Everyone experiences insomnia from time to time. However, if it starts to become a pattern and occurs more than several times per month, it can start turning into a regular pattern that needs to be broken. Acute insomnia that lasts a short amount of time is not necessarily a big deal. However, chronic insomnia can progress to the point of what is termed sleep deprivation, which can have serious consequences for your health.
Attitudes to Medications
The question of whether or not sleeping tablets are safe will in part depend on one’s perspective about taking over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications. Some people do not hesitate, thinking that that is what medications are for, so why not get relief?
Other people are reluctant to use over-the-counter and prescription medications because they are concerned about the risk of side effects. These medications can also be costly over time, and perhaps even be addictive.
A Healthy Approach to Insomnia Relief
In many cases, insomnia can be relieved through lifestyle measures designed to help a person fall asleep and stay asleep. These can include avoiding caffeine, stress relief techniques, and practicing what is termed good sleep hygiene.
Good Sleep Hygiene
Good sleep hygiene involves trying to establish and stick to the same habits or routines before going to bed each night, in such a way that the person is calm and relaxed and the body and mind have picked up signals that it is time to go to sleep.
Good sleep hygiene can include:
- Having a regular bedtime
- Having a regular time to get up each morning
- Going through the same routine each night, such as brushing your teeth, washing your face, taking a hot shower, or having a hot bath and soak
- Going to the bathroom so you don’t need to get up in the middle of the night
If all of these and other lifestyle measures fails, then it might be time to consider trying over-the-counter or prescription sleeping pills.
Are Sleeping Pills Addictive?
Sleeping pills can be addictive in two ways. The first is a mental dependency on the drug. A person might come to feel that they can’t fall asleep without it.
In the second instance, the medication might actually become physically addictive; that is, contain substances which would lead to painful withdrawal if the medication were stopped.
Benzodiazepines
In some cases, a sleeping tablet can be both mentally and physically addictive. The older generation of sleeping pills such as benzodiazepines are noted for their addictive qualities. These drugs include Halcion, Xanax, Klonopin, and Ativan.
These medications need to be taken under the close supervision of a doctor. Dependence can result in withdrawal symptoms and even seizures if a person suddenly stops taking them. In general, only a small percentage of people suffer from dependence and withdrawal, provided that they take the medicine as prescribed in normal doses for the shortest period of time until normal sleep patterns are restored.
Z-drugs
The three most common sleeping pills are:
- Ambien (zolpidem)
- Sonata (zaleplon)
- Lunesta (eszopiclone)
They are known as Z-drugs to help people “catch z’s” or sleep. These drugs can be best described as sedative-hypnotics and can become addictive if not taken with caution.
Antidepressants
The most commonly prescribed antidepressants for insomnia are:
- Amitriptyline (Elavil)
- Mirtazapine (Remeron)
- Trazodone (Oleptro)
All of these alter brain chemistry and can lead to physical and mental dependence.
The best way to avoid mental dependency is to try to establish normal sleep patterns regularly, as we mentioned above. If you still can’t manage to fall asleep or stay asleep, discuss non-addictive options with your doctor.
