Side Effects Of Sleeping Pills

Tingling In The Extremities

Patients taking sleeping pills might feel tingling in their extremities or a burning sensation. Zolpidem is the medication in sleeping pills that most commonly causes tingling or burning in the feet, hands, legs, or arms. Tingling in the hands or feet is medically known as paresthesia of the fingers or toes. When it isn't caused by a medication, the tingling might be related to peripheral neuropathy or other nerve disorders. Peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage that most commonly manifests in the feet of diabetes patients.

Other conditions that can cause burning, numbness, and tingling in the hands are vascular diseases, Raynaud's disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. If discontinuing the sleeping medication doesn't make the tingling sensations stop, patients should talk to their doctor to rule out a more serious underlying cause.

Dry Mouth

Patients who use sleeping pills might experience dry mouth. Some doctors prescribe antidepressants like amitriptyline, mirtazapine, and trazodone for patients with insomnia, and these medications are most likely to cause dry mouth. When dry mouth occurs, the patient's mouth doesn't produce enough saliva, and there may be a feeling of stickiness in the mouth. Bad breath, difficulty chewing and swallowing, sore throat, and changes in taste could occur.

Patients who have dry mouth for a prolonged period may be at an increased risk of tooth decay. To treat dry mouth, patients can use over-the-counter or prescription mouthwashes or artificial saliva to lubricate the mouth. Switching to a different type of sleeping pill could alleviate this side effect.