The Dangers of Sleeping Pills

By Staff Writer

About 40 percent of Americans experience insomnia at some point during the year. Fifteen percent suffer from chronic insomnia, which is defined as regular sleeplessness that lasts for more than three weeks and is persistent without treatment. This deficiency of sleep often results in a lack of focus, decreased productivity and persistent fatigue.

With insomnia being such a prevalent problem in our society, it is no wonder that sleeping pill use has escalated over the past decade. What many people do not realize is that there is a great deal of conflicting information about the safety of sleeping pills.

Sleeping Pill Risks

The general appeal of sleeping pills is tremendous. Many people look at the promises that sleeping pill manufacturers make and they automatically believe that one of those drugs is the answer to their sleep problems. The reality, however, is that sleeping pills do not cure insomnia, and in some situations they can actually make a person's sleep issues much worse.

The following are some things to keep in mind about prescription and over-the-counter sleeping pills:

• Side effects: Sleeping pills cause drowsiness the next day, confusion, forgetfulness and dry mouth. For some people, these side effects are just a mild to moderate annoyance that they learn to live with. For others, the side effects can be severe.
• Drug tolerance: Over time, the body becomes used to these types of drugs, which means that if you keep using them you will need to take increased dosages in order to achieve the same effect. This can lead to an increase in side effects experienced, and to addiction in some people.
• Rebound insomnia: If your body is used to relying on sleeping pills and you suddenly need to stop taking them for some reason, your insomnia may very well become even worse than it was before you initially started using the pills.
• Withdrawal symptoms: Once your body has built up a tolerance for or dependence on sleeping pills, you will more than likely experience withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop taking the drug.
• Drug interactions: Other medications may interact negatively with sleeping pills. This can make the side effects worse, and in some cases may prove to be dangerous.
• Drug dependence: If you become addicted to sleeping pills, you will find that you simply cannot sleep without them.

For the most part, sleeping pills are most effective when they are used to treat short-term sleep issues. The danger in using these drugs becomes much more pronounced when people start to use them on a regular, consistent basis.

Guidelines for Safe Usage

If you decide to take sleeping pills, you should always follow your doctor's guidelines when using them. In fact, it is probably better if you take a prescription medication so that your doctor can keep track of your progress and monitor your dosage.

You will also need to pay close attention to the recommendations for taking your medication that are provided by your pharmacy. These instructions are important because there are some foods that need to be avoided when taking sleeping pills.

Talk to your doctor about the other medications that you are taking, including vitamin and mineral supplements. Often times, people do not think about disclosing the natural supplements they are taking, but it is vitally important that you do so. Drug interactions can be fatal, so you need to let your doctor and pharmacist know about the other medications you are taking, even if you only use them occasionally or they are over-the-counter.

Only take sleeping pills when you are sure that you can devote a full seven to eight hours to sleeping. If you can only sleep for a shorter amount of time, avoid taking a pill that night; otherwise, you will probably be extremely drowsy and groggy the next day.

You should avoid drinking alcohol within a few hours of taking a sleeping pill, as alcohol will not only interfere with your natural sleep cycles, it can result in a dangerous interaction with your medication. You should also avoid driving a car or operating machinery within a few hours of taking a sleeping pill because of the physical and mental impairments that result.

If you decide to try herbal supplements to alleviate your sleep problems, don't use them thinking that they are all perfectly safe. Herbal supplements can pose health dangers in much the same way that prescription medications can. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or herbal medicine specialist about the supplements you are considering taking, as well as the medications that you are currently taking. Healthcare professionals will be able to advise you regarding which options are the safest for you and which ones you should avoid.