Sleeping Pills: Is it really the solution for insomnia?

[RobertoME]

Today I want to talk about this topic: Sleeping Pills. Are they good and is it really the best solution for insomnia?

I got a friend who has insomnia and she hates to take sleeping pills, but so far is the only solution she has found effective after trying different methods to improved her sleep.

I had a similar episode years ago and I took pills for a few days, after a week my insomnia was gone for good, being able to sleep like a bear again. So I didn't felt the side effects of taking pills in long terms. My friend in the other hand is always drowsy and in the morning still is a bit sluggish when she is getting ready to going to work.

I was reading in different health articles all the side effect it may present talking specifically for health.

Apparently the side effects can hit women harder than a men due to the metabolism. Also other of the problems that I found is that can caused the same drowsiness that my friend has in the morning and in the worst of scenarios, may present an erratic behavior. So I wonder if this is really the solution for insomnia and why is prescribe in some cases by doctors as a solution?

I want to know your opinion on this matter and what would be the best practices to avoid sleeping pills.

[DanielleinDC]

I'm no expert, but I don't know that that's a healthy solution. I use aromatherapy oils for trying to sleep, and it seems to help. During the drier months, I use a humidifier, and the noise of the motor is akin to white noise, so that helps.

[Ukase]

My father passed along his insomnia to me; yet, I never suffered from it until I turned 49. I suspect it really has more to do with my having to use the restroom and then not being able to get back to sleep. 

I've taken fenergan - which is spelled incorrectly - prescribed to prevent nausea from a pain killer, prescribed after a hernia repair. One of these, and I tend to sleep through the night - but when I wake up, I'm pretty drowsy until about noon. 

I've read a lot about sleep this past year. Here are a few tips - most of which are common sense, some maybe not so much. 

• A blindfold/sleep mask - I wear one on the weekends. It helps me sleep past when the sun cracks through the shade. 
• I put the alarm clock on the floor so I can't see it when I'm reclined on the bed. I can reach down to turn it off when the time comes. 
• Binaural beats - there are a lot of apps that supposedly induce the delta waves our brains require for sleep. I certainly fall asleep faster with them - but they don't do anything to keep me from waking in the middle of the night with a full bladder. 
• If I go to bed at 9, my last fluid/food intake is at 6:30pm. 
• I do nothing else in my room but sleep - and if necessary, some laundry folding. 
• I don't work out after 5pm. 
• Stress - I honestly think this is a big part of my insomnia. I tend to think, rethink and overthink every thing, when it really doesn't do any good. I can say with certainty, the fewer money troubles I have, the better I sleep. If my credit score is over 740, I sleep all through the night. When it's been dinged due to high utilization because my work doesn't pay the bonuses when expected, my sleep is impacted. When my daughter moved to Denver, this also had a short term impact on my sleep. When my other daughter got married and bought a house, I slept a little better. 
• Nutmeg - I haven't tried this, but will try it tonight. Nutmeg!

[A_Lurker]

My primary care physican (who could be completely full of it) says that chronic insomnia hits women far more often than men.  He tells me women with chronic insomnia usually can't turn the brain off at night.  They go to bed thinking about the day, what they are planning for tomorrow, next week, etc.  For me he's not far off.  Nights I can't sleep I'm usually turning stuff around in my head and I just don't get over.

When it gets really bad I'll take melatonin for up to a week to try and get my cycle back in sync.  If that doesn't help I'll add an over the counter sleep aid, but usually on the weekends.  Once I'm back into a more normal rythym it will take care of itself.  However, tonight is a perfect example - I need to be up around 5am and I haven't headed to bed yet!

[modelmalina]

I am a person that does not like taking pills in general. Unless I have to. I try to find alternative ways first.

Perhaps a glass of warm milk or tea. A good book. Soothing music, a few suggestions. They may not always work for everyone. But it may be worth a try. If nothing else works perhaps the pills will.

Sleeping pills maybe a good temorary soultion if nothing else works. I have never tried them yet.

I also heard about the side effects and things. Hence my hesitation on trying them. But others may not

have these effects. I think it's up to the person.

[SantiR]

A great natural replacement for sleeping pills is passiflora or passion flower, with some valeriana root. Boil both and drink that tea. It shall relax you and help you get some sleep. 

[DanielleinDC]

My boyfriend has used passionflower and valerian; he says they do give him vivid dreams, though.

[SantiR]

@DanielleinDC Yeah! Those are pretty strong plants, in the right amount it can help plus it's natural. 

Vivid dreams doesn't sound that bad though haha, I think that's better than having an addiction to sleeping pills! 

Did that helped your boyfriend to get more sleep? 

[DanielleinDC]

@SantiR I think they helped him get better quality sleep.