The Effects of Sleep Aids

If you are having trouble sleeping, then you may be looking for help. A sleep aid may be just the thing to get you snoozing, but before you jump right in and begin taking anything intended to offer you a restful night's sleep, you will want to know more about sleep aids and any possible side effects.

Identification

There are many sleep aids on the market, and all of them promise you the best night's sleep. With medication being one of the most looked to answers for almost any problem we have, there are plenty of choices of medicated sleep aids. There are even combinations of pain relievers and sleep aids available. Sleep aid medication is available in both over-the-counter and prescription medication. There are also many natural remedies that can be used as sleep aids. Remember though, all natural products are still able to help or harm you, depending on how you use them.

Types

Prescription sleep aids include Benzodiazepine sleep aids, which are considered hypnotic medications. In the past the most commonly prescribed sleep aids were barbiturates, which were found to be dangerous for many people, causing depression.
Other prescription sleep aids are called non-Benzodiazepine. They are considered to be safer for more people than the Benzodiazepine group of sleep aids. Both of these types of prescription sleep aids are meant to treat insomnia. Over-the-counter sleep aids include an antihistamine, which is intended to use for the occasional night when you might have a hard time sleeping. They are not meant to treat chronic insomnia. Natural remedies include herbal supplements, such as Melatonin, which helps increase the Melatonin hormone. Melatonin hormone is what makes you feel sleepy.

effects

The prescription sleep aids are usually prescribed for a short-term, to help you get over the slump of insomnia. The reason for the short-term use, is that this type of drug is very easy to become dependent on, and also become insensitive to, making the chances of using more to get the same effect more likely, possibly resulting in an unintentional overdose. Over-the-counter sleep aids may not pose the same potential problems that prescribed sleep aids do, but anything can become a habit, so it is wise to use them only when necessary. Some medical professionals believe that if you have insomnia, it would be better for you to take a prescribed sleep aid than an over-the-counter sleep aid. The elderly, especially, need to be more careful about this and talk to their doctors before taking any sleep aid. Both prescription sleep aids and over-the-counter sleep aids can leave you feeling drowsy when you wake up. It might be more difficult to get up in the morning when taking this type of sleep aid.

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone, which makes you sleepy. There are many doctors who are suggesting to their patients to take a melatonin supplement if they are having trouble getting to sleep, going back to sleep after waking up, or staying asleep once they have fallen asleep. Unlike medication sleep aids, melatonin doesn't leave you feeling sleepy when you wake up, and there are no side effects that will result in addiction or dependency.

Warning

Whatever sleep aid you choose to take, never take more than the recommended dose. If you have a question or concern about any effects they have on you, talk to your doctor. If you notice any allergic reaction or adverse side effects beginning, discontinue use of the sleep aid and call your doctor. If you use a sleep aid and begin to feel depressed, tell your doctor. In other words, talk to your doctor about any sleep problems you may have, and any effects you may have that are not healthy when you use a sleep aid.

Potential

Sleep aids have the potential to help you over a rough spot. They are meant to get you to where you can sleep easily without them. However, using them every night, long-term, may be dangerous. Using them with your doctor's knowledge and advice is the wisest way to use sleep aids. It will give you an idea about what he thinks will help you the most, as well as help you avoid any potential problems.