Lunesta, a prescription sleep aid, is quite popular but some people might be searching for a more natural alternative. Whether you’re interested in reducing dependency or just want a supplement with fewer side effects, we’ve done the legwork for you today. Two great over-the-counter (OTC) alternatives are RestAgain and Performance Lab Sleep. Both of these options are natural, non-habit-forming, and have some impressive ingredients to help you catch those much-needed Z’s.
About Lunesta
Lunesta (eszopiclone) is a prescription medication used to treat insomnia. It works by slowing brain activity, aiding those who have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. [1] Despite its effectiveness, concerns about side effects and dependency have led many to seek natural alternatives.
Natural Over-the-Counter Alternatives to Lunesta
In our quest for natural alternatives to Lunesta, we’ve found two awesome sleep aids that are natural and contain well-researched ingredients: RestAgain and Performance Lab Sleep. Let’s take a deep dive into each of these to understand why they may be excellent choices.
Overview of RestAgain
RestAgain is a natural sleep aid formulated with a range of ingredients designed to induce sleep and promote relaxation.
RestAgain’s formula includes Melatonin (10mg), Vitamins D, B6, and B12, Ashwagandha (300mg), 5htp (100mg), GABA (300mg), L-Theanine (250mg), Valerian Root (300mg), Magnesium (225mg), and Calcium (100mg). These ingredients work synergistically to promote sleep, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve overall sleep quality. [4]
The blend of vitamins and minerals supports brain functions and mood, while herbal ingredients like Valerian Root and Ashwagandha induce relaxation, setting the stage for a restful night. It’s a comprehensive formula that makes RestAgain an excellent natural alternative to Lunesta.
Overview of Performance Lab Sleep
Performance Lab Sleep is another natural supplement designed to enhance sleep quality and duration without the grogginess associated with some sleep aids.
Performance Lab Sleep’s formula includes Magnesium (100mg), CherryPURE® (500mg), L-Tryptophan (250mg), and Organic Sea Buckthorn (100mg). [2, 3] These ingredients collectively work to maintain GABA levels, regulate the sleep-wake cycle, promote relaxation, and support overall health.
The inclusion of CherryPURE®, a natural source of melatonin, and L-Tryptophan, a precursor to serotonin, makes this supplement a powerful tool for promoting restful sleep. The addition of Sea Buckthorn, rich in antioxidants, contributes to overall health. This makes Performance Lab Sleep a potent over-the-counter alternative to Lunesta.
Comparison of RestAgain and Performance Lab Sleep
Both RestAgain and Performance Lab Sleep are promising alternatives to Lunesta, boasting natural ingredients that promote sleep and relaxation. RestAgain’s comprehensive blend of vitamins, minerals, and herbs might appeal to those who seek a broad spectrum approach to sleep support. On the other hand, Performance Lab Sleep’s focus on a few high-quality ingredients might be more attractive to those who prefer a simpler formula.
RestAgain: Natural and Restful Sleep
RestAgain is a natural sleep aid designed to help you get a good night’s rest and wake up refreshed. Let’s unpack the ingredients and see why they make RestAgain a solid alternative to Lunesta.
The RestAgain Formula
RestAgain packs quite a punch with its blend of vitamins, minerals, and herbs.
Melatonin (10mg): The star of the show, melatonin is a hormone your body produces to regulate sleep. Supplementing with melatonin can help adjust your body’s internal clock and is particularly useful for insomnia.
Vitamins D, B6, and B12: These vitamins play a role in producing chemicals that affect mood and other brain functions. Good levels of these vitamins can contribute to better sleep.
Ashwagandha (300mg) and 5htp (100mg): These are known to reduce stress and anxiety, promoting relaxation and setting the stage for a restful night.
GABA (300mg) and L-Theanine (250mg): Both of these ingredients promote relaxation and improve sleep quality. GABA is a neurotransmitter that blocks certain brain signals, inducing relaxation, while L-Theanine is an amino acid known for its calming effects.
Valerian Root (300mg): This is a popular herbal supplement used for insomnia. It’s believed to interact with GABA to help your body relax and regulate your sleep cycle.
Magnesium (225mg) and Calcium (100mg): Both minerals are known to have effects on the quality of your sleep. Magnesium in particular is known to aid sleep by maintaining healthy levels of GABA.
In sum, RestAgain’s unique blend of ingredients work synergistically to provide a natural and restful sleep, making it a fantastic over-the-counter alternative to Lunesta.
Performance Lab Sleep: High-Performance Sleep
Performance Lab Sleep is another over-the-counter supplement designed to enhance sleep quality and duration without the grogginess associated with some sleep aids.
The Performance Lab Sleep Formula
Performance Lab Sleep focuses on a select few high-quality ingredients for its sleep formula.
Magnesium (100mg): Magnesium helps to maintain GABA levels, the neurotransmitter responsible for quieting down nerve activity. This aids in relaxation and sets the stage for a good night’s sleep.
CherryPURE® (500mg): This is a whole Montmorency tart cherry extract, one of the richest natural sources of melatonin. The melatonin in these cherries can help regulate your sleep-wake cycle, and the anthocyanin antioxidants present can help soothe achy muscles and joints, further promoting restful sleep.
L-Tryptophan (250mg): This essential amino acid can convert to 5-HTP in the brain, which then converts to serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that promotes a calm, relaxed state and is a precursor to melatonin.
Organic Sea Buckthorn (100mg): While not directly linked to sleep, Sea Buckthorn is full of antioxidants and can help support overall health.
With the right combination of ingredients, Performance Lab Sleep can help you achieve more restful and rejuvenating sleep, making it another excellent over-the-counter alternative to Lunesta.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a natural OTC alternative to Lunesta comes down to personal preference and needs. Both RestAgain and Performance Lab Sleep offer unique blends of ingredients designed to enhance sleep quality, making them worthy contenders.
RestAgain and Performance Lab Sleep are two potent over-the-counter sleep aids that can serve as natural alternatives to Lunesta. They are formulated with carefully selected ingredients known to promote relaxation and improve sleep quality. However, as with any supplement, make sure to consult your healthcare provider before starting a new regimen.
Remember, good sleep is just a part of overall health and wellness. Balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, and stress management techniques also play a crucial role. Happy dreaming!
References
- Rösner S, Englbrecht C, Wehrle R, Hajak G, Soyka M. Eszopiclone for insomnia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Oct 10;10(10):CD010703. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010703.pub2. PMID: 30303519; PMCID: PMC6492503.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6492503/ - Sutanto CN, Loh WW, Kim JE. The impact of tryptophan supplementation on sleep quality: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression. Nutr Rev. 2022 Jan 10;80(2):306-316. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuab027. PMID: 33942088.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33942088/ - Abbasi B, Kimiagar M, Sadeghniiat K, Shirazi MM, Hedayati M, Rashidkhani B. The effect of magnesium supplementation on primary insomnia in elderly: A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Res Med Sci. 2012 Dec;17(12):1161-9. PMID: 23853635; PMCID: PMC3703169.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3703169/#:~:text=Supplementation%20of%20magnesium%20appears%20to,serum%20cortisol%2C%20in%20elderly%20people. - Hepsomali P, Groeger JA, Nishihira J, Scholey A. Effects of Oral Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Administration on Stress and Sleep in Humans: A Systematic Review. Front Neurosci. 2020 Sep 17;14:923. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00923. PMID: 33041752; PMCID: PMC7527439.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7527439/
Leave a Reply