Just because it is prescribed doesn't mean it's good for you.
All drugs have side-effects, including sleeping pills.
You should consider the short-term and long-term effects of using any drugs, even if they are prescribed.
Some doctors will tell you about the side effects of medication when they prescribe them, others do not, and sometimes they might not even know.
How can they possibly know the long term effects of a drug newly introduced to the market? Similarly some chemists are very diligent about supplying typed notes on the known side effects and information about the drugs you are taking home - others do not.
Please read the labels, and ask for information about the side effects of any new medication you have been prescribed, before you commence taking them.
And when a number of prescription medications are taken at the same time, it gets complicated, even for the professionals.
Ask again about any adverse effects when medications are being taken in combination.
Using the internet to source information is a valid strategy as well.
When you read the side effects of some drugs, it's scary - even knowing that the drug companies have to cover as many bases as they can to cover their legal liabilities.
Being proactive is very important.
Any prescription (or non-prescription drugs) that have the following side effects will, naturally, effect sleep: stress, anxiety, depression, nervousness, restlessness, drowsiness, hangover effects, hangover itself, jittery feelings, hyperactivity, synthetic highs, sleep disturbances, central nervous system stimulation, muscle activity, abnormal dreams, lethargy, somnolence (sleepiness), decreased libido, fatigue, psychotic episodes - the list goes on.
Here are some of the ways Prescription Drugs can effect Sleep: oStress can be a negative side effects of medication that decreases libido, causes weight gain, causes sexual dysfunction, or causes physical side effects such as nausea or vomiting.
oCertain prescription drugs (i.
e.
SSRIs like Celexa, Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft) can increase insomnia by promoting a sense of restlessness, agitation, or nervousness.
These symptoms range from moderate to severe and can have a lasting negative impact on your quality of sleep.
oTaking antihistamines for allergies can cause drowsiness.
Unfortunately, because of this side effect they have the potential for abuse by insomniacs.
While not addictive, they can cause a drowsy, hangover effect, and you might find yourself reliant on them for a quick way to fall asleep.
This is a short-term solution that doesn't explore the real reason for your sleep disorder.
Before you can solve the reason for your insomnia, you have to first discover it.
Covering the problem with antihistamines only delays the inevitable.
oPrescription drugs that cause depression include some cholesterol-reducing drugs, immunomodifiers used to treat hepatitis B and C, MS drugs, carcinoma (e.
g.
some interferon drugs), HIV drugs, etc.
o Recreational drugs, which include prescribed drugs, effect sleep.
Used in combination with other drugs, which is sometimes the case, the effects become unpredictable and complicated.
And after taking upper party drugs, there's often an inclination to take sedative ones later, so that you can 'sleep' - a potentially dangerous cocktail.
If you're in this situation you'll need some help to come off the habit.
Just know that help is out there if you look.
oSleeping pills themselves are addictive.
"Addictive" also means that they become less effective over time, with some people needing more of them to achieve the same result.
Take care when coming off sleeping pills by asking your healthcare professional for individual attention while you withdraw.
There are a number of adverse reactions to coming off sleeping pills including rebound insomnia and panic attacks.
There are websites dedicated specifically to help you with this process, including the work of Professor C.
H.
Ashton on benzodiazepines.
Joan E.
Gadsby wrote the book Addiction By Prescription which documents her 18 year addiction to sleeping pills.
You might also find homoeopathic help to come off sleeping tablets.
If you intend to come off sleeping pills, do it gradually, and ensure that you have help and supervision with the process.
If you are taking anti-depressants and sleeping pills, Professor Ashton suggests coming off the sleeping pills totally first, then coming slowly off the anti-depressants (they are addictive as well).
It can be a long process.
oEven while being closely monitored by a physician, it's possible to end up reliant on prescription medication.
If you suffer from insomnia or other sleep disorders, it's important to establish the cause(s).
Insomnia is a symptom of something else.
You need to establish a solution to the underlying problem, not to the insomnia symptom.
Avoid mindlessly popping pills as a "remedy", because you can often make the condition worse.
Consider the toll insomnia is taking on your life, and know that you can be helped.
You don't have to live with sleepless nights.
Just be careful not to take a harmful approach at solving the problem.
Seek out an expert in sleep disorders, and know you don't have to accept insomnia as a normal part of life, because it isn't.
All drugs have side-effects, including sleeping pills.
You should consider the short-term and long-term effects of using any drugs, even if they are prescribed.
Some doctors will tell you about the side effects of medication when they prescribe them, others do not, and sometimes they might not even know.
How can they possibly know the long term effects of a drug newly introduced to the market? Similarly some chemists are very diligent about supplying typed notes on the known side effects and information about the drugs you are taking home - others do not.
Please read the labels, and ask for information about the side effects of any new medication you have been prescribed, before you commence taking them.
And when a number of prescription medications are taken at the same time, it gets complicated, even for the professionals.
Ask again about any adverse effects when medications are being taken in combination.
Using the internet to source information is a valid strategy as well.
When you read the side effects of some drugs, it's scary - even knowing that the drug companies have to cover as many bases as they can to cover their legal liabilities.
Being proactive is very important.
Any prescription (or non-prescription drugs) that have the following side effects will, naturally, effect sleep: stress, anxiety, depression, nervousness, restlessness, drowsiness, hangover effects, hangover itself, jittery feelings, hyperactivity, synthetic highs, sleep disturbances, central nervous system stimulation, muscle activity, abnormal dreams, lethargy, somnolence (sleepiness), decreased libido, fatigue, psychotic episodes - the list goes on.
Here are some of the ways Prescription Drugs can effect Sleep: oStress can be a negative side effects of medication that decreases libido, causes weight gain, causes sexual dysfunction, or causes physical side effects such as nausea or vomiting.
oCertain prescription drugs (i.
e.
SSRIs like Celexa, Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft) can increase insomnia by promoting a sense of restlessness, agitation, or nervousness.
These symptoms range from moderate to severe and can have a lasting negative impact on your quality of sleep.
oTaking antihistamines for allergies can cause drowsiness.
Unfortunately, because of this side effect they have the potential for abuse by insomniacs.
While not addictive, they can cause a drowsy, hangover effect, and you might find yourself reliant on them for a quick way to fall asleep.
This is a short-term solution that doesn't explore the real reason for your sleep disorder.
Before you can solve the reason for your insomnia, you have to first discover it.
Covering the problem with antihistamines only delays the inevitable.
oPrescription drugs that cause depression include some cholesterol-reducing drugs, immunomodifiers used to treat hepatitis B and C, MS drugs, carcinoma (e.
g.
some interferon drugs), HIV drugs, etc.
o Recreational drugs, which include prescribed drugs, effect sleep.
Used in combination with other drugs, which is sometimes the case, the effects become unpredictable and complicated.
And after taking upper party drugs, there's often an inclination to take sedative ones later, so that you can 'sleep' - a potentially dangerous cocktail.
If you're in this situation you'll need some help to come off the habit.
Just know that help is out there if you look.
oSleeping pills themselves are addictive.
"Addictive" also means that they become less effective over time, with some people needing more of them to achieve the same result.
Take care when coming off sleeping pills by asking your healthcare professional for individual attention while you withdraw.
There are a number of adverse reactions to coming off sleeping pills including rebound insomnia and panic attacks.
There are websites dedicated specifically to help you with this process, including the work of Professor C.
H.
Ashton on benzodiazepines.
Joan E.
Gadsby wrote the book Addiction By Prescription which documents her 18 year addiction to sleeping pills.
You might also find homoeopathic help to come off sleeping tablets.
If you intend to come off sleeping pills, do it gradually, and ensure that you have help and supervision with the process.
If you are taking anti-depressants and sleeping pills, Professor Ashton suggests coming off the sleeping pills totally first, then coming slowly off the anti-depressants (they are addictive as well).
It can be a long process.
oEven while being closely monitored by a physician, it's possible to end up reliant on prescription medication.
If you suffer from insomnia or other sleep disorders, it's important to establish the cause(s).
Insomnia is a symptom of something else.
You need to establish a solution to the underlying problem, not to the insomnia symptom.
Avoid mindlessly popping pills as a "remedy", because you can often make the condition worse.
Consider the toll insomnia is taking on your life, and know that you can be helped.
You don't have to live with sleepless nights.
Just be careful not to take a harmful approach at solving the problem.
Seek out an expert in sleep disorders, and know you don't have to accept insomnia as a normal part of life, because it isn't.