What Are Sleeping Pills?
Most sleeping pills are "sedative hypnotics." That's a
specific class of drugs used to induce and/or maintain sleep. Sedative
hypnotics include benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and various hypnotics.
Benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Valium, Ativan, and Librium are
anti-anxiety medications. They also increase
drowsiness and help people sleep. While these drugs may be useful short-term,
all benzodiazepines are potentially addictive.
Barbiturates, another drug in this sedative-hypnotic class,
depress the central nervous system and can cause sedation. Short- or
long-acting barbiturates are prescribed as sedatives or sleeping pills. But
more commonly, these hypnotic drugs are limited to use as anesthesia.
Newer medications help reduce the time it takes to fall asleep.
These sleep-inducing drugs, including Lunesta, Sonata, and Ambien, are somewhat
less likely than are benzodiazepines to be habit-forming. They work quickly to
increase drowsiness and sleep. Rozerem acts differently from other sleep
medicines and is not habit-forming. Belsomra is another unique sleep aid called
an orexin receptor antagonist.
Halcion is an older sedative-hypnotic medicine that has largely
been replaced by newer medicines.
What Are the Side Effects of Sleeping Pills?
Sleeping pills have side effects like most medications. You won't
know, though, whether you will experience side effects with a particular
sleeping pill until you try it.
Your doctor may be able to alert you to the possibility of side
effects if you have asthma or other health conditions. Sleeping
pills make you breathe more slowly and less deeply. That can be dangerous for
people with uncontrolled lung problems such as asthma or COPD.
Common side effects of prescription sleeping pills such as
Lunesta, Sonata, Ambien, Rozerem, and Halcion may include:
- Burning or tingling in the hands, arms, feet, or legs
- Changes in appetite
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty keeping balance
- Dizziness
- Daytime drowsiness
- Dry mouth or throat
- Gas
- Headache
- Heartburn
- Impairment the next day
- Mental slowing or problems with attention or memory
- Stomach pain or tenderness
- Uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
- Unusual dreams
- Weakness
It's important to be aware of possible sleeping pill side effects
so you can stop the drug and call your doctor immediately to avoid a more
serious health problem.
Are There More Complex Sleeping Pill Side Effects?
Some sleeping pills have potentially harmful side effects,
including parasomnias. Parasomnias are behaviors and actions over which you
have no control, like sleepwalking. During a parasomnia, you are asleep and
unaware of what is happening.
Parasomnias with sleeping pills are complex sleep behaviors and
may include sleep eating, making phone calls, or having sex while in a sleep
state. Sleep driving, which is driving while not fully awake, is another
serious sleeping pill side effect. Though rare, parasomnias are difficult to
detect once the medication takes effect.
Product labels for sedative-hypnotic medicines include language
about the potential risks of taking a sleeping pill. Because complex sleep
behaviors are more likely to occur if you increase the dosage of a sleeping
pill, take only what your doctor prescribes -- no more.
Can I Be Allergic to Sleeping Pills?
Yes. Some people may have an allergic
reaction when taking a sleeping pill and should avoid them. It's
important to talk to your doctor at the first sign of these serious side
effects, including:
- Blurred vision or any other problems with your sight
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Feeling that the throat is closing
- Hives
- Hoarseness
- Itching
- Nausea
- Pounding heartbeat
- Rash
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Vomiting
In addition, a serious -- even deadly -- side effect of any
medicine someone is allergic to is anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is an acute
allergic reaction. Another possible effect is angioedema, which is severe facial
swelling. Again, discuss these possibilities with your doctor if you are at
risk of allergic reactions.
When Do I Take a Sleeping Pill?
It's usually recommended that you take the sleeping pill right
before your desired bedtime. Read your doctor's instructions on the sleeping
pill prescription label. The instructions have specific information regarding
your medication. In addition, always allow ample time to sleep before you take
a sleeping pill.
Is It Dangerous to Combine Sleeping Pills and Alcohol?
Yes. Mixing alcohol and sleeping pills can be extremely
hazardous. The combination increases the sedative effect of sleeping pills, and
that can be fatal. In fact, sleeping pill labels warn against using alcohol
while taking the drug.
Also, you should not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice
while taking some sleeping pills. Grapefruit increases the amount of the drug
absorbed into your bloodstream and how long it stays in the body. That can
cause over-sedation.
Can I Become Dependent on Sleeping Pills?
For short-term insomnia, your doctor may prescribe sleeping pills
for several weeks. Yet after regular use for a longer period, your sleeping
pill may stop working as you build a tolerance to the medication. You may also
become psychologically dependent on the medicine. Then the idea of going to
sleep without it will make you anxious.
Without the sleeping pill, you might find it difficult to sleep.
If that happens, it could be a sign of a physical or emotional dependence or
both. Some studies show that long-term use of sleeping pills actually
interferes with sleep. The best way to avoid developing a physical or emotional
dependence on sleeping pills is to follow your doctor's instructions and stop
taking the drug when recommended.
WebMD Medical Reference
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