Sleeping pills are medications that help in the management of insomnia. Mostly, they tend to be the best solution for anyone struggling to get a good night’s rest. However, they may present potential adverse effects to their consumers.
In this article, we would talk about certain toxic reactions you must beware of before subscribing to the usage of sleeping pills. The risks are stated below.
You may become addicted to sleeping pills
Have you ever wondered why doctors run careful diagnosis before prescribing sleeping pills? Well, it is because continual usage may breed overreliance on sleeping pills which could lead to worst insomnia cases, triggering a state of despair for consumers.
So before resorting to the usage of sleeping pills to manage insomnia, see a psychologist for therapy to address the underlying issues tied to it, or visit a sleep specialist to help you learn about sleep hygiene to help you improve your bedtime routine.
You can quickly build up tolerance
According to a practicing physician at Cleveland Clinic; Dr.Preeti Devnani, taking prescription sleeping pills over a long period of time, would make your body grow accustomed to the drug to extend that you’ll need higher and higher doses to get the same sleep-inducing effect.
Therefore it is advised that you shouldn’t take sleeping pills for longer than two weeks at the most. “Sleep medications should not be used long term. They should be taken on an ‘as needed’ basis and, if possible, not scheduled nightly,” Dr. Devnani says.
You’re at risk of experiencing an erratic behavior
It is worthy to note that some sleeping pills could lead to erratic behaviors like sleeping walking and amnesia. Experts therefore advise that you take notice of the type of sleeping pill you’ve been prescribed to know the accompanying side effects.
For example, Z-class drugs, such as Zaleplon or Zolpidem, have side effects like next-day sedation, dizziness, and memory issues, while orexin antagonists like Suvorexant can cause abnormal dreams or excessive daytime sleepiness.
You may feel Drowsy and less alert after taking sleeping pills
A side effect which is termed “the morning after” effect is mostly associated with sleeping pills. According to Dr. Devnani, people tend to feel drowsy, dizzy, and mentally less sharp the morning after taking sleeping pills.
However, he claims these effects could be acute if you don’t give yourself an eight-hour window of rest to get rid of the effects of the drug or if you end up taking another dose midway through the night.
To combat this, it is recommended that you stick to the prescribed dose and avoid taking a second dose.