If you’re finding that you’re not able to sleep properly for the last few nights then it might be time to consider taking over the counter sleeping aids to help you sleep. Sleep is a necessary part of daily life so that you can recharge, let your body heal itself and get ready for another day of life. If your sleeping pattern is interrupted then your life and your health will, eventually, suffer as a result. If you’re not happy with taking sleeping tablets prescribed by a doctor then you could also use an over-the-counter also known as an OTC sleep aid to help you sleep properly each night.
Always bear in mind that any sleeping tablet is only ever meant for short term use – using them over the long term can have undesirable side effects and the same is true of OTC sleeping pills. They’re also not recommended for use by anyone under the age of 12 for obvious reasons.
That being said over the counter sleeping aids can provide you with a quick (you won’t need a prescription) and cost effective way of falling asleep at the end of a long day.
So how do over the counter sleeping aids work?
The vast majority of over the counter sleeping aids have what’s called a sedating antihistamine as their primary component. This is the same substance that’s part of hay fever and cold and flu medication that can cause drowsiness. If you’ve ever taken Nyquil you’ll know what happens – you’re asleep before you know it and your body gets a chance to heal itself. OTC sleeping aids work in the same way because the antihistamine in them promotes restful sleep without actually knocking you out cold like some prescription meds can.
Some of the most popular OTC sleeping pills are products like Nytol, Unisom and Sominex but there are plenty more like these on the market. If you’re having trouble picking one over the other then ask your pharmacist for their opinion and advice.
Possible side effects of over the counter sleeping aids
Are there any downsides to taking an antihistamine based sleeping tablet? The main one is that you could wind up feeling sleepy the next day – even after you’ve had a good night’s sleep. And this side effect can be quite severe in some people – to the point where they can’t actually work. Other side effects include loss of balance, dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, dizziness and even becoming forgetful the following day.
You could also suffer from something called rebound insomnia when you stop taking this type of OTC medication – this is when your insomnia returns after you stop taking the pills. You also need to bear in mind that taking this type of medication could be masking a potentially more serious medical or psychological condition that needs proper treatment.
Another side effect of sorts is that your body will build up a tolerance to OTC sleeping aids pretty quickly and with regular use they’ll become less and less effective at helping you sleep each night. The exact same is true of prescription sleeping pills and that’s why medication like this is never really intended for long term use. Over time you’ll have to take a larger dose of the same medication to get the results you want and this can lead to people overdosing just out of the desire to get asleep. While you’re treating the symptoms of your insomnia you should also be working to get the source of the problem diagnosed so you can get back to falling asleep naturally instead of self-medicating yourself asleep each night.
You also need to be extremely aware of drug interaction when buying over-the-counter medication. If you’re already taking prescription medication for other conditions an OTC sleeping pill could interact negatively with it and have serious side effects. It’s important to understand that just because a sleeping aid is available OTC it doesn’t mean that it’s 100% safe or that you don’t need to be careful when taking it.
With any medication that can cause or help cause sleep you should only ever take the recommended dose and you should also never drink alcohol when taking any type of sleeping tablet – OTC or otherwise. Also if you’re currently pregnant or you’re breast feeding a baby then taking this type of medication should only be done under strict medical supervision and advice.
What is the best OTC sleep aid?
So what is the best over-the-counter sleep aid? Ideally you should be looking for a non-habit forming sleeping pill but any medication with continued use can create a dependency on your part. Talking to your doctor and your pharmacist and getting their advice is always best so that they can steer you in the right direction from the very start.
Over the counter sleeping aids do work and they will help you fall asleep each night but the critical thing to remember here is that they should only ever be used for a maximum of about 90 days and to really cure your insomnia you need to get to the heart of what’s causing it in the first place.