Want help with Insomnia working Day Shift

[medsurgrnco]

I recently started working 12 hr day shifts, after working 12 hr nights for several years. I am naturally a night person, and prefer going to bed at midnight or later. I have insomnia prior to working each day shift, but sleep fine when I don't work the next day. I am trying to go to bed at 2200, and plan to keep that bedtime regularly unless there is an occasional late night event. I think I'm better off with the same bedtime daily, even if I have to get up earlier on the days I work. I realize I've been trying to do too much in the evenings after work since I'm not sleepy, and need to cut back to using that time just to eat a light meal and wind down.

My toolbox for insomnia includes:

Camomile tea with valerian root

Glass or two of wine

Benadryl or Tylenol PM

Melatonin

Trazodone 50-100 mg

Ativan 0.5 mg

Neurontin (which I haven't tried)

Doxylamine (which I just read about and will also try)

Of the above tools, only Ativan is always effective while the others work sporadically. Reading, hot baths, watching TV, nature sounds, etc. help me relax but are not effective solutions once I get in bed and am not able to sleep.

I am wondering if day shift nurses usually are able to obtain adequate sleep without sleep aids once they become accustomed to working days. Thanks in advance for any suggestions of what works for you when you have insomnia!

[Jaybird310]

One thing I haven't seen suggested that occasionally works for me is Kava Kava supplements or tea. I usually have to have more than one cup of the tea, or exceed the supplement dosage but at times it's extremely effective.

[mscsrjhm]

Nyquil tablets has been my only answer to a lifetime of insomnia and restless leg syndrome.

Taken at 1930, (kids call it Nyquil-thirty), I can go to sleep around 2100. But there is a small window of opportunity to sleep, and if missed, I am awake with legs hurting.

Good luck.

[medsurgrnco, BSN, RN]

Any other ideas? Will this problem likely go away over time? I know circadian rhythms take 2-3 weeks to change, but guess that is with a consistent sleeping schedule. Do others who work day shift keep the same sleep hours on your off days?

I tried the doxylamine (1/2 tab) and it worked very well. I haven't been able to have the same sleep hours on my days off as I have been wanting to catch up on my sleep and also sleep free of meds.

I hate feeling like a zombie when at work, don't want them to think poorly of me because of lack of sleep, and really hope I won't have to take sleep meds nightly before day shifts.