Prescription Sleep Aids
One of the fist questions that could be troubling you when someone talks about prescription
sleep aids is why should one use them? Especially when there are so many types of sleep remedies available that can be bought off the shelf without even giving a call to a physician?
People seek doctors help when:
None of the OTC sleep aids yield the desired results
When the sleep problems persist and the cause is unknown to the patient. The doctor then diagnoses the cause behind insomnia symptoms and the nature of the illness.
Types of drugs prescribed
Prescription products can be broadly divided into three categories:
Benzodiazepine drugs. They are mainly used for treating anxiety. Prosom, Dalmar, Doral and Restoril are common brands. Their mode of action is by slowing down the nervous system. Drug dependence, blurred vision, digestive problems are some of the expected side effects. Over and above daytime drowsiness, the symptoms of sleeplessness return once the therapy is stopped.
Non-benzodiazepine drugs. These target-specific drugs are not only effective but they are also eliminated from the body quickly. Thus chances of daytime sleepiness are vastly reduced. Lunesta, Ambien and Sonata ae some of the common brands prescribed. These drugs assure fewer side effects like dependency, daytime sleepiness, etc. Side effects include morning hangovers, headaches and nausea.
Melatonin receptor agonists. They work on the brain receptors that regulate and monitor the production of melatonin, a hormone that induces sleep. Essentially, the mode of action of these drugs mimics that of melatonin. Rozerem is a popular brand in this category. One of the problems with these drugs is that they are incapable of inducing sleep for long. Dizziness is common; depression may worsen and patients with liver disorders should be cautious.
Though antidepressants are not approved by FDA for the treatment of insomnia, doctors do prescribe this group of drugs if the sleeplessness is linked to depression.
Because of questionable safety records, absence of long-term safety data, drug dependence, etc of artificial sleep aids, many people try to solve their sleep problems with natural sleep supplements, available off the shelf. Melatonin, valerian sleep supplements are popular in this category. Though they are herbal and natural, there are risks and complications involved too. One should be completely familiar with the right dosage, allergic reactions with any of the ingredients, adverse drug reactions, etc before using such supplements.
Additionally, these natural products are not regulated or monitored by FDA. This increases their risk quotient further.
How to get the best out of these medicines?
The first step is to know exactly which sleep disorder you are suffering from, since sleeplessness as well as excessive daytime sleepiness is overlapping features present in several sleep disorders. For instance, insomnia symptoms could be triggered by a plethora of other sleep problems including narcolepsy, sleep apnea or even hypersomnolence.
Incidentally, these are a few of the most common, of the 70 sleep disorders. The only way to know the type of disorder is with the help of polysomnography, also called overnight sleep study.
Follow doctors instructions carefully regarding the time of intake, right dosage, time to start and stop medication, etc.
To prevent falls and injuries, take the medicines just before bedtime.
Never consume alcohol while you are on prescription sleep aids.
by: FredStewrat
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