Frequently called sedatives, nerve pills or muscle relaxants, sleeping
pills are drugs used to reduce anxiety, nervous tension, sleeping
problems and muscle tension.

Belonging to a family of drugs called
benzodiazepines, most medications used to reduce anxiety and stress, or
help with sleeping problems, must be prescribed by a doctor.

Benzodiazepines depress or slow down the central nervous system. They
are frequently used for relief of depression, anxiety or sleeping
problems which may be caused by life changes such as retirement,
reduced financial income, poor health, the loss of loved ones, or
physical and social loneliness. As we age, typical changes in sleeping
patterns may be interpreted as a sleeping disorder. Less frequently
recommended than in the past, sleeping pills are still used more than
they should be to releive these symptoms.
Effects

Since they treat the symptoms of stress and not the cause, sleeping
pills only releive anxiety and sleeping problems momentary. They may
help during an exceptionally stressful time, but they are not meant to
be used for more than 8 to 12 days.

Side Effects

Body’s sensitivity to sleeping pills augments with aging and severe
illness.The side effects of these medications are more to be expected
in seniors. The property of medication can be more altered in a senior
than in a younger individual because drugs stay longer in seniors’
bodies. The following side effects may be experienced:

•drowsy during the day

•groggy

•confusion and lack of concentration

•forgetful

•dizzy or uncoordinated which can result in a fall or
another kind of accident

•irritable

•anxious

•depression

•headache

•nausea

•constipation

•changes in heart rate

Unlike other
medications, the side effects do not fade away with persistent use.
Dependency

More than ever when used repeatedly for more than a few weeks, all
prescription sleeping pills can cause corporeal and psychological
addiction. Signs of addiction can be the need to get more of these
drugs to get the similar effect, or finding it hard to do with no
drugs.
Withdrawal Symptoms
If a dependence on sleeping pills has developed, withdrawal from these
drugs have to be supervised by a health professional to lessen the risk
of severe withdrawal symptoms which may be life threatening. Watch for
the following withdrawal symptoms:

• anxiety

• irritability

• agitation

• abdominal cramps

• vomiting

•
diarrhea

• sweating

• increased heart rate

• tremors

• seizures

Drug Interactions
Damaging reactions can take place when taking sleeping pills with other
prescription or non-prescription medications. Alcohol will augment the
consequence of sleeping pills and can generate inadvertent side
effects.
Do not drink alcohol when taking these medications. You should tell
your doctors and pharmacists concerning all the drugs you are taking
and the quantity of alcohol you drink to diminish the risk of these
reactions.

Alternatives to Sleeping Pills

The following healthy ideas can help out with sleeping, aloneness and
anxiety problems as a replacement of taking sleeping pills. If you
can’t sleep:

• Get fresh air and exercise throughout the day, but bear in mind:
exercise before bed can keep you awake;
• Keep your bedroom cool and quiet, make it more comfortable;
• Before you go to bed, drink warm milk or hot water;
• Read a little, listen relaxing music in the evening or take a warm
bath;
• After 5 p.m., avoid soft drink, coffee or tea, alcohol, smoke and
spicy food.

For those already taking sleeping pills, here are a few
essential tips

Take sleeping pills only during a stressful period. Since they treat
symptoms and not causes, keep in mind that these drugs do not solve
your aloneness, anxiety or sleeping problems.
Except if your doctor advises otherwise, avoid taking sleeping pills
for more than 8 to 12 days. In fact, one of the effects of continuing
use of sleeping pills is not being able to sleep.
Know your medication; what is it called? How often should you take it?
How long should you take it for?

Ask for written information concerning
the medication or put in writing answers from your doctor.
Always ask your doctor for the smallest effective dosage.
Don’t drink alcohol when you are taking sleeping pills.
Tell all the doctors and pharmacists you visit about all the
prescription, non-prescription and herbal remedies you take. Combining
medications can cause undesirable reactions.
Do not carry on taking medication if it is not helping you or if you
have uncomfortable feelings after taking it. Speak to your doctor and
pharmacist.
Keep in mind: If you have been taking sleeping pills for a long period,
stopping this medication rapidly can cause severe withdrawal symptoms.
Under no circumstances borrow or share medication.
In conclusion, what you should know is that sleeping pills can be an answer to your problems if taken carefully, along with the indications of your doctor.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 at 12:54 pm and is filed under Sleep & Snoring. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.