Many people take sleeping pills to get much-needed rest.
Sleeping pills may be sedatives or hypnotics, and they come in many forms. People can choose natural, prescription, or over-the-counter pills.
Here are some of the most effective options:
sedating antihistamines
valerian root
hypnotics
In this article, we will describe the types of sleeping pills and look at their uses and safety profiles.
Share on PinterestA person can take a sleeping pill as a short-term solution if lifestyle adjustments have not worked.
Many people may not need sleeping pills.
By practicing good sleep hygiene, exercising, and avoiding alcohol and nicotine, an individual can often improve their sleep cycle and prevent
Insomnia involves having trouble falling or staying asleep. People with insomnia may wake up too early or not feel refreshed upon waking.
If lifestyle adjustments do not work, for example when insomnia is severe, a sleeping pill may be a good short-term solution.
Avoid the long-term use of sleeping pills, because it can make insomnia worse, especially if a person stops taking the pills.
The range of sleeping pills includes supplements and over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drugs. Anyone with ongoing insomnia should consult their doctor about the best approach.
The following are some of the most effective sleeping pills.
When it gets dark outside, the brain produces a hormone called melatonin. This regulates the sleep-wake cycle by telling the body that it is almost time for bed.
The brain makes less melatonin when it is light out and more when it is dark, such as during the winter. Age also plays a role — the older a person gets, the less melatonin they produce.
Many sleeping aids contain melatonin. They tend to be most effective for people with circadian rhythm sleep disorders, which are problems with the timing of sleeping or waking up.
Melatonin can be especially helpful for people:
experiencing
having trouble falling asleep at night
coping with shift work
In recent years, manufacturers have marketed snacks and drinks that contain melatonin as “relaxation” products. Doctors do not know, however, if they are effective.
Melatonin supplements are available without a prescription from drug stores, supermarkets.The pills tend to come in doses of 1–5 milligrams (mg), and a person should take them at bedtime.
Limited evidence suggests that melatonin can treat insomnia. However, though some findings have been mixed, most research indicates that it can reduce the amount of time it takes to fall asleep, including published in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews.
Sedating antihistamines
Sedating antihistamines can help people who have trouble falling or staying asleep.
Some OTC antihistamines, which people usually use to treat allergies, can cause drowsiness.
Though not all antihistamines have this effect, people first-generation antihistamines, or sedating antihistamines, to promote sleep or relieve tension.
The following are sedating antihistamines:
Second-generation antihistamines are less likely to cause drowsiness. People use them to treat long-term allergy symptoms, and they are not effective as sleeping aids.
The following are nonsedating antihistamines:
cetirizine, the active ingredient in Zyrtec
loratadine, the active ingredient in Claritin
fexofenadine, the active ingredient in Allegra
A doctor may recommend a sedating antihistamine, but only as a short-term solution. Though they are not addictive, the body gets used to them quickly, so they become less effective over time.
Valerian root
Share on PinterestValerian root is common in herbal supplements and can improve sleep quality.
Valerian is a plant. People have used the medicinal properties in the root since the times of ancient Greece and Rome.
Valerian root is a common ingredient in herbal supplements that people use to improve sleep, relieve anxiety, and support relaxation.
The supplements come in many forms, such as teas, liquids, and capsules.
Several clinical studies show that taking valerian impressions of sleep quality in people with insomnia. However, is available to confirm whether valerian root is an effective sleep aid.
Valerian root-based sleep aids are available in drug stores, health food stores.
Hypnotics
Hypnotics are a group of sleeping medications only available by prescription.
A doctor may prescribe hypnotics to treat a number of sleep disorders, including insomnia. These medicines can also treat movement disorders that interrupt sleep, such as (RLS) and periodic limb movement disorder.
The most common hypnotic sleeping pills are:
zolpidem
zaleplon
eszopiclone
ramelteon
Doctors tend only to prescribe hypnotics for insomnia that is long-lasting and bothersome because the drugs can have side effects.
Another class of sedative-hypnotics, called benzodiazepines, can also treat insomnia. These medications include:
alprazolam
diazepam
lorazepam
Before prescribing a benzodiazepine, the doctor will usually first recommend a hypnotic. This is due to concerns about benzodiazepine dependence and its more severe side effects.
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Share on PinterestPeople can feel tired and drowsy the day after taking sleeping pills.
Sedating medications, including antihistamines and hypnotics, can leave people feeling tired, drowsy, or groggy during the following day.
In older adults, using these pills can cause memory problems.
Some sleeping aids, when a person takes them to relieve insomnia, can make it more difficult to fall asleep without them.
No evidence suggests that using melatonin comes with serious risks. Researchers have yet to explore the long-term effects.
Do not take any sleeping aid before driving or operating machinery.
For many people, the risks of using prescription hypnotics outweigh the benefits. These medications are only suitable for short-term use. Most are habit-forming, meaning that they can be addictive, and they can also cause side effects.
Some side effects of prescription sleeping pills include:
drowsiness or dizziness during the day
confusion
problems with memory
balance problems
In rare cases, they can cause people to perform actions, including driving, walking, eating, or making phone calls, while asleep.
Sleeping pills may also interfere with:
The safety profile of valerian root is still unclear. Possible side effects may include dizziness, itchiness, and stomach problems. Some people feel groggy or drowsy in the morning after taking valerian root.
Also, people who have taken valerian root for extended periods then stopped suddenly may experience withdrawal symptoms. People who stop taking benzodiazepines after long periods may experience similar symptoms.
Because the medical community is still unsure of the effects, women who are pregnant and children under 3 years of age should not use valerian.
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