Taking Sleeping Pills Regularly? Know the Side Effects
Millions of people all over the world rely on sleeping pills to help them get a good night’s sleep. However, there are some potential sleeping pills side effects you need to be aware of if you’re taking them regularly. In this article, we’ll discuss the most common side effects and how to avoid them. Your sleep is essential for a healthy body and mind. A good night’s sleep allows you to wake up feeling refreshed, alert, and ready to take on the day. Unfortunately, not everyone gets enough sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults need between 7 and 8 hours of sleep per night. However, more than half of Americans get less than 6 hours of sleep each night. If you’re one of these people trying to get more sleep, consider taking a sleeping pill. Sleeping pills are a safe way to fall asleep and wake up feeling refreshed. However, there are some sleeping pills side effects to be aware of when taking them regularly. What are Sleeping Pills? Sleeping pills are medication prescribed to help people sleep. They work by slowing down the brain’s activity and helping people to fall asleep. There are many types of sleeping pills, and each has its own set of side effects. Knowing about them can help you to decide if taking them is the right choice for you. The majority of sleeping aids are categorized as “sedative hypnotics.” This is a class of medications intended to induce or maintain sleep. Benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and other hypnotics are examples of sedative hypnotics. Anti-anxiety drugs include Ativan, Librium, Valium, and Xanax, among others. Additionally, they induce tiredness and facilitate sleep. Halcion is an older sedative-hypnotic benzodiazepine medication that has been mostly supplanted by newer medications. All benzodiazepines are potentially addictive and can create issues with memory and concentration, despite the fact that they may be effective in the short term. Generally, they are not advised for the long-term therapy of sleeping disorders. Another class of sedative-hypnotic medications, barbiturates, depress the central nervous system and can induce sedation. As sedatives or sleeping medications, short- and long-acting barbiturates are recommended. However, these hypnotic medicines are typically restricted to usage as anesthetic. They are potentially lethal in overdose. Newer drugs aid in falling asleep more quickly. Ambien, Lunesta, and Sonata are examples of sleep-inducing medicines that bind to the same receptors in the brain as benzodiazepines. They are somewhat less likely to be habit-forming than benzodiazepines but can still create physical dependence over time. They can enhance tiredness and sleep rapidly. Rozerem, an alternative sleep aid, functions differently than conventional sleep medications. It affects melatonin, a brain hormone, and is not addictive. Belsomra is an alternative, non-addictive sleep medication that affects the orexin brain neurotransmitter. Silenor, another nonaddictive sleep aid, is a low-dose formulation of the tricyclic antidepressant doxepin. What Alternatives to Sleeping Pills Are Available? When you are trying to get to sleep, there are a few things that you can do to get the best sleep possible. One of these things is taking sleeping pills regularly. However, before you reach for the pills, it is important to know the sleeping pills side effects that can occur from taking them regularly. If you are thinking about stopping taking your sleeping pills, there are a few alternatives available to you. First, you could try using a different type of pill. Second, you could try using a different dosage or length of time to see if this affects the side effects. Finally, you could try using a different sleep schedule to avoid taking your pills at night. Sleeping Pills Side Effects Sleep medications such as Ambien (zolpidem) and Lunesta (eszopiclone) are prescribed for people who experience difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. While these medications can be helpful for some, there are also potential side effects that users should be aware of. Below we’ll discuss the most common sleeping pills side effects and how to avoid them: Drowsiness: Sleeping pills can cause drowsiness or fatigue. It’s important to be careful when driving or performing other hazardous activities after taking a sleeping pill. If you feel sleepy or dizzy after taking a sleeping pill, stop taking it and contact your doctor. Short-term memory loss: Taking a sleeping pill can interfere with your short-term memory. If this happens, make sure you keep a list of what you did the day before and during your sleep session. Increased risk for seizures: Sleeping pills can increase your risk for seizures. If you have a history of seizures, discuss with your doctor before taking a sleeping pill. Mood changes: Taking a sleeping pill can change your mood. This can range from feeling sleepy and drowsy to feeling irritable and angry. If you experience any changes in mood while taking a sleeping pill, stop taking it and contact your doctor. Headache: Sleeping pills can cause headache. If you experience severe headache after taking a sleeping pill, stop taking it and contact your doctor. Sexual dysfunction: Sleeping pills can cause sexual dysfunction. If this happens, make sure to talk to your doctor about why this may be happening and how to fix it. Unusual changes in weight: Sleeping pills can cause you to gain or lose weight. If you notice that your weight is changing strangely while taking a sleeping pill, stop taking it and contact your doctor. Blackouts: Sleeping pills can cause blackouts. If this happens, make sure to tell someone where you were and what happened during the blackout. Difficulty concentrating: Other sleeping pills side effects include difficulty concentrating and increased appetite. This is because the drugs can cause a feeling of drowsiness and restlessness, which can lead to an increase in food intake. Liver damage: Sleeping pills can cause liver damage. If you experience any changes in your liver function while taking a sleeping pill, stop taking it and contact your doctor. Risks for addiction: Sleeping pills are often addictive. If you are addicted to sleeping pills, stopping treatment may lead
