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Sleeping pills night before race?
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 2010-08-27 10:57 AM |
Extreme Veteran  872    Tx |  Subject: Sleeping pills night before race?I dont think I'm ever going to sleep the night before a race. I'm considering some form of sleeping aid... anyone ever try it? I'm going to a pre-clinic tomorrow morn and have to get up early to drive there... so i want to go to bed early. I'm seriously considering taking an ambien around 8:30, which means I'll for sure be asleep by 9:00ish. I've only taken ambien a few times and have never had any groggyness after waking up... |
| 2010-08-27 10:58 AM in reply to: #3067377 |
Master 2621 Almaden Valley, San Jose, California | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? done it, been fine. Don't do it for the first time on race eve, however - YRMV. I'm also sure there are a million reasons not to do it. Bottom line, for me, sleep trumps 'em all and my doc is fine with it. |
| 2010-08-27 11:00 AM in reply to: #3067377 |
| Veteran 645 Tennessee | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? I have done it for every race I have done. No problems with it. |
| 2010-08-27 11:03 AM in reply to: #3067377 |
Master 2802 Minnetonka, Minnesota | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? If you have taken it b4 with no problem you should be fine. I never sleep well b4 a race, but I don't think it hampers performance (for shorter races anyways) due to adrenaline and that, for me at least, one night's poor sleep doesn't affect me very much. |
| 2010-08-27 11:24 AM in reply to: #3067377 |
Elite 3290 Oliver, BC, "Wine Capital of Canada" | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? I do...it's called beer. One or two helps me with the pre race sleep jitters. |
| 2010-08-27 11:46 AM in reply to: #3067377 |
Master 1484 Sedona, AZ | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? If you're worried about the effects, just take half. I've found that half works almost as good as a whole, and I don't feel as groggy in the morning. If you're not out within 30 minutes, take the other half. |
| 2010-08-27 2:00 PM in reply to: #3067377 |
 Master 1324 Rochester, NY | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? Definitely try whatever before race night. They can carry over to the next day. I find that Tylenol or Advil PM leave me groggy the next morning. So I would not consider those. The Unisom and the like, I would not consider to begin with as they leave me groggy for a long time. I have taken Melatonin successfully. It gets me to sleep, but doesnt carry over to the next morning. Bottom line: Everyone responds differently to different meds. The time to test yourself is not the night before the race. |
| 2010-08-27 2:18 PM in reply to: #3067377 |
Expert 997 North Central WV | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? As long as it is Ambien you take (since you have used it successfully in the past) and not something you have never used. Most of the OTC stuff makes many people drowsy the next day. I'd stick with the dose you know works. Taking it at 8:30 is a good plan. You should be more than ready to wake up early the next morning. Keep in mind, that your excitement may render the meds a little less effective than in the past. Good luck in your race. |
| 2010-08-27 2:19 PM in reply to: #3067377 |
| Alpharetta, Georgia | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? I do a pill (half dose), but two nights before the race. |
| 2010-08-27 2:25 PM in reply to: #3067377 |
Expert 997 North Central WV | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? Half doesn't work for me if I am really struggling to sleep. And, let's define half. Ambien comes in two doses, 5 and 10 mg. I would imagine that 2.5 mg wouldn't do much for anyone. If the OP is a large male, 5 mg probably won't do much for him either. I'd stick with the dose you are familiar with. You don't want to halve it and find yourself taking another half two hours later (and then taking longer to wake in the morning). |
| 2010-08-27 2:26 PM in reply to: #3068012 |
Champion 10020 , Minnesota Bronze member | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? I don't have experience with the pills, but if I thought I couldn't get at least 4 hours I would try it. I focus more on the couple of nights earlier. Those should be quality sleep nights. Since you have to get up so early for races, on top of the anxiety, I have found a good sleep the night before is hopeless and apparently unnecessary. |
| 2010-08-27 3:31 PM in reply to: #3067377 |
New user 74 | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? Remember that Ambien does have very strong side effects. I'm not just talking feeling tired in the morning. Even if you've taken it before and had no problems there can still be side affects. The chances are small. It's just something you have to weigh before taking it. |
| 2010-08-27 5:14 PM in reply to: #3067377 |
Extreme Veteran 590 | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? Take a half ambien and a melatonin.... |
| 2010-08-27 5:46 PM in reply to: #3067377 |
Expert 1148 Santa Fe, New Mexico | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? I read advise somewhere: Most people do not sleep well the night before a race, so plan on getting a good night's sleep the night before that. |
| 2010-08-27 5:50 PM in reply to: #3067377 |
Master 1770 Bedford, MA | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? I usually try to get up relatively early the day prior to a race. I find that I need to be up for at least 16-17 hours before I can fall asleep. It's hard to get up at 6 or 7 on a Saturday when my wife is in bed for another two hours, but it helps come night-time when I can fall asleep more easily. |
| 2010-08-27 6:37 PM in reply to: #3067461 |
Extreme Veteran 694 | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? peby - 2010-08-27 9:24 AM I do...it's called beer. One or two helps me with the pre race sleep jitters. My Doctor actually told me that a few beers is way better than medicine (for stress at least). I religiously drink two beers every night and before a race, I"ll suck down three. Works like a charm too.... |
| 2010-08-27 7:38 PM in reply to: #3067377 |
| New user 104 | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? Although alcohol is labeled a depressant, it does have a slight stimulant effect. It can hinder REM sleep because of this, which may mean feeling tired the next day. I dont think 2 beers would cause any difficulties though. I am not a Dr. but I do have extensive experience with booze. |
| 2010-08-27 7:38 PM in reply to: #3067461 |
Champion 7347 SRQ, FL | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? peby - 2010-08-27 12:24 PM I do...it's called beer. One or two helps me with the pre race sleep jitters. x2 |
| 2010-08-27 8:26 PM in reply to: #3067377 |
Master 2491 | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? My doctor says Benadryl is fine for a sleep aid if you need it. Melatonin also works nicely. |
| 2010-08-27 10:40 PM in reply to: #3068492 |
Extreme Veteran 694 | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? kajinsky - 2010-08-27 5:38 PM Although alcohol is labeled a depressant, it does have a slight stimulant effect. It can hinder REM sleep because of this, which may mean feeling tired the next day. I dont think 2 beers would cause any difficulties though. I am not a Dr. but I do have extensive experience with booze. Ha ha..., nothing like a triathlete with experience.  |
| 2010-08-28 12:32 AM in reply to: #3067377 |
Veteran 143 | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? This is a question that I had for a little while, until I was taking Ambien (with doctors approval) nightly. I have MS, and the injections that I give myself keep me awake. I have not had ANY side affects since I started taking it 3 months ago. I wake up not groggy. And once per week I sleep fine with out it to make sure there is no dependence starting. I took one before my last race, a 10K beach run, and ended up only being able to get 6hours of sleep. I felt well rested and great the morning of the race. I think the side affect issue comes when people take two pills instead of one. I say if you don't react to it negatively on a non race day, then take it the night before. Sleep is good! |
| 2010-08-28 6:15 AM in reply to: #3067377 |
Pro 4353 Wallingford, PA | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? I occasionally use sleeping pills, but I find they leave me still feeling a little groggy the morning after. Sometimes I will take them TWO nights before a race, so I know I'll get a good, full nights sleep that night, but never the night before (I usually have to get up pretty early for races anyway....). Try to get good sleep for several nights leading up to your race, and even if you don't get the best night's sleep the night before, you should be fine. |
| 2010-08-28 5:18 PM in reply to: #3067377 |
Member 90 | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? I use Lunesta. Works like a charm for me. Doesn't seem to effect my performance at all the next day. Actually may help since I am well rested. I take it every night though, since my neurologist put me on it for "disturbed sleep" after a sleep lab study. |
| 2010-08-28 5:21 PM in reply to: #3068428 |
Member 90 | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? MKAH - 2010-08-27 6:37 PM peby - 2010-08-27 9:24 AM I do...it's called beer. One or two helps me with the pre race sleep jitters. My Doctor actually told me that a few beers is way better than medicine (for stress at least). I religiously drink two beers every night and before a race, I"ll suck down three. Works like a charm too.... Studies show that a few beers before sleep actually makes you sleep worse. The alcohol doesn't let you get into deep sleep or something like that and causes you to wake erratically. Just a thought. |
| 2010-08-28 7:49 PM in reply to: #3068370 |
Master 2426 Central Indiana | Subject: RE: Sleeping pills night before race? jashac - 2010-08-27 6:46 PM I read advise somewhere: Most people do not sleep well the night before a race, so plan on getting a good night's sleep the night before that. ^^^^ Actually, try to get good sleep the whole week before the event. The night before doesn't mean that much. BTW- remember that if you have an accident (bike or car), in some states even trace amounts of depressant drugs in your system (inc. "properly prescribed" sleeping pills) can be used by prosecutors to support an impaired driving charge. |
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