Sleeping Aids?

Unfortunately my route is switching from a day shift to 12:30pm start time. I’m finding conflicting info on legal sleep aids. I know after a few weeks ill naturally adapt to my new schedule but in the mean time im considering a prescription sleeping aid. It doesn’t look like they are specifically prohibited as long as they are timed correctly but I’ve heard many people online claim they are. I’m planning to just consult my doctor on the matter but does anyone have any info or first hand knowledge on topic? Thanks

P.S I’ve tried melatonin but it hasn’t seemed too effective for me

Before you go that route, buy a good wireless headphones set, and find a "Binaural sleep" soundtrack. The ones that work really well actually sent a chill down my spine the first time I heard them. Bottom line, it's worth a shot, and won't affect any drug testing....

Those sleep sounds are worth a try. Spotify & YouTube have them. Headphones or bedside speaker.

One important thing is you consciously choose your bedtime, and let others in your house know you will be "Do Not Disturb" then. If you need to hit the sack at 5pm, so be it.

BTW the wake up-work-do stuff-sleep cycle is the usual way we all live. Wake up-Do stuff-work-sleep is not so easy to maintain.

I think it's possible to work with the single source speaker, but the point is having different tone sets for each ear, so the effect is greater using a headset. Obviously if you can't sleep at all with a headset, a speaker is second best, but I would make sure to put it on the headboard, central to your head location while you sleep

NaeNae sez

zthe point is having different tone sets for each ear, so the effect is greater using a headset.

Yes that's true. I'm one who tried binaural in a good headset, but tossing & turning turned them into "rocks" on my pillow. A small bedside speaker is second best.

That's a perfect start time (12:30 PM) for me. I'm a bit confused on sleep aids, it would seem like you would actually need to move your bed time to later, not earlier. Unless, you are still waking up early for day shift.

At any rate, I'd you push your bed time further out, you should start waking up later. But it all depends on your chronotype, which is genetic. I'm guessing you're a lark, as opposed to a night owl.

Making sure your sleeping area is dark is very helpful, asmr is great as well. I prefer 12 hours of train sounds on a black screen, coupled with my truck on high idle. Keep it cool in your sleeping area and put blue light filters on your electronics.

There all temporary measures though, your circadian rhythm is dictated largely by genetics and your sleep and wake times will inevitably revert back to their natural cycles.

Correction, it’s actually a 12:30am start and I’m going from a 8:00 am start.

Thanks for everyone’s comments.

It’s currently 6:30am on my first day of new shift. Im waiting for my relay driver at my relay point. I’m tired but not exhausted.

I was on the midnight shift for 7 months, just switched back to days last week. Like you, the melatonin did jack squat for me trying to go to bed at noon-1pm. I ran on a couple hr nap each day for the 1st week. My body started to adjust somewhat the 2nd week out of exhaustion I suppose.

Took me close to a month to really get used to being a vampire. Got some black out curtains for the bed room week 3, they definitely made a difference.

The first stint I did on the midnight shift in my last career, I maintained my sleep schedule even on my days off. It was great for being well-rested but horrible for work-life balance. Every other time I worked mids I adjusted on days off and readjusted when back to work. I drive mostly overnights now and I've found taking melatonin as soon as I shut my clocks off for the day. Then when I need to go to sleep, my body is more prepared for it. Listening to binaural music, keeping it cold and all the curtains drawn helps me.

I have been using unisom sleep gels for years. It has the same ingredients for sleep as the Benadryl does. I got hooked on Ambien a long time ago and it took forever to get off of that. Now I can’t sleep at all without some kind of medication but at least I don’t sleep walk anymore like I was on the Ambien. That stuff is dangerous. Also, my ears ring really bad at night so I have to have noise to sleep with but I have a super noisy neighbor upstairs who works night shift from home… his office is directly above my bed with hardwood floors. I tried different types of headphones but I’ve been using the soundcore sport x20 ear buds for almost a year now. They make ones specifically for sleep but the x20 sport has the ANC feature plus the ear hooks so they stay in my ears while I sleep. After almost a year of every night use, they still last 8-9 hours of continuous play. I use a sleep sounds app on my phone and it helps to drown out the noise from upstairs and anything else so I can sleep. They’re actually comfortable to sleep in and I’ve only lost one in the bed one time since I started using them.

It’s tough making that transition for sure. I went from working second shift for 6 years to having to be at work at 6am and it took me a long time to get off that night shift sleep schedule.