SLEEPING PILLS

OTC sleeping pills are a quick remedy for those restless nights when your mind is racing and your body can’t keep up. With the availability of  sleeping aids such as antihistamines, we no longer have to go to a doctor to get a prescription for a simple case of jet lag. Instead, we can conveniently walk into the nearest drugstore or consult with our local pharmacist on the right sleeping pill for our needs. Before you purchase your OTC sleeping pills though, it might help to learn some facts about the most common ones consumed by Americans.

The most popular OTC sleeping aid are antihistamines. If the name sounds familiar, it is because this is what we also take for fever or allergies. The working agent in antihistamines is either diphenhydramine hydrochloride or doxylamine succinate. These two have a sedative effect and basically depress the central nervous system, which is also why medications taken for allergies and hay-fever induce drowsiness. Usually, 50 mg of diphenhydramine hydrochloride are enough for the occasional insomniac or if you want to have a good rest during a 12-hour flight. If you’re going to take this dosage, be sure that you allot enough time for your sleep, lest you find yourself barely able to get up when you have to. In short, diphenhydramine hydrochloride works for jet lags but a too high dosage will leave you feeling groggy after waking up.

Doxylamine succinate, on the other hand, has a reputation of causing hangovers that last the whole day long, and that regardless of whether or not you’ve had enough sleep during the night. A lot of users who have tried this sleeping pill variety reported feeling lethargic the whole day long, virtually drifting from one task to another, one conversation to the next, in their workplace.

Besides these side effects, another one that both substances above share is the anti-allergy effect, which is having a dry mouth and nose after sleeping. This being said, be sure that you do not use these substances for longer than 10 days. These two are not meant for long-term use and can even cause ADD, anxiety or depression, and rebound insomnia when taken continually.

An alternative to chemical OTC sleeping pills are herbal remedies. Although there have been markedly fewer studies on homeopathic sleep aids and their effectiveness, sleeping experts claim that they are the safer option for those who feel the need to take sleeping pills on a daily basis.

The most usual types of herbal OTC sleeping pills are melatonin, chamomile, passionflower, humulus lupulus, and valerian root. Melatonin, being the most widely used of the group, is a hormone produced in the brain which helps the regulation of sleep and wake cycles. Its production is partially affected by the presence of light (sunlight or artificial lighting), and specialists say that the intake of synthetic melatonin is even recommended to adults, especially since melatonin levels in the brain decrease as we get older.

Still, there are some side effects to this substance that you need to be aware of. First off, melatonin won’t work if you suffer from chronic insomnia or hyperarousal. This is because the body has to be naturally ready for sleep for this substance to work, it can’t force your body to feel tired. Other side effects can be disorientation during sleep, which can lead to vivid dreams.

As a general rule, it is safest to consult your pharmacist to know whether sleeping pills are the right aid for you or whether you should better go for a combination of medication and counseling.

Side Effects of Sleeping Pills