OTC Sleep Aids: Are They Safe?
17 Aug 2009
There are many people who suffer from insomnia and insomnia is one of the most frustrating things that plague people. It should be easy to sleep, and usually nothing comes more naturally than sleep does. Yet sometimes, you find yourself tired and wanting to sleep, but unable to.
If you are one of the many people who experience insomnia, one option you can try is to over the counter sleep aids. These OTC sleep aids are usually available at pharmacies and are easy to find. While they usually work well, and can help you get to sleep within a short period of time, they also can have some side effects that you should know about.
The biggest issue most people have with sleeping pills is that they can lead to prolonged drowsiness. When you wake the next day, you may feel extremely groggy and struggle to roll yourself out of bed. You may have a hard time functioning that day, or end up taking a nap and messing with your sleep schedule even more.
With sleep aids, there is no known way to avoid these side effects. Some people try to simply beat it with caffeine. While that’s not going to cause any serious harm in the short-term, it does send confusing signals to your body. If you have to use OTC sleep aids on a regular basis, it can lead to more negative side effects.
Over the counter sleeping pills are only meant to be used for two or three nights in a row, at the most. If you are having trouble sleeping past for a longer period of time, then you should talk to a doctor. It can be tempting to just keep using the sleep aids because it is easier, but that doesn’t mean it is a good idea.
When you continue to take them for longer, not only do you risk developing a dependency on sleep aids but you also may be ignoring the symptoms of a more serious illness.
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