Prescription Sleep Aids

Should You Take Prescription Sleep Medications?

We've all experienced sleeplessness, from occasional bouts of difficulty getting to sleep to more serious chronic insomnia. While there are many prescription sleep aids that can help they should not be your first choice.

When we can't get to sleep it's tempting to just take a pill that promises a quick fix and a restful night's sleep. However, you need to first assess whether or not taking prescription sleep medications are appropriate in your situation.

This is especially true if you are only experiencing occasional insomnia. In this case many over the counter sleep aids, herbal sleep remedies or other natural sleep aids can provide the relief you need without the need for "sleep drugs".

Of course, for chronic insomnia you may need to take one of the prescription sleep medications in order to get the rest you need. As always it is important to consult with your doctor before taking any sleep medications no matter whether they are prescription sleep aids, over the counter sleep aids, herbal sleep remedies or other natural sleep treatments.

Types of Prescription Sleep Aids

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There are a number of options available for prescription sleep aids, but primarily there are two main types but as a class of drugs they are referred to as "sedative hypnotics".

Benzodiazepines are generally used to also treat anxiety and can certainly be addictive, so they should be used with care and for as short a time as possible. Examples of benzodiazepines include Xanax, Valium, Ativan, and Librium. These sleep medications have a longer half life than some of the newer non-benzodiazepine sleep drugs which means they stay in your body longer and can cause daytime drowsiness.

Non-benzodiazepines, on the other hand, can cause you to get to sleep quickly and are cleared from your system more in a shorter period of time, reducing the feeling of drowsiness after waking. Common non-benzodiazepines are Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata and Imovane.

Most of the newer prescription sleep medications are not as addictive, however, they can become habit forming. So, while you may not become physically addicted there is the potential to become psychologically dependant and feel you need them to fall asleep while in reality you would be able to sleep with out them.

In some cases anti-depressant drugs have been used for insomnia treatment. For example, with Trazodone insomnia can be alleviated but it is only approved for use to treat depression. Trazodone insomnia treatment is considered an "off label" usage but may work well for those suffering from both depression and insomnia.

Are Prescription Sleep Aids Safe?

All of these prescription sleep medications have side effects that can have serious consequences.

You will of course have to check the drug information and interactions with your doctor or pharmacist for any specific sleep drug you are considering taking but common side-effects include:

• Tingling or burning sensation in extremeties

• Gastrointestinal problems including diarrhea, constipation, stomach discomfort, heartburn and gas

• Dry mouth and throat

• Changes in normal appetite

• Dizziness and difficulty maintaining balance

• Daytime drowsiness and weakness

Prescription sleeping pills can also result in a deeper than normal sleep which may make it difficult to awaken. This could be dangerous if, for example, a smoke detector was sounding an alarm and the prescription sleep medications prevented waking.

Even if awakened there also seems to be an amnesia effect that causes users to be unable to recall events while under the influence of certain prescription sleep aids.

There are also reports of parasomnia where people will engage in activities while asleep. People have been known to sleep walk, engage in sleep eating and even have sleep sex. Of course these all present real dangers but sleep driving is particularly unnerving. Upon awakening though, these behaviors cannot generally be recalled.

While improving sleep should help relieve depression to a degree (and it does) it has been found that use of prescription sleep aids can actually have the opposite effect and increase the depression.1

Severe withdrawls can also occur with these sleep medications. It is extremely important to follow your doctor's advise to the letter and to taper off usage of prescription sleep aids. Never abruptly quit taking prescription sleep drugs. Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome can last several months and can be as serious as alcohol or barbituate withdrawl.

When it comes to the inate danger of any of these chemicals the pharmaceutical companies are notorious for skewing tests and minimizing negative results.

The bottom line with prescription sleep aids is to use them only as a last resort under the strict guidance of your doctor at the lowest dosage and the shortest period of time possible.

Related Articles:

Over The Counter Sleep Aids

Sleep Aid Ambien

Sleep Aid Lunesta

Sonata Sleep Aid

Before You Buy Rozerem

Benadryl As A Sleep Aid

Trazodone Insomnia Treatments

Trazodone Side Effects

Herbal Sleep Aids

Natural Sleep Aids

Melatonin Sleep Aid

Insomnia Home Remedy Solutions

Sleep Aid Products

References:

1. Greater incidence of depression with hypnotic use than with placebo

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