Health - Can't sleep without booze

[IWishIWasSpecial]

Hi there, I'm looking for some advice about my drink problem.

I only used to drink occasionally but in the last five years or so, I've started drinking more and more and I'm now drinking every night.

The main reason I drink is very simple - I just cannot fall asleep at night. If I lay there all night I don't get to sleep. If I have four pints of Fosters or whatever, I sleep like a baby - out like a light.

Problem is, I am on prescription medication (Methotrexate) for a chronic skin complaint and when the doctor put me on it, he said I must not drink, I've been on the stuff for at least a couple of years now and the blood tests haven't showed anything wrong but reading about what combining the two can do is very sobering (pardon the pun). I don't know why but combining the two is a likely cause of cirrhosis.

I feel I would be able to give up the booze and perhaps only drink on special occasions if I could find something else to get me off to sleep at night. I very rarely drink during the day and then only if I have to go in the pub for somebody's birthday or something and I don't have more than a couple of pints on those occasions.

I've tried all these 'sleep tips' from lifestyle websites:

- Not having caffeine after mid day
- Herbal baths
- Doing something boring like reading a dull book for an hour before bed
- Drinking milk before bed

None of them seem to make a jot of difference. Does anyone know something I could take, preferably as harmless as possible to make me drowsy and help me get off to sleep? Is Nytol or something like that any good? I think I need something to physically relax me without me having to do anything as trying to relax myself mentally does not work as I am not generally a relaxed person.

I can't go to the doctor or he will be livid for ignoring his instructions. I'd also rather not have to resort to prescription sleeping pills unless all else fails.

If I don't stop drinking, my liver will pack up. All this booze has also made me put on loads of weight as well, the phrase "beer belly" is so true. It would be so great to give it a rest as I'm fed up with it to be honest.

Thanks in advance for your help.