Insomnia Medications: Pros and Cons

If insomnia has been an ongoing problem for you, you might be willing to try just about anything simply to get a little sleep. But before you get desperate, make certain you realize how each alternative works.

The number one thing a lot of people do if several nights of insomnia is causing daytime sleepiness is visit the drugstore for an nonprescription solution. Sleep aids might help at the start, but they don’t address the underlying reason for the condition.

A sleep aid should not be utilized as a fix for insomnia. It might provide some relief initially, but you still need to figure out the cause of your sleep issues. For your long term health, you don't want to have to rely on medication to help you sleep at night.

Many individuals become hooked on the medication and can’t sleep without them. Others have undesirable side effects, or experience complications due to interaction with their prescription meds.

Antihistamines, a familiar remedy for allergies, is a common ingredient in over the counter sleeping aids. They make you sleepy and help to make sure you remain 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 helps you feel sleepy by stepping up the natural chemical process of your brain. Using a sleeping aid for ongoing insomnia relief is generally safer than using over the counter remedies; but it can lead to dependencies.

It’s uncommon these days, but your doctor could prescribe a tranquilizer if your insomnia is serious enough. This causes drowsiness by slowing your nervous system. 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.

If you want to avoid the medical choices and select something more natural, you could look at an herbal remedy for your insomnia. 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.