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There are certain sleep disorders that no matter how you try to follow the tips
to get a good night's sleep, your body still does not respond. Even if you relax
before going to bed, avoid caffeine, live a healthy life and take only
nutritious food, sleep can sometimes be elusive. How can this problem be
addressed? For some people, drugs are the answer. Not the kind of 'drugs' you
have in mind, silly. We're talking about sleeping pills.
The concept of prescription sleeping pills dates centuries back when people used
to turn to opiate mixes and herbal potions to induce sleep. Those who lived in
the olden days brewed certain kinds of teas and boiled particular types of herbs
to help knock themselves out for a few hours when sleep refuses to arrive. |
Barbiturates soon followed in the 1900s, and were eventually replaced by
safer versions called nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics in the 90s.
Because sleep disorders are a common disorder, it is not a surprise that
scientists continuously find ways to make the drugs designed to combat it safer
and more efficient to use. The sleeping pills we have today are nowhere near as
lethal as the herbs they used to drink in the past, but, unfortunately, still
carry their share of side effects and risks. Some of the sleeping pills nowadays
have been found to cause problems for the kidney and the liver -- those sleeping
pills are prescribed only to people with severe sleep problems. Some of
the most commonly known prescription drugs these days are Lunesta, Ambien,
Sonata, and Rozerem.
The most common sleeping pills consist of diphenhydramine, doxylamine, zolpidem
tartrate, triazolam, temazepam, trazodone, and nortriptyline, among a host of
other names we'd probably never bother trying to spell. They vary in effects and
purpose. Some are used to treat mild sleeplessness, while the latter names are
commonly used to treat depression related sleep disorders. Of course, not all of
them are available over the counter. If you suspect that you have a sleep
problem, it is still best to consult with your doctor first before you attempt
any of these sleeping pills.
Prescription sleeping pills are also not usually meant to be taken more than once a day. Some people
who have taken multiple doses in a single day have been rushed to the hospital
because of seizures or sudden deaths. Sleeping pills are not things to be toyed
with and, thus, should be taken according to the doctor's orders. You should
also avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while you're under treatment as these
could only cancel out the sleeping pills' effects, or, worse, cause
complications.
We all deserve to sleep well at night. And while sleep disorders are common to
everyone, we should first try to seek safe methods first before taking any kind
of medication. Sleeping pills are effective, yes, but they can also be dangerous
with improper use.
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