I use 5-10 mg melatonin and also valerian at times (requires about a gram), but prescription trazodone is my heavy hitter.
Trazadone is not a z-drug like Ambien, TG, but was originally researched as an antidepressant. Now it is prescribed more often as a sedative. It gives me such deep and restful sleep I don’t need nearly as much as without it. Additionally, trazodone does not have significant anti-cholinergic effects so concerns about later dementia (as is the case with first-generation antihistamines like diphenhydramine) are considerably lessened.
I find the time release melatonin formulas work best for me.
Trazodone is spelled like that, with an “o” in the middle. For some reason an “a” crept into a couple of my attempts at rendering it.
My husband was on Ambien for years and his new doc switched him to trazodone and he is doing much better on it. He’s had sleep issues since I met him. Maybe it’s me? LOL
Seriously, he’s not young so I was surprised the old doc prescribed Ambien and let him stay on it for as long as he did.
Ambien weird side effects was something I heard about at least two decades ago.
I am actually surprised it is still on the market.