You'll also want to avoid long-term use of the sleeping medication—they're not supposed to be used that way, anyway. If these are not in place, it is unlikely any sleeping pill will work. It's smart, too, to be aware of the risks that can come with sleeping pill usage. According to Dr. Hilbert, the main side effects include dizziness, lightheadedness, dry mouth, and morning grogginess, in addition to "worrisome interactions" with other medications.
There are also concerns about increased falls and memory difficulties. As long as you've been cleared by your doctor to take sleeping pills—and you're in contact with them about your experience on the medication, short-term use of sleep aids is fine, but remember that "sleeping pills are really just a [bandage]," says Dr. Underlying issues—like an untreated sleep disorder, disruptive sleep environment, depression or anxiety, or an irregular sleep schedule--must eventually be addressed for long-lasting relief.
To get our top stories delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Healthy Living newsletter. By Leah Groth July 23, Save Pin FB More. Something went wrong. An error has occurred and your entry was not submitted. Please try again. It could be something as simple as too much caffeine or viewing TV, your phone, or other screens late at night. Or it may be a symptom of an underlying medical or psychological problem. At best, sleeping pills are a temporary band aid.
In general, sleeping pills and sleep aids are most effective when used sparingly for short-term situations, such as traveling across time zones or recovering from a medical procedure.
All prescription sleeping pills have side effects, which vary depending on the specific drug, the dosage, and how long the drug lasts in your system. Common side effects include prolonged drowsiness the next day, headache, muscle aches, constipation, dry mouth, trouble concentrating, dizziness, unsteadiness, and rebound insomnia. 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. Prescription pills, in particular, can be very addictive, making it difficult to stop taking 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. Masking an underlying problem.
Sedative-hypnotic medications benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepines can cause severe allergic reaction, facial swelling, memory lapses, hallucinations, suicidal thoughts or actions, and complex sleep-related behaviors like sleep-walking, sleep-driving driving while not fully awake, with no memory of the event and sleep-eating eating in the middle of the night with no recollection, often resulting in weight-gain.
If you experience any unusual sleep-related behavior, consult your doctor immediately. Standard over-the-counter sleeping pills rely on antihistamines as their primary active ingredient to promote drowsiness. Some other OTC sleep aids combine antihistamines with the pain reliever acetaminophen found in brand names like Tylenol PM. Others, such as NyQuil, combine antihistamines with alcohol.
The problem with antihistamines is that their sedating properties often last well into the next day, leading to a next-day hangover effect.
When used long-term, they can also cause forgetfulness and headaches. Because of these issues, sleep experts advise against their regular use.
There are several different types of prescription sleeping pills, classified as sedative hypnotics. In general, these medications act by working on receptors in the brain to slow down the nervous system. Some medications are used more for inducing sleep, while others 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.
Benzodiazepines are the oldest class of sleep medications still commonly in use. Benzodiazepines as a group are thought to have a higher risk of dependence than other insomnia sedative hypnotics and are classified as controlled substances. Primarily used to treat anxiety disorders, benzodiazepines that have been approved to treat insomnia include estazolam brand name ProSom , flurazepam Dalmane , quazepam Doral , temazepam Restoril , and triazolam Halcion. You can become both physically and psychologically dependent on benzodiazepines.
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 REM 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.
Insomnia returns once you stop, even if the medication is effective while taking it. There may be a link to dementia. They are thought to have fewer side effects, and less risk of dependency, but are still considered controlled substances. They include zalepon Sonata , zolpidem Ambien , and eszopiclone Lunesta , which have been tested for longer-term use, up to six months.
Some may find this type of sleep medication ineffective at helping them sleep, while the long-term effects remain unknown. The U. Food and Drug Administration FDA recently directed the manufacturers of Ambien and 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:.
Ramelteon Rozerem is the newest type of sleep medication and works by mimicking the sleep regulation hormone melatonin. It has little risk of physical dependency but still has side effects. It is used for sleep onset problems and is not effective for problems regarding staying asleep.
It may also worsen symptoms of depression and should not be used by those with severe liver damage. The FDA has not approved antidepressants for the treatment of insomnia, nor has their use been proven effective in treating sleeplessness. However, some antidepressants are prescribed off-label due to their sedating effects. Many people with insomnia wake up in the middle of the night and struggle to go back to sleep. There is one sleeping pill that is FDA approved for sleep maintenance insomnia.
Intermezzo can be taken in the middle of the night. You should take it when you have at least four hours of bedtime left. Talk to your doctor to determine if a sleeping pill is right for you. Another effective treatment option is c ognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. CBT-I helps you learn new strategies to sleep better. Treatment may include methods such as stress reduction, relaxation and sleep schedule management. Contact an accredited sleep center to get help for insomnia or another sleep problem.
Find a behavioral sleep medicine provider who can offer CBT-I. Previous Next.
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