Alteril Sleep Aid, 60-Count Box

I am an insomniac for the better part of 8 months now, and I have tried a number of sleep aids and over the counter products. Alteril has become my no-substitutes-accepted go-to product.The two most common over the counter medicines are Diphenhydramine and Doxylamine. Both of them can leave you groggy and interrupt your natural sleep cycles, but if you can't sleep in the first place what's the harm right? Still, after getting tired of being tired from using both of these OTC meds, I started trying "all natural" remedies. I had some mild success with the Mid-Nite product MidNite Natural Sleep Supplement, 30-Count Box (Pack of 2), used in combination with Calms Forte Calms Forte By Hylands Homeopathic - 100 Tablets but one fateful night at my local Wal-Green's, they were out of stock. Instead they had Alteril, and the difference was immediately clear.Both products include melatonin, a natural substance found in your body, which aids in relaxation among other things. Alteril includes 4 mg to Mid-Nite's 1.5mg per pill. However, Alteril's blend of other natural remedies (like tryptophan, the stuff in turkey that makes you sleepy), is what makes it a clear winner. I've taken melatonin solo to varied, often underwhelming success. However, blended with other natural remedies, melatonin can be very effective. I think Alteril has found that combination. After taking a 2-pill dose, I'm drowsy enough for sleep within 30 - 45 minutes. More than that, I stay asleep. The day after feels like any day I had slept without aids. No grogginess or other side-effects commonly seen with OTC sleep aids. The only side-effect comes from the ingredient of melatonin, namely a mild head-ache. Taking higher doses of 8-10mg over a period of time can do that (IE: two Alteril pills a night for a consecutive week or two). Nothing an Advil can't fix in a jiffy, but it's something to be aware of.I rely on the 60-count box, which lasts me 30 days. Amazon is good enough to offer a subscription service, which I gladly am a part of. So when I'm down to my last week or two of pills, the next shipment arrives.Here's some parting advice to other insomniacs who might be reading this review. Number one: stop looking at the clock. If you can't help yourself, turn the clock around or tape up the clock face so you can't see it. The more you worry about how much sleep you're going to get, the less sleep you'll end up with. Number two: no eating heavy meals or drinks with caffeine at least three hours before bed. You've probably heard that from everybody, though. Three: this sounds a little hokey, but practice self-meditation techniques or tone therapy (binaural beats, isochronic tones, etc). Add Alteril to any healthy sleep regimen, and you'll be fast asleep before you know it.Sweet dreams!

First off, let me say that I have 4-month-old twins. This means that once they fall asleep for the night, I want to be OUT so I can wake up with enough energy to take care of them the next day, plus do the laundry, clean the house, cook the meals, etc.I've had a problem since middle school with sleeping. I would wake up very groggy, be tired all day, but then when it came time to go to bed at a decent hour I would be WIDE AWAKE. I didn't start taking sleeping pills for it until I had my kids and they started sleeping through the night. They would go to sleep around 8 or 9, and I would be tossing and turning until 2 am, and then they would wake up at 7 and be pretty much awake for the day. I was a ZOMBIE.I tried taking the regular OTC pills like Unisom, which did kind of put me to sleep after about an hour and a half (when they did actually work), but I wouldn't ever get into a very deep sleep, and I would be super tired when I woke up the next day. The chemicals also started giving me a headache after I used them for awhile.My mom then recommended this product to me. I tried it, and I could not possibly be more satisfied with it! After taking it for about two weeks now, it has reset my sleep schedule so that I get tired around the same time every night (9:30 to 10) and am able to drop off into a good sleep. Even when I do have to take it, it works in 30 mins or less, and puts me gently into a deep sleep which I wake out of feeling refreshed. It has been a lifesaver. This is a small price to pay for a happier and healthier momma!!

I have been an insomniac my whole life. I couple years ago I started using Ambien and it worked great. It would knock me out relatively quickly, I would sleep deeply and wake up with little to no after effects. I was very happy with it and I would have been happy to continue to use it. However, I went to get a refill and it wasn't approved by my doctor. When I called to find out why, I was told I had to come in for a visit. I figured it was just the doctor's way of getting payment for a consultation every couple years of me being on Ambien. I was surprised to find out that a recent study showed Ambien users were 3x more likely to die than non users. I looked up the study and it was true, but not necessarily 100% conclusive. Since the side effect, death, was more than I wanted to risk, I decided to stop using Ambien.The doctor gave me another perscription, but it was really weak. I got a little drowsy, but not enough to fall asleep. I forgot what it was because I threw away the bottle after trying it for two weeks. So I started using the regular blue pill (diphenhydramine HCL) sleep aids you get at the local pharmacy over the counter. They work okay, but I am still drowsy in the morning. I don't like taking it every night, so some nights I'm awake until 5-6am.In desperation, I bought Alteril. I fully expected it not to work cause I've tried melatonin before and it had no effect on me. I also read mixed reviews about Alteril. But, I was desperate to find something that would even help a little bit. The first night I tried it, it worked a little. I got drowsy, but didn't fall asleep. I wasn't surprised. I remembered the first time I used Ambien it didn't work the first night, so I tried it again the next night and it worked much better. I fell asleep and stayed asleep until about 5:30 am, which is really good for me. A week later and it is still working very well. It isn't as fast or as strong as Ambien, but it isn't going to kill me either. So, I find it a much better choice. I get about 6-8 hours of good sleep with Alteril. That is a big improvement for me.I give it 4 stars because it works well. If it were as strong and kept me asleep for 8 hours consistently, like Ambien did, then I would give it 5 stars.As I said, I see many mixed reviews. I get the sense it greatly depends on each individual's body chemistry. It works for some and not for others. So, I would recommend to buy the smallest package it comes in and give it a try. If it works, great. If not, you will have only spent about $10 - $12 to find out. Also, don't forget to give it 2-3 days before you give up. For some people, like me, it doesn't work the first night.UPDATE: 3.31.13 - Been using Alteril now for 2 1/2 months and it is still working really good. It definitely helps me fall asleep significantly faster than when I don't take it. I see for some people it doesn't work at all, but for my body chemistry it works really well. I have woken up at 4-5 in the morning a few times, but it is pretty rare. It is better at helping me to fall asleep than ensuring I stay asleep, but overall I am very happy with it.