Insomnia Medications: Pros and Cons

If you’re experiencing insomnia on a regular basis, you’re probably ready to give anything a try that might let you get to sleep. But before you get desperate, make certain you realize how each alternative works.

If a run of sleepless nights leads to drowsiness during the day, many people will decide to use a nonprescription treatment. 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.

Sleeping aids shouldn’t be considered a cure for insomnia. It might provide some relief initially, but you still need to figure out the cause of your sleep issues. In the long run, it’s not very healthy to be dependent on a pill to get a good night’s sleep.

Quite a number of people get addicted to the medication and find they can’t sleep without it. Other people experience unpleasant side effects, or they end up with complications because of the way it interacts with their prescriptions.

Nonprescription sleep aids work against insomnia by employing an antihistamine, which is a common treatment for allergies. Along with making you feel drowsy, they also help to guarantee that you stay asleep.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 will rev up the normal chemical processes in your brain and encourage drowsiness. Using a sleeping aid for ongoing insomnia relief is generally safer than using over the counter remedies; but it can lead to dependencies.

Although it’s not that common anymore, if your insomnia is extreme, your doctor might give you a prescription for a tranquilizer. This will calm your nervous system and lead to sleepiness. This is a short term solution that could lead to feelings of grogginess the day after.

Your physician might think that the best treatment for you is a prescription for anti-anxiety or antidepressant meds that will act as a sedative. This isn’t unusual, and you don’t run the risk of developing an addiction like you do with some meds.

You might also consider using an herbal insomnia remedy if you prefer to steer clear of prescription alternatives and use natural products. Some herbs have a reputation for promoting sleep, like chamomile, which can be made into 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.