|
There are many
treatments and
medications
available today.
Often patients
use white noise
devices or sleep
pillows as an
initial solution
to their problem.
If this doesn’t
work, they will
usually move
to a more serious
treatment. Among
the more popular
medications
are the sleep
drugs. Sleep
drugs are especially
successful in
helping people
who are having
an especially
hard time making
themselves sleep.
They use the
drugs for only
a short time
in order to
“re-train” their
body clock into
a normal schedule
of sleep. Then,
when they have
caught up on
their rest,
they try to
transition into
a natural method.
Over the counter
sleep drugs
are being used
by many people
who have an
especially tough
time sleeping.
It is important,
however, not
to become dependant
on these drugs.
An FDA warning
on sleep drug
risks is very
alarming as
it shows that
many people
become dependant
upon these drugs
if they aren’t
careful.
Medications
for curing sleep
problems are
of two classes;
benzodiazepines
and non-benzodiazepine.
Benzodiazepine
are usually
used for treatment
of insomnia
but can also
be used for
other sleep
disorders such
as in the case
of the drugs
Dolmane, Ativar,
Restoril, Doral,
Xanax, Halcion
and Prosom.
These types
of medication
are only to
be taken for
a short period
of time. Continuous
usage will very
likely cause
dependence and
addiction to
the product.
Other side effects
include a terrible
hangover!
Non-benzodiazepine
medications
are said to
be safer and
can cause less
dependence.
Examples of
these are Ambien,
Sonata and Lunesta.
They help to
reduce the struggle
of falling asleep
without increasing
the risk of
dependence.
It is still
important, however,
that you don’t
rely on these
pills all the
time. They may
still have different
side-effects
and characteristics
that may be
harmful to your
long-term health.
Ambien is a
sleeping pill
which is an
excellent aid
to better sleep.
It affects you
later on in
the night and
helps you to
sleep more soundly.
Sonata is also
a good medication
used by people
who have difficulty
dozing off.
Finally, Lunesta
is approved
by the FDA for
patients who
are not able
to get any sound
sleep and is
also a lot safer
than the Benzodiapines.
Compared to
the Benzodiazepines,
non-Benzodiapines
allow a patient
to have a worthwhile
sleep and, at
the same time,
avoid a lot
of the risk
associated with
the Benzodiapine
medications.
They also don’t
cause hangovers
for patients
using them!
There is less
risk of dependence
and addiction
to the drug
and less harmful
side effects.
Aside from all
these other
typed of medication
for sleep problems,
there are still
a few others
which should
be mentioned.
Rozerem is another
medication that
is approved
by the FDA.
It targets the
brain and controls
the sleep-wake
cycle of the
body. Because
it targets the
person’s brain
and is found
to be safe for
older adults,
it has also
become very
popular. Still,
this product
is not for use
by people with
severe cases
of sleep Apnea
or hepatic impairment
or by anyone
sensitive to
such medications.
A number of
other medications
are benadryl,
atarax, and
zopiclone. A
person can also
use chloralhydrate-oral
but the FDA
warns individuals
of its adverse
effect on the
body.
Always be informed
about the warnings
of each drug
so that you
will not go
wrong in using
any of them.
Also, don’t
overuse any
drug! Anything
taken over its
recommended
dosage is not
good. Sleep
medications
can be a great
benefit to those
suffering from
the many disorders
out there today.
Still, always
remember that
an overdose
of any drug
can pose more
danger to one’s
health and should
be properly
prescribed by
a doctor.
|
