![]() ![]() Some sleep medications help with falling asleep faster while others help with staying asleep and reducing awakenings in the middle of the night. There are different types of prescription sleeping pills, including benzodiazepines ( Valium, Xanax ), Z-drugs ( Ambien, Sonata, Lunesta ), antidepressants, and dual orexin receptor antagonists (Dayvigo), as well as OTC sleep aids like melatonin and Benadryl. Here are some things to keep in mind when using sleep aids. Your doctor will also provide you with the appropriate treatment and guidance so that you get the most benefits while minimizing the side effects of the medication. This will ensure that you are diagnosed correctly for your trouble sleeping with either insomnia or some other sleep disorder. Prior to initiating any type of sleep aid, you should consult your doctor first. If you take a sleeping pill and wake up after only a few hours, you will likely feel groggy, off-balance, and confused. However, it is important to time your sleep medicine properly to allow a full seven to eight hours of sleep. Most of the time, you would wake up naturally after taking them. Is it hard to wake up after taking sleeping pills? On average, you will get about 30-40 minutes of additional sleep with prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aids. In general, you can expect to fall asleep around 8 to 20 minutes faster than you would without the medicine. The onset of sleep aids depends on numerous factors, including the type of sleeping pill, the presence of food in the stomach, metabolism, body size, and other medical histories. How long do sleeping pills take to kick in? The Food and Drug Administration has added boxed warnings on some prescription sleeping pills due to the risk of serious injuries from sleepwalking. Some of these complex sleep behaviors can be dangerous and lead to injuries or even death. Rarely, sleeping pills can cause complex sleep behaviors like walking, driving, or making phone calls while asleep. An overdose of sleeping pills may lead to delirium, problems with breathing and circulation, and death. Sleeping medications can interact with other drugs, such as antidepressants, opiates, and alcohol which can result in dangerous interactions, causing respiratory depression (slowed breathing) that can potentially lead to death. In some individuals, sleeping pills can cause more serious side effects, such as rebound insomnia (difficulty sleeping after you stop taking the sleeping aids). However, like all medications, they can cause side effects, the most common being next-day confusion and grogginess, headaches, dry mouth, and nausea. Most people can take a sleeping pill without major problems. What are the risks of taking a sleeping pill? Many people develop an addiction to sleeping medication and experience withdrawal symptoms, such as rebound insomnia, irritability, anxiety, and strange dreams when they try to stop using them. Also, sleep aids can be habit-forming if used daily for the long term. It is worth remembering that you can develop a tolerance to sleeping pills, meaning that you will need higher doses to get the same effect over time. ![]() ![]() Long-term use of sleep medication has even been linked to a higher risk of mortality. Daily use of sleep medications can negatively affect sleep stages and sleep quality. There is limited evidence regarding safety and efficacy when being used for more than 4 weeks. ![]() They are best used for temporary insomnia, such as jet lag or situational emotional stress like a divorce or death in the family. Is it safe to take sleep aids every night?Įxperts recommend using sleeping pills as a short-term remedy. However, with that said, a short course of sleep medications can be extremely beneficial in managing acute insomnia while a person learns to practice sleep hygiene and develop healthy behaviors. Sleep hygiene (habits that promote good sleep) and cognitive behavioral therapy (behavior changes) are the first lines of treatment for chronic insomnia. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends using other techniques to promote sleep prior to using sleep aids to treat insomnia. However, they can be habit-forming and carry a risk of side effects. Sleeping pills are a very effective treatment for insomnia. Is it bad to take sleeping pills for insomnia? Please continue reading to learn more about safe practices when taking sleeping pills and how to reduce the risks of side effects of these medications. That’s why it is important to know how to use sleep aids appropriately to obtain the most benefits while minimizing the side effects. However, many people develop unsafe habits when using sleeping pills. When used properly, sleep aids can help you fall asleep quickly, stay asleep, and get good-quality restorative sleep. Sleeping pills are commonly used to treat insomnia. Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders-it affects nearly 1 in 3 adults. ![]()
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