Insomnia Medications: Pros and Cons
If insomnia has been an ongoing problem for you, you might be willing to try just about anything simply to get a little sleep. But before you get desperate, make certain you realize how each alternative works.
Most people who experience a few nights in a row of insomnia will head straight to the pharmacy to get an over the counter remedy. You might get some relief from a sleep aid at first, but they won’t give you long term results because they don’t fix the problem.
A sleeping aid doesn’t constitute an insomnia cure. It could assist you at first, yet you need to ascertain the reason why you’re experiencing sleep problems. In the long run, it’s not very healthy to be dependent on a pill to get a good night’s sleep.
Lots of people get hooked on medications and aren’t able to fall asleep if they give them up. Other people experience unpleasant side effects, or they end up with complications because of the way it interacts with their prescriptions.
Antihistamines, a familiar remedy for allergies, is a common ingredient in over the counter sleeping aids. They not only make you sleepy, they help to ensure that you stay sleeping.Some people experience drowsiness the next day, which might interrupt your natural sleep cycle. Side effects could include constipation, dizziness, memory loss, blurred vision, and dry mouth. Once you are dependent on them, you’ll need ever greater dosages to feel the benefits.
The doctor might give you something more potent such as a non-benzodiazephine. This helps you feel sleepy by stepping up the natural chemical process of your brain. Using a sleeping aid for ongoing insomnia relief is generally safer than using over the counter remedies; but it can lead to dependencies.
It’s uncommon these days, but your doctor could prescribe a tranquilizer if your insomnia is serious enough. This causes drowsiness by slowing your nervous system. This is a short term solution that could lead to feelings of grogginess the day after.
You might be prescribed antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications that act as sedatives if your doctor believes it’s the best alternative for you. These are a common alternative that don’t have the same risk of addiction as some other medications.
You might also consider using an herbal insomnia remedy if you prefer to steer clear of prescription alternatives and use natural products. There are herbs that have been shown to encourage a good night’s sleep, such as chamomile, which is often served up as tea.
Valerian root, melatonin, and SAMe are other herbal alternatives you might try to treat your insomnia. Be sure you take the correct dosage, since too much of a good thing can sometimes lead to uninvited side effects.
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