 Many people take a medication to help them sleep at some time. Major half of these drugs are over-the-counter medications. It should be mentioned that only psychological or behavioral techniques can really treat insomnia, in that time when long use of sleeping pills can only result in dependency. Major sleeping pills become less effective over time and need higher doses. Many of them can result in rebound insomnia if withdrawal rapidly.
Sleep medicine should be used only to prevent the vicious cycle of psycho physiological insomnia in people that suffer from transient or short-term insomnia when non-medical treatments haven’t helped.
Drug treatment for insomnia
- Some people believe that alcohol can be used as sleep aid. There is a small portion of truth. As a matter of fact, a very small quantity of alcohol can be relaxing and cause sleepiness, but indulgence and withdrawal occur very rapidly.
- Over-the-counter sleeping pills are the most commonly used sleeping preparations except for alcohol. But in fact they are not effective. They may cause difficulties with coordination and memory during the daytime. Most sleeping pills become less effective over time and require higher doses. A lot of them can cause rebound insomnia if withdrawal rapidly.
- Benzodiazepines. Drugs of this group are relatives of diazepam that marketed as sleeping aids. They strengthen the effect of a natural inhibitor of neural activity. These drugs have little effect on heart work and on breathing. Nevertheless they nave some negative side effects such as low reaction time, poor coordination, and impaired memory. These effects will vary depending on how long the drugs remain in your body.
- Barbiturates were some time the typical sleeping pills. They can reduce the functioning of all electrically active tissue, including heart muscle. Deadly overdose is rather frequent and combination with alcohol is practically dangerous.
- Chloral hydrate is identical to barbiturates in the way it acts. It irritates skin, mucous membrane, and stomach.
Precautions for taking of sleeping pills:
- Do not take sleeping pills permanently for more than four days a week
- Start with a low dose if it’s possible
- Medicine should be withdrawn insensibly; you should be aware of the possibility of rebound insomnia after stopping medicine.
- Remember that alcohol strengthen the side effects of all sleeping pills and should be avoided.
Note: The chronic use of sleeping pills in the elderly can result in impaired memory and alertness, daytime sleepiness, urinary incontinence, and loss of coordination.
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