Side Effects Of Sleeping Pills

Heartburn Or Indigestion

Sleeping pills may cause heartburn or indigestion, and benzodiazepines are most likely to trigger these symptoms. Most patients take sleeping aids shortly before bedtime, and the pills increase the patient's exposure to stomach acid during the overnight hours. When stomach acid is increased, the cells lining the esophagus could be damaged. Studies have shown sleeping pills worsen acid reflux and cause the patient to experience more heartburn and indigestion at night. Patients who take these medications should speak with their physician about trying non-drug approaches to improve sleep. If sleeping pills are necessary, they should be used at the lowest effective dose, preferably for a short time.

Patients who have heartburn while on sleeping pills may need to make lifestyle adjustments to reduce the severity of this side effect. Experts recommend eating meals at least two or three hours before bedtime, and it is helpful to eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day. Foods that are high in fat or spicy could trigger heartburn, and patients may also want to avoid onions, tomatoes, citrus fruits, chocolate, peppermint, and caffeine. If heartburn occurs regularly, the patient should have an assessment to determine the underlying cause of the issue.

Headache

Headaches are a common side effect of sleeping pills, and some patients may find they frequently experience morning headaches while taking these medicines. Headaches may occur in conjunction with grogginess or mental fog, and the pain could occur on one or both sides of the head. For patients taking zolpidem, headaches seem to be especially common in cases where the medicine has been used for less than thirty days, and taking zolpidem with alprazolam increases the risk of developing a headache. Female patients who are sixty years old or older have a greater likelihood of headaches than other patients.

To ease headache pain, patients may want to try placing a hot or cool cloth on the forehead, and it can help to lie down in a dark room. Meditation and other stress-relieving activities could be beneficial, and some experts suggest inhaling the scent of lavender. Over-the-counter pain relievers are typically effective in relieving headache pain, and patients should ask their healthcare provider if it is safe for them to use these while on sleeping pills. If headaches occur with nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, fever, or confusion, the patient should be urgently evaluated in the emergency room.