Sleep Aids While Sick

It’s starting to snow and the wind is blowing about 60 mph…..I am getting ready to go out and get my nightly feeding…and it is so cold.  Hi Rose here and I know it’s the time of year that everyone fights a cold or the flu.  Those that are sick have a hard time falling asleep and they try to find sleep aid pain reliever.  Even though I hate to go out in the cold, since I am undead I can’t get sick any longer, but I have used the following three over-the-counter sleep aids while sick.

Tylenol PM is the most popular brand of the three and is great for those that are suffering from a cold.  Tylenol PM is not addicting and is safe to use with other medication.  With 500 mg Acetaminophen and 25 mg Diphenhydamine it has a smaller amount of sedative than other over-the-counter pain medications.  If you prefer a brand of Tylenol without a pain reliever, try Simply Sleep.  Tylenol PM and Simply Sleep are available at your grocery store or pharmacy in caplet or capsule form. 


Advil PM, like Tylenol PM has a stronger sleep aid, 38 mg of Diphenhydamine with a different ingredient in its pain reliever, 200 mg Ibuprofen.  They work the same, just a bit stronger.  Take the recommended dosage because if you take too much you may find it hard to wake up in the morning or remain drowsy during the day.  It is not recommended to operate heavy machinery or drive. Please adhere to the other warnings on the label, if any. 

Excedrin PM was the first combination sleep aid and pain reliever ever made, having the same sleep aid as Advil PM (38 mg of Diphenhydamine) and the same pain medicine as Tylenol PM (500 mg Acetaminophen).  Excedrin PM is available anywhere over-the-counter pain medication is sold.


These three sleep aid pain relievers are popular and work to give you a good night sleep. Being over-the-counter medications, they are a lot less expensive then prescription sleep aides.  If you find yourself getting sick and want to stop your cold before it starts or reduce the time you’ll have the flu, try zinc throat spray and/or Vitamin C and be sure to use a hand sanitizer to kill those unwanted germs…..Now if I could just find my dinner before the sun comes up.. Burrrrr.
Good Evening,
Rose Sheepskill

Sleep Insomnia

Good Evening, Rose Sheepskill here. We have a special treat for you this evening; I have had an unexpected visit from Hungry, Dr. Luke Sleepwalker and his lovely wife Natasha. Dr. Luke Sleepwalker is a noted sleep disorder physician. He treats those with chronic disorders including his wife, Natasha. 200 years ago Natasha was turned when she was afflicted by the sleep disorder, insomnia. Since she became a vamp her disorder followed her even though she is dead. Now being a vamp with insomnia can be a chronic disorder, because there is not much you can do when you are in a box for 8-12 hours. “Right, Natasha?”

“Rose, so very true, some days are extremely rough to get through.” Said Natasha “Do you mind if the Doctor and I tell your audience what insomnia is and the causes individuals experience?”

“No, please go right ahead …the crypt is yours”

“Insomnia is the observation or complaint of insufficient or inconsistent sleep due to one or more of the following:

• Difficulty falling asleep
• Waking up frequently
• Waking up too early in the evening (before sunset)
• Restless sleep

Insomnia is not identified by the number of hours of sleep a person gets or how long it takes for a person to fall asleep because individuals need for sleep vary. Insomnia may cause problems during your waking hours such as tiredness, lack of energy, struggle with concentration and irritability.”

“Insomnia can be divided among a few types; transient or short term, intermittent or on and off insomnia and chronic or constant. Transient can last from a single night to a few weeks, while intermittent only occurs from time to time and chronic arises most days or nights depending if the patient is alive or undead like Natasha.” Dr. Luke Sleepwalker said.

“There are certain conditions that cause insomnia more likely in individuals. Some examples of these conditions include; those over the age of 60, female gender and medical history. Medical history conditions that cause insomnia are; depression, stress, anxiety, a medical problem or certain medications. Transient and intermittent insomnia generally transpire in people due to stress, noise, extreme temperatures, changes in environment (not sleeping in your own casket), sleep/wake schedules (like jet lag) or medication side effects.

Now chronic insomnia, like Natasha’s is more complex and results from a combination of factors including underlying physical or mental disorders. Most common is depression while other causes have been known to consist of acute arthritis, kidney disease, heart failure, asthma, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, Parkinson disease and hyperthyroidism. Natasha was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and is treated with taking a thyroid hormone pill (Levothyroxine) once a day, preferably when she first wakes up. Before she was diagnosed she also experienced stress, once treatment started both conditions became controllable and now she can get a good days sleep.

Some behavioral factors might cause chronic insomnia and they are; caffeine, alcohol, drugs, work schedules and chronic stress. Other behaviors that perpetuate insomnia are just plan worrying, taking naps and disruptive sleep schedules. If individuals would stop these behaviors they may eliminate insomnia altogether.” Dr. Luke Skywalker suggested.

“Insomnia is found in both genders, all age groups but seems to be most common in females, especially females that are older and post menopause. My patients are evaluated with the help of their medical back ground and sleep history. Their sleep history may be attained by a daily journal or an interview with their partner. Specialized sleep studies by sleeping overnight (or over day) at a sleep clinic may be recommended.

The treatments I recommend for transient and intermittent insomnia may be controlled without medication but only with changes in lifestyles. However, those that experience restless awake hours can use short-acting prescription sleeping pills to improve their alertness. Remember over the counter sleep medications have some risks and side effects and not usually recommended for the treatment of insomnia.” Dr. Luke Sleepwalker concluded.