It’s 12am, and here you are watching another sleeping pill infomercial on TV. Or you may see the growing number of over the counter sleep pills available at your corner drugstore. It’s hard to escape the marketing for sleep medications, and if you have insomnia, you may be tempted to give them a try. Not only are sleep pills being recommended for insomnia, but I am seeing research that people are using them for stress and anxiety relief. In todays economy, we can all use a little of that, right!
Do these sleep pills really work?
There is not a lot of conflicting information regarding the efficacy of sleep pills. Where we see a lot of disparity of information is as to which sleep pill works best. The big pharmaceutical companies want you to think that the only sleep pill is a prescription sleep pill. Then there are supplement companies that use herbals as their ingredients. They want you to think that herbals are the only way to go because not only are they effective, but they are safe and don't have the same side effects as their prescription cousins. What we can say is that both sides are trying to offer a cure to a serious problem.
Learning about sleep pills and medications can help you make an informed choice about treating your insomnia and or stress. In general, sleep medications are most effective as a temporary aid, not a long term solution. For chronic insomnia, a good sleep environment, relaxation, and behavioral techniques provide relief without risk of medication side effects or tolerance.
Are sleep aids and medications right for you?
The trouble with sleep medications
The thought of a pill that can solve your sleep problems quickly is very appealing. Unfortunately, sleep medications don't cure insomnia, and they can often make the problem worse in the long run Concerns about the use of both over-the-counter and prescription sleep medications include:
- Drug tolerance. You may have to take more and more of the sleep aid for it to work, which can lead to more side effects.
- Drug dependence. You may come to rely on the medication to sleep, and will be unable to sleep or have even worse sleep without it.
- Withdrawal symptoms. If you stop the medication abruptly, you may have withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating and shaking
- Side effects. There are several side effects to sleep medications, such as drowsiness the next day, confusion, forgetfulness and dry mouth. These side effects can be severe.
- Drug interactions. If you are taking other medications, sleeping medications can interact with them. This can worsen side effects and be dangerous with medications like prescription painkillers and other sedatives.
- Rebound insomnia. If you need to stop the medication, sometimes the insomnia can become even worse than before.
- Masking an underlying problem. There may be an underlying medical or mental disorder, or even a sleep disorder, that if treated would provide more relief from insomnia.
Sleep medications can help reduce insomnia in special situations
In general, sleep medications are most effective when used sparingly for short term situations. Examples include travel across many time zones or recovering from a medical procedure. Sometimes sleep medications are used briefly at the beginning of behavioral treatment for insomnia, especially if the sleep deprivation has been severe. If medications are used over the long term, they are best used “as needed” instead of on a daily basis to avoid dependence and tolerance. Working with your healthcare professional is essential to ensure you get the maximum benefit, especially if long term use is being considered.