Sleep Help?

Anyone have any good sleeping remedies? Melatonin makes me super hyper. I am mostly manic with seizure disorder (3 kinds of seizures) & OCD. I used to get panic attacks but cognitive therapy calmed those down.
I take Depakote & Seroquel. The Depakote calms the manias (mostly) & also addresses seizures. Seroquel makes me sleep. I had horrible manic insomnias, I'd go 2-3 months with 2 hours' sleep a night (up all night doing stuff). I 'd hallucinate after the 4th week.
Both meds put weight on me. Before meds, it was easy to stay under 135 lbs. (at 5'10") & often I'd lose so much (down to 118 at times) that my MD was nagging me to gain weight.
Now I've put on 50 lbs (25 w/Depakote & 8 years later, 25 w/Seroquel). I walk 20-30 minutes/day, do yoga stretches, dance & never just sit. I am SO hating this weight gain!!
My husband & very sweet about it but I know he misses his slim wife. I'd Love to get off seroquel. I know I have to be on Depakote for the seizures/manias. But if I could find good OTC sleep aides, preferably something natural, the weight would fall off me & that would be Great.
In 2005, I told my doctor's Phy. Asst. my husband & I were going to Scotland for 3 weeks. She told me to go off all my meds so I could lose weight. I thought that was the doctor's orders (MD was on vacation).
So I did go off all my meds (never had done this b4). Lost 20 lbs. in 19 days. Despite eating Huge Scottish meals.
When I got back, I was super manic & called my MD to tell her about the weight loss. She asked "Why on Earth did you go off your meds!" The PA got into big touble. I could have died from seizures going cold turkey. And I did hallucinate.
Anyone have any natural sleep aides?

Just a suggestion.........Have you tried OTC antihistamines?

Non-processed food?

Just a warning with mixing OTC meds with prescription meds. I was having trouble sleeping so I tried mixing OTC antihistamines with my nighttime meds and every time I did it, I had trouble breathing at night. Like, I'd start to fall asleep and stop breathing, and wake myself up gasping for breath. I finally realized it only happened when I added antihistamines to the mix and when I stopped doing that, it stopped happening. Melatonin gives me racing thoughts and extreme anxiety.

I use music, meditation, reading or doing something sedate with no screens (no computer or tv) before bed, and Seroquel to help me sleep.

Yes, I've tried these & they help to an extent but not fully. Thanks though!

Thanks but I grew up with a "health nut" Mom (RN) so never had processed foods. We picked our own fruit & veg....etc. And I had severe insomnia all my life, even as a baby/young child. So that's not going to work for me

If you are looking for medicines, I take propranolol in place of benzos
Prazosin for nightmares,
Latuda for BP II,
Lamictal for BP depression and
Ambian for sleep.
So far this is the best I've slept in years, I've no hangovers and best of all they are not know for weight gain.

I too have had trouble sleeping spence childhood. Like others I've tried everything for sleep, getting out of bed after 20 minutes, getting up at the same time everyday, meditation, tensing & relaxing your muscles, seroqual and nothing worked until this combo.

If you are looking for medicines,
I take propranolol in place of benzos
Prazosin for nightmares,
Latuda for BP II,
Lamictal for BP depression and
Ambian for sleep.
So far this is the best I've slept in years, I've no hangovers and best of all they are not know for weight gain.

I too have had trouble sleeping spence childhood. Like others I've tried everything for sleep, getting out of bed after 20 minutes, getting up at the same time everyday, meditation, tensing & relaxing your muscles, seroqual and nothing worked until this combo.

Pure lavender tea works wonders for me.

A few years back I went into a local tea shop and explicitly asked them: "what is your best tea sleep remedy" .. and the clerk pointed me toward lavender.

It's been invaluable to me on nights that I can't sleep, and the best part is there is no grogginess in the morning.

This might sound strange. But catnip tea is really calming and helps you sleep. My mom has tried it and said it has helped. But I have no idea as to how it reacts with meds.

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That is so funny. Insomnia has been portrayed extensively in literature, as a source of inspiration for poets and all the rest of that, centuries before the advent of processed foods, whatever they are.

Well you are in Colorado, so one wonders why you have not tried marijuana. Get some edibles and some capsules, start with a tiny amount first, make sure you have no adverse effects (some people report paranoia and anxiety), and see if you can find the right dose.

Do not smoke it though, as it damages the respiratory tract.

If I were to advise a friend I'd steer them clear of pot. It'll put you to sleep, but it's psychoactive which might be overkill and have detrimental effects.

Try lavender or other teas first, if that doesn't work seek out alternatives.

Thanks for this warning. My MD approved the use of a low dose of benadryl. I need it for bad allergies & it just happens to help me sleep (usually). I don't take any other type of OTC meds. And you are right, for people w/bipolar (especially in the manic phase), melatonin is Not a good idea. It makes us super hyper! Good info

I don't get nightmares but have not heard of propranolol . I will ask my MD about those. Lamictal gave me the scary rash & ambien made me sleepwalk, sleep eat. I'll ask about prop' Thank you SO much & glad you are sleeping well!

OH! I absolutely Love lavender scent. I have some lavender oil but haven't tried the tea. Thank you, will try it! So glad it works for you

I did try edibles & they put me So out of whack, felt like the world was spinning & got super anxious. But I sometimes smoke it & that helps. I never smoked a nicotine cigarette in my entire life. Am 62 so don't think the smoking will kill me if I only take a puff or two at night when I can't sleep. So glad it's legal!!