The "PM" in tylenol pm is diphenhydramine, so just buy benadryl (just the diphenhydramine) Unless you need pain killer, why take drugs unnecessarily?
I find that one ambien is good for me for 5-6 hours, so I only use that on a trip to Asia (where I am always in the back, since I travel on research grant funds
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For me, I use diphenhydramine regularly at home (I suffer from allergies) and it can leave me FAR groggier than Ambien does. If I sleep the "full" dose of ambien, I wake up with no side effects at all.
I've never taken valium. Sonata (zaleplon) doesn't work very well for me. My boss (an MD) likes Halcion (triazolam).
As for a doctor not prescribing sleep aids - that has not been my experience at all. My primary care provider has been happy to write prescriptions for me - I don't have insomnia but I do travel frequently. And she knows this. Because I explain things to my doctor, and she works WITH ME to get what I need^