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Whats Best for You? What You Need to Know About Sleep Aids and Sleeping Pills
Its the middle of the night, and youre staring at the bedroom ceiling, thinking about work,
or bills, or the kids. Sleep just wont come, so you again reach for a sleeping pill, But did
you know sleeping pills and sleep aids vary in safety and effectiveness and are rarely meant
for more than short-term use? Persistent insomnia is usually a symptom of an underlying
medical or psychological problem that cannot be cured with sleeping pills. Instead, learn
about safer and more effective ways to end sleepless nights.
IN THIS ARTICLE:
The trouble with sleeping pills, over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aids &
medications
The idea that a pill can instantly solve your sleep problems is very appealing. Unfortunately,
sleeping pills don't cure the underlying cause of insomnia, and in fact can often make the
problem worse in the long run. Concerns regarding over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription
sleep aids include:
Side effects. Side effects can be severe, including prolonged drowsiness the next
day, confusion, and forgetfulness.
Drug tolerance. You may, over a period of time, build up a tolerance to sleep
aids, and you will have to take more and more for them to work, which in turn can
lead to more side effects.
Drug dependence. You may come to rely on sleeping pills to sleep, and will be
unable to sleep or have even worse sleep without them.
Withdrawal symptoms. If you stop the medication abruptly, you may have
withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating and shaking.
Drug interactions. Sleeping pills can interact with other medications. This can
worsen side effects and sometimes be dangerous, especially with prescription
painkillers and other sedatives.
Rebound insomnia. If you need to stop taking sleeping pills, sometimes the
insomnia can become even worse than before.
Compoz)
Some other OTC sleep aids combine antihistamines with the pain reliever Acetaminophen
(found in brand names like Tylenol PM and Aspirin-Free Anacin PM). Others, such as NyQuil,
combine antihistamines with alcohol.
OTC sleep aids are meant to be used for short-term insomnia only. Sleep experts generally
advise against the use of over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aids because of side effects,
questions about their effectiveness, and lack of information about their safety over the longterm.
Blurred vision
are used for staying asleep. Some last longer than others in your system (a longer half life),
and some have a higher risk of becoming habit forming.
Sleeping pills can lose their effectiveness if used on a nightly basis, because the
brain receptors become less sensitive to their effects. In as little as three to four
weeks, benzodiazepines can become no more effective than a sugar pill.
The overall quality of your sleep can be reduced, with less restorative deep sleep
and dream sleep.
You may experience next day cognitive slowing and drowsiness (the hangover
effect), which may be even worse than the sluggishness you feel from actual sleep
deprivation.
Even if the medication is effective while taking it, insomnia returns once you stop.
similar sleeping pills to lower the standard dosage due to the serious risk of morning
grogginess while driving, especially in women patients. Other side effects include:
Drug tolerance
Rebound insomnia
In some cases, dangerous sleep-related behaviors such as sleep-walking, sleepdriving, and sleep-eating
Other medical conditions you have. Some sleep medications can have serious
side effects for people with medical problems such as high blood pressure, liver
problems, glaucoma, depression, and breathing difficulties.
Only take a sleeping pill when you will have enough time to get a full
night of sleep (seven to eight hours). Otherwise you may feel very drowsy the next
day.
Carefully read the package insert that comes with your medication. Pay
careful attention to the potential side effects.
Never drink alcohol near the time you take a sleeping pill. Not only will
alcohol disrupt your sleep even more, it can interact dangerously with the sleeping
pill.
Never drive a car or operate machinery after taking a sleeping pill. This tip
is especially important when you first start taking a new sleep aid, as you may not
know how it will affect you.
Follow directions closely, starting with a very small dose and increasing
gradually, according to the doctors prescription. Find out whether you should take
your medication with or without food. For some medications, certain foods must be
avoided.
for insomnia, at high doses it can cause vivid dreams, blurred vision, changes in heart
rhythm, and excitability.
Relaxation techniques that can relieve stress and help you sleep include simple meditation
practices, progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, tai chi, and the use of deep breathing. With
a little practice, these skills can help you unwind at bedtime and improve your sleep better
than a sleeping pill or sleep aid. Try:
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