Insomnia can have a devastating impact on your life, but so can sleeping pills when used unsafely. The media loves to hype up stories of celebrities overdosing on sleeping pills and other drugs, making it much harder to make a genuine assessment of benefit versus risk. Here are some of the facts you need for an informed decision (https://longevity.technology/lifestyle/5-risks-of-long-term-sleeping-pill-use-and-how-to-avoid-them/).
Sleeping pills can also be called hypnotics and are sometimes known as sleeping aids. They come in a few categories, with the most famous being benzodiazepines. Nonbenzodiazepines are a class of hypnotics with similar effects to benzos despite having different chemical structures. GABA is a prominent example. Then there are melatonin receptors like ramelteon. Melatonin plays an important part in our sleep-wake cycle.
It’s generally not a good idea to take sleeping pills for extended periods of time, but in the short term, they may allow you to fall asleep quicker after going to bed, stay asleep longer, reduce the impact of sleep disturbances (such as stress or jet lag) and generally enhance the quality of your sleep. The effects will depend on the type of hypnotic and your own personal biology.
If you use sleeping aids for too long, your body may build up a tolerance. This means you’ll need larger doses to secure the same effects. Sleep problems may become worse without the hypnotics. You may even become dependent, which can lead to more serious addiction. This also means that trying to stop could lead to withdrawal symptoms.
Some sleeping pills have a negative impact on your heart rate and blood pressure, while others damage your respiratory system and can contribute to sleep apnea. Elderly people who have taken benzodiazepines in particular may be at increased risk of cognitive impairment and even dementia. Sleep aids also have a complex relationship with mental health and have been associated with the development or aggravation of anxiety and depression.
These side effects are why most experts recommend non-medication treatments for sleep problems. These include relaxation techniques like breathing exercises, lifestyle changes like physical exercise, environmental adjustments such as changing lighting and noise levels, learning to practice good sleep hygiene, or cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I).
Most importantly, if you do want to try sleeping pills, always consult a medical professional, follow usage instructions carefully, and make sure you are fully informed first.
