What are the long term effects of sleep aids?
Every night I bite an over the counter sleep aid in half. I find I can't sleep without it. Melatonin gives me nightmares and I haven't been able to find an alternative solution.
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Answers ( 2 )
I am right there with you. I found that instead of taking a pill, I prep my mind for sleeping. I turn off the electronics a few hours before bed. This is my quiet activity time. I then prepare a cup of decaf coffee. I have a love for coffee but am too old to keep drinking it at night. If you prefer tea, stick with no caffeine. By drinking a warm liquid, it programs our bodies to relax. If your craving a snack, stick with bananas, toast, even oatmeal. It may sound strange to eat these items at night, they have been proven to provide a melatonin effect.
Most importantly, make your bed your haven. Only use it to sleep, not to browse on the internet while putting your legs up. This is a great place to read or do your crosswords until your sleepy. I also recommend investing in a weighted blanket. They have been used extensively with people that have seizures. I personally love mine.
If you are having issues with insomnia, I recommend speaking to your doctor. While all the usual advice- the sleep routines, herbal and OTC medications and all- are often enough, some folks have a problem sleeping, and it is called insomnia, and it needs to be addressed as a medical issue.
As we age, any sleep issues become more apparent, and often become entangled in other age-related issues, so it is just smart to speak with a licensed health care provider. Lack of good sleep can impact other health issues more than before; for instance, lack of sleep contributes to inflammation, and issues such as arthritis, hypercholesterolemia and hypertension are linked to inflammation. So proper sleep becomes important as we age. Please see a doctor, and, if treatment from that person does not help, ask for a referral to a sleep specialist- sometimes, s/he can identify problems your family doctor cannot.
As to the long term effects of sleep aids, few do not have increasing tolerance levels, meaning you need more and more to gain the same level of effect. Melatonin is notorious for it, as is diphenhydramine (Benedryl) and pretty much all prescription medications. Which is where a sleep specialist comes in; one of my sisters has a script for Lunesta (eszopiclone), but is only allowed 90 tablets per year. She has seen a sleep specialist and been provided with non-pharmaceutical interventions which assist her, and the Lunesta is only for when those interventions do not work by a certain point in the night (she told me it was before 0100 hours, but she set her limit at 0200 hours to keep herself honest. What the hey, she's retired, she can sleep late).
Again, please see a physician for insomnia; that is the person who can help you most.