Or not. See:If Ambien works for you, OTC valerian probably will too because of similar chemistry, however valerian is not as powerful, which can be a good or bad thing depending on your perspective.
https://www.early-retirement.org/fo...-and-sleeping-pills-119378-2.html#post2992355
Valerian Root - doesn't help at all
I didn't need it until I got severe tinnitus. I wouldn't take it if I didn't need it, but I've been using it for over 2 years, and I still take 1/8th of a pill sublingual as a standard dose if I wake up and can't sleep. I actually took 5mg at bedtime early on, so I take a lot less now. I have no side effects, but I still don't get enough sleep even though it helps.Ambien and Xanax are powerful drugs with significant side-effect profiles and risk of dependence. Maybe occasional use would be okay (Xanax for getting through a day or two of sleeplessness because of specific stresses should not be problematic for most people.) I wouldn't want to be taking these drugs on a daily basis if there were any other options with better side-effect profiles available. BUT, I'm no doctor and have no particular qualifications on the subject. Therefore YMMV.
I don't take Xanax at all, no prescription. A friend has been taking it for several years at a strength that is about 15X that of my zolpidem dose. I do have Ativan, which very similar with a longer half life, but I only take it occasionally and at a lower dose - no side effects. Where people get into the most trouble with benzos is taking them daily and at higher doses because they build tolerance and dependency. I have to get each refill authorized by the doctor.
All those supplements (melatonin and many more), CBD, THC, sleep hygiene tips just don't work. Even those OTC sleep meds and common prescription meds like Trazodone and Hydroxyzine don't do anything for me. Some people with severe tinnitus have luck with low dose Mirtazapine, but I've never tried it. I've heard it can be hell to wean off of also. I think the DORA drugs would be good to try - concerned about the high cost since my insurance won't pay anything on those tier 4 drugs until I meet my health plan's deductible, if at all. Zolpidem is low cost as are the other meds I mentioned except the DORA meds.
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