Sleep Aid Choices

If you are looking for a sleep aid to help deal with short-term sleeplessness, chronic insomnia or a sleep disorder, you should start with the information below.

There are several sleep aids to consider – and they usually fall into one of three groups below. Rarely, if ever, is one particular sleep aid going to be the silver bullet that consistently gets you the rest you need. More likely, you may try several, and have varying levels of success.

Also, keep in mind that a sleep aid is rarely meant for more than short-term use. It is a means to an end, and the end usually involves changing lifestyle habits or addressing underlying medical or psychological problems.

Prescription sleep aids

There are several types of prescription medications for sleep – and they all affect the body in different ways.

The older style medications, benzodiazepine hypnotics, will really knock you out. These include Restoril and Valium. However, they also affect your sleep structure so that you never get into the deep – or restorative – sleep phase. Since you are stuck in less restorative sleep, you won’t feel particularly rested when you get up.

These older style medications also stay in your system longer, causing grogginess the following day.

Non-benzodiazepine hypnotics are newer prescription medications. Ambien and Lunesta are two of the more popular non-benzodiazepines. These do not affect your sleep structure significantly so they allow restorative sleep. However, it is important to find one that exits your body in a timely manner.

For a lot of people, the sleep aid that works for them one week does not work the next. Simply upping the dosage is not a good idea either.

Even though bizarre behavior (sleep-walking, sleep-driving and sleep-eating), depression and physical dependency are common side effects of prescription sleep aids, they can be beneficial for some cases of sleep disorders.

Choosing a prescription sleep aid should always involve input and supervision from your health care provider.

Natural sleep aids

Probably 40 to 50 different herbs and supplements are available today that are advertised as natural sleep aids. Of those, only about four or five actually have any scientific evidence supporting their claims.

Since herbs and supplements are considered food and not drugs, they are not currently evaluated by the FDA. Therefore, manufacturers’ claims of effectiveness, purity, and consistency usually need verification.

Melatonin, a supplement, and valerian root, an herb, are two natural sleep aids that have shown effectiveness. Another is the chamomile herb, which is usually ingested as tea.

Many people choose to go the natural route – and with good reason. Herbs and supplements are much gentler on the body. Natural sleep aids do not have nearly the dangerous effects as that of prescription or OTC pills, however, there may be side effects such as grogginess the next day.

It is advisable to consult with a health care provider when taking herbs and supplements, as they may interact with other supplements or medications that you may already be taking.

Find out more about Natural Sleep Aids.

Over-the-counter sleep aids

Over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aids do not require a prescription and are generally considered safe. They are, however, meant for short-term use only. An OTC sleep aid usually provides a relaxing effect, but “drying out” and next-day drowsiness are common side effects.

The active ingredient in most OTC aids are antihistamines. Common OTC medications include diphenhydramine (found in Nytol and Sominex) and doxylamine (found in Unisom and Nighttime Sleep Aid).

Some OTC sleep aids combine pain relievers such as acetaminophen or alcohol with the antihistamines. These additional pain medications are not necessary for sleep problems.

Besides drowsiness, OTC sleep aid side effects commonly include dizziness, constipation, blurred vision and dry mouth. Confusion can also occur, especially in the elderly.

As some of the side effects can be severe with OTC medications, it is advisable to consult a pharmacist or health care provider. Also, their safety over long-term use has not yet been determined.

In conclusion…

Any sleep aid that you use will be most effective when taken sparingly and for a short period of time. However, if nothing else has changed while taking them, insomnia usually returns once you stop.

Research tells us that optimizing our sleep habits and bedtime behaviors result in better long-term sleep results than medication – and without the side effects. Information covering sleep habits and behaviors can be found in the Sleep Hygiene section.