working during the day. Working the graveyard shift is one of the worst things for your health and will screw your sleep cycle up to the point where I know many who have permanent problems. |
| Posted by: DownTown Sep 18 2009, 12:54 PM |
| ^ what he said. I had the night shift when i was in iraq, and i still have to be on and off of ambien because i will wake up every 2-3 hours at night. Try melatonin with valeran root, and turn your air down so its kinda cold. This way when you get in bed and cover up, your body relaxes quicker from being warm after being cold. The ambein and melatonin/valeran have been the only things that have brought me any success. |