Sleeping Pills – See Related Topics

As the name suggests, sleeping pills are used to help people who have difficulty sleeping – a medical condition call insomnia. Sleep disruptions such not being able to easily fall asleep, or not staying asleep can have serious side effects such as poor concentration, mood swings, irritability, and extreme lethargy. This is why so many people turn to sleeping pills when seeking relief from these symptoms.

It’s well known that sleeping pills are readily available. They are sold over the counter and by prescription. Over-the-counter medications are intended for short-term use with temporary bouts of sleeplessness. Long-term use of sleep-related abnormalities is usually treated with prescription sleeping pills.

Generally, prescription sleeping pills are benzodiazepines (benzos) or non-benzodiazepines (non-benzos) – drugs that stimulate the GABA receptor of the user’s brain. This stimulation results in an increase of sleep-inducing chemicals and allows the individual to get a restful night’s sleep. These are potent drugs with the potential for misuse and addiction, so they should not be prescribed for long durations.

There is just one alternative to the benzo/non-benzo products – a newer drug called Rozerem (ramelteon) which is designed to act totally differently by triggering melatonin production. Melatonin deficiencies are seen as the cause of disruptions of a person’s circadian rhythm. Supplementing the melatonin production helps the user get back on their sleep cycle by means of using a non-addictive and non-restricted medication.

Sleeping pills can become addictive if not used as recommended. Whether you want to learn more about them, or you suspect someone you know may have developed and addiction, The Recovery Village has answers to your inquiries. For more information, see our related topics or call our hotline 24/7 to speak with a specialist.