What are the risks and benefits of taking sleep aids?

Category: News, Healthy Living, Sleep Center
Posted On: Jun 29, 2022
Written By: Dr. Cecilia Tran

If you need a little extra help getting better sleep at night, you're not alone. A new survey by the American Academy of Sleep and Medicine suggests nearly two-thirds of Americans are taking sleep aids. More than 2,000 adults across the US participated in the survey. The top choice, Melatonin, followed by prescription medication. Nearly 40% said the pandemic caused their use of sleep aids to increase.

Are sleep aids safe to use?

When taken by healthy adults, sleep aids are usually safe for short-term use if they are used as directed. However, given the potential for side effects, it's always safest, regardless of the type of sleep aid to take it under the guidance of a health professional who can review your situation and discuss the benefits and risks of specific sleep aids in your unique case.

Diphenhydramine and doxylamine aren’t recommended for people who have certain health problems, including closed-angle glaucoma, peptic ulcer, and urinary retention.

In addition, sleep aids pose risks for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding

Might pose risks for people over age 65, including increased risk of dementia

There is no sleep aid that is universally the safest. Depending on your personal health situation, certain drugs may have more risks than others.

How effective are sleep aids?

Sleep aids are not a magic cure. But they can be effective.

Sleep aids available without a prescription can be effective for an occasional sleepless night. However, there are a few caveats.

Most sleep aids available without a prescription contain antihistamines. Tolerance to the sedative effects of antihistamines can develop quickly. The longer you take them, the less likely they are to make you sleepy.

What are the potential benefits?

The primary benefit of most sleep aids is that they induce drowsiness to help you fall asleep or increase the likelihood that you will stay asleep through the night.

By improving sleep in the short-term, many sleep aids can help alleviate daytime drowsiness and impaired thinking from sleep deprivation. They may help reset your sleep schedule, enabling you to get more sleep.

However, most sleep aids are not meant for long-term use. Treatment for sleep disorders like insomnia often combines a sleep aid with practical steps, such as improving sleep hygiene, that can help you get quality sleep every night without relying on sleep medication.

What are some potential side effects?

Potential side effects can vary based on the specific sleep aid and whether the person taking it has any other health problems or medications that they take. In general, there are potential negative effects that can occur with almost all sleep medications, although the likelihood of these effects may be higher with some sleep aids

Lingering next-day effects
Confusion or loss of coordination
Abnormal behavior
Allergic reaction
Drug interaction

Potential risks:

Some sleeping pills may have detrimental effects on other health conditions. A number of sleep medications are tied to worsening symptoms of depression, and prescription sedatives can cause suppressed breathing that can exacerbate sleep apnea.

Some may be habit-forming- this may lead to the drug being taken for too long or at too high of a dose, increasing the risk of side effects

Are there any sleep aids out there that are better than others?

The best sleep aid is the one that is most tailored to your needs, including the nature of your sleep problems, your age, your overall health, and any other medications that you make take.

Where should I start if I am having trouble sleeping?

Start with your healthcare provider. Before prescribing a specific sleeping pill, your doctor will take note of existing mental or physical health concerns and ensure that the sleep aid will not interact with any medications you are currently taking.

And in some cases, the best way to get better sleep may not involve a sleep aid at all. Non-medical treatments are often effective, and your healthcare provider can review your options for both medical and non-medical treatments

Dr. Tran specializes in Primary Care at Touro. She attended LSU School of Medicine and completed her residency at LSUHSC and is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.