Over The Counter Sleep Aids - A Basic Overview

Sleeping problems affect quite a few people all over the world. For some folks, these problems are very serious. They consistently spend nights wide awake. Some of them may lie in bed trying to sleep while others don't even bother. Instead, they'll just spend the nights watching TV or reading or book. Over the counter sleep aids are not meant for men and women like this. If you experience sleepless night after sleepless night, chances are you should look into getting yourself a prescription sleep aid. These medicines, as you'd expect, need to be prescribed by a doctor. Common prescription sleeping pills include products like Prosom and Lunesta. The type of sleeping aid we're going to discuss today, though, is of the over the counter variety.

Over the counter sleep aids aren't designed for continual use.  They're essentially for folks who experience temporary insomnia from time to time.  We've all experienced points in our life where sleep just doesn't come for one reason or another.  I remember the first time I flew from Tokyo to L.A and back.  The jet lag was brutal!  In order to get back on a normal schedule where I wasn't constantly waking up, I decided to try a sleeping pill.  After a couple restful nights, I was able to discontinue use.  My body clock had returned to normal and sleeping was easy again.  Injury is another common reason to consider an OTC sleep aid.  It's quite difficult to sleep if you're in pain.  A pill can help you rest in situations like this.

Choosing The Right OTC Sleep Aid

There are a ton of different sleeping aids available today. Common names that you've probably heard of include Nytol, Sominex, Sleepinal and Unisom. Now while these products are all slightly different, they're essentially composed of the same materials. Sleeping pills like these are like a hybrid antihistamine sedative. If you've ever taken an antihistamine like Actifed before, you know how drowsy they can make you feel. Combining a drug like this with a sedative gives the sleeping pill it's power. Like an antihistamine, the drowsy effects do go away with continued use. This is why sleeping pills like Sleepinal and Nytol are really only to be used every so often. For serious problems, you'll need a prescription for a stronger drug.

Sleep aid side effects are something else that has to be considered when choosing the right medicine for your problem. One of the most common one's is drowsiness. Now, it's understandable that you'll be drowsy after taking the pill. This is just part of how it encourages your body to go to sleep. The problem some folks have, though, is a sort of "day after drowsiness". They basically wake up sleepy and remain sluggish throughout the day. This side effect can usually be dealt with by lowering the dosage of your OTC drug. Other common side effects include dry mouth and constipation. Generally speaking, these symptoms will dissipate once your body is used to the sleeping medicine.

OTC Sleeping Aids - Closing Thoughts

Now, while these products aren't quite as strong as their prescription counter parts, they can still be dangerous. Some people do develop dependencies with OTC sleeping pills. If used to often it can be difficult for some people to sleep without them. Make sure that you do a lot of research before buying a sleep aid. There is a lot of solid information on the Internet that can help you make this decision. And, of course, if you're not entirely sure, ask a doctor.

Sweet Dreams!