Side Effects Of Sleeping Pills
Sleeping pills are often prescribed to help when disruptions, travel, and stress interfere with an individual's sleep. They may also be prescribed for chronic insomnia. However, it's typically recommended for those with chronic insomnia to also seek behavioral therapy and employ behavioral changes, as these tend to be more effective than a sleeping pill alone. Other treatments for insomnia vary depending on the underlying cause. Insomnia is generally a symptom, not a disease by itself. Treating the symptom with sleeping pills is just one portion of solving it. Sleeping pills can be vital in helping you rest, though. Every prescription sleeping pill on the market has risks, particularly for those with kidney disease, liver disease, and other medical conditions. Thus, patients should always discuss new treatments with their doctor.
Daytime Drowsiness
One of the most common side effects of sleeping pills is daytime drowsiness. This typically happens when the effects of the drug have not worn off by the time the individual who took it wakes up. Sleeping medications are hypnotics that induce the urge to sleep, and if the medicine is still in the patient's system when they wake up, they'll be tired. The best way to minimize the risk of drowsiness is to take the dosage at the correct time.
Most sleeping pills are meant to be taken immediately before bed. These fast-acting sleeping medications are powerful so patients should only use them for a full night of sleep, which means they should have a solid seven to eight hours before they need to wake up. However, some patients don't take the medication before bed, and instead, they toss and turn for a few hours, then take a pill as a last resort in the middle of the night. Then, the medication is still at full strength when they wake up, which can cause them to oversleep, miss their alarms, or be extremely groggy.
Issues With Attention Or Memory
Many individuals experience issues with attention or memory the day after they take a sleeping pill. These cognitive effects may be worse if they haven't gotten a full eight hours of sleep. In addition, some sleeping pills can cause patients to sleepwalk or develop amnesia about nighttime events. There have even been situations where patients drove their vehicles while still asleep. Memory can be impaired by sleep deprivation as well. If patients are not getting enough sleep regularly, they are more likely to have issues with concentration and focus whether or not they take a sleeping pill.
Taking a sleeping pill too late in the night can cause the same daytime effects they get with sleep deprivation. In addition to drowsiness, these include impaired concentration and short-term memory. Depending on the circumstances, patients may also find their long-term memory is impacted. Issues concentrating aren't necessarily a reason to stop taking the drug, though episodes of amnesia and engaging in behaviors while still asleep are. Even one episode of amnesia is enough to make stopping the drug a good idea.
