Non- Prescription Sleep aids: Understand your options

Sleep aids: Not a magic cure

Sleep aids available without a prescription can be effective for an occasional sleepless night. There are a few caveats, however.

Most sleep aids available without a prescription contain antihistamines. Tolerance to the sedative effects of antihistamines can develop quickly. The longer you take them, the less likely they are to make you sleepy.

In addition, some sleep aids available without a prescription can leave you feeling groggy and unwell the next day. This is the so-called hangover effect.

Medication interactions are possible as well, and much remains unknown about the safety and effectiveness of sleep aids available without a prescription.

Sleep aids: The options

Sleep aids available without a prescription are widely available.

Common choices and the potential side effects include:

• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl, ZzzQuil, Aleve.pm). Diphenhydramine is a sedating antihistamine. Side effects might include daytime drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation and urinary retention.
• Doxylamine (Unisom). Doxylamine is also a sedating antihistamine. Side effects are similar to those of diphenhydramine.
• Melatonin. The hormone melatonin helps control your natural sleep-wake cycle. Some research suggests that melatonin supplements might be helpful in treating jet lag or reducing the time it takes to fall asleep — although the effect is typically mild. Side effects can include headaches, nausea and daytime sleepiness.
• Valerian. Supplements made from this plant are sometimes taken as sleep aids. Although a few studies indicate some therapeutic benefit, other studies haven't found the same benefits. Side effects appear to be mild and may include headache and weakness.
• Chamomile. Use of this flower, which looks like a daisy, also goes back thousands of years. It's taken in pills as well as teas (many people drink a cup of chamomile tea at bedtime). It is considered mild and safe to help you become drowsy. But some people have an allergic reaction to chamomile (especially those who are allergic to ragweed).

Store brands containing the same active ingredients as brand-name sleep aids are commonly available, too. Store brands have the same risks and benefits as their brand-name counterparts, often at a more reasonable cost.

Important precautions

When using nonprescription sleep aids, follow these steps:

• Start with your health care provider. Ask your health care provider if the sleep aid might interact with other medications or underlying conditions. Also ask what dosage to take.
• Keep precautions in mind. Diphenhydramine and doxylamine aren't recommended for people who have certain health problems, including closed-angle glaucoma, peptic ulcer and urinary retention. In addition, sleep aids pose risks for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and might pose risks for people over age 65, including an increased risk of dementia.
• Take it one day at a time. Nonprescription sleep aids might be a temporary solution for sleep problems. However, they're not intended for long-term use.
• Avoid alcohol. Never mix alcohol and sleep aids. Alcohol can increase the sedative effects of the medication.
• Beware of side effects. Don't drive or attempt other activities that require alertness while taking sleep aids.

Everyone benefits from a good night's sleep. If you continue to have trouble sleeping, talk to your health care provider. In addition to lifestyle changes, your provider might recommend behavior therapy. This type of therapy may help you learn new sleep habits and ways to make your sleeping environment more conducive to sleep. In some cases, short-term use of prescription sleep aids might be recommended as well.

A word about prescription sleep aids

Prescription sleep medications are powerful drugs that work on different parts of the brain.

Benzodiazepines like lorazepam (Ativan) and temazepam (Restoril) target gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a brain chemical that reduces nerve activity and promotes sleep. These medications can be habit forming, may cause daytime sleepiness, and may be associated with dementia.

Nonbenzodiazepines — such as zolpidem (Ambien) and eszopiclone (Lunesta) — also work on GABA, but they leave the body faster and have fewer side effects, allowing for regular waking and daytime functioning the next day. However, they still increase the risk for sleepwalking and daytime sleepiness, which can lead to falls and injury.

Melatonin-receptor agonists such as ramelteon (Rozerem) target melatonin receptors in the brain. They leave the body quickly and are not thought to be habit forming.

These medications are meant for short-term use only, under the direction of your doctor. "They're most helpful for the treatment of insomnia. But medications are just one option to treat insomnia. Behavioral therapy, which involves looking at your sleep habits and ways you think about sleep and routines, is equally effective," says sleep expert Dr. Lawrence Epstein, an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School.

 Most cases of insomnia can be cured with changes you can make on your own—without relying on sleep specialists or turning to prescription or over-the-counter sleeping pills. By addressing the underlying causes and making simple changes to your daily habits and sleep environment, you can put a stop to the frustration of insomnia and finally get a good night’s sleep.

HERE’S HOW TO BEAT INSOMNIA AND END THE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS.

 

READ THIS BOOK FOR THE ANSWERS YOU ARE SEEKING!

 

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