Prescription Sleep Medications: Uses and Cautions

Prescription sleep aids often serve as a last resort for those who struggle to sleep. Explore what to be aware of before taking these prescription drugs. 

WEB-1055 Prescription Sleep Medications Uses and Caution

For those who struggle to fall or stay asleep, your doctor may recommend trying a prescription sleeping aid. They can help when you’re stressed, traveling, or experiencing other disruptions that otherwise keep you from drifting off to sleep.  
 
However, as with all medications, there are some things to be aware of, including side effects and risks. 

When Are Prescription Sleeping Pills Used? 

If you struggle to fall or stay asleep and have tried improving your sleep hygiene in order to address these challenges without success, your doctor may suggest trying a prescription medication. Some medications help with falling asleep, others increase sleep duration, and some can do both.  
 
Different types of prescription sleep aids include: 

  • Doxepin 
  • Ramelteon 
  • Triazolam 
  • Suvorexant 
  • Zolpidem 
  • Lemborexant 

Each type of sleeping pill works differently. Some types may cause drowsiness, while others instead silence the parts of the brain that keep you alert. Given the different mechanisms of action, you may find that one type of sleeping pill is more effective than another.  
 
There are over-the-counter sleep aids available, as well, but prescription sleeping pills are stronger. However, they’re not recommended for long-term use because they have a risk of dependence and addiction and do not cure insomnia. Instead, they offer a short-term solution to help you get more sleep; if you have long-term sleeping problems, you should pair prescription sleep aids with other interventions to improve your sleep.  

Side Effects and Risks 

As with all medications, prescription sleep aids come with some possible side effects. While the side effects may vary across the types of sleeping pills, some common side effects include: 

  • Headaches 
  • Dizziness 
  • Diarrhea 
  • Nausea 
  • Severe allergic reaction 
  • Prolonged drowsiness 
  • Hallucinations 
  • Poor memory 
  • Agitation 
  • Suicidal thoughts 

Since sleeping pills can affect your judgment and reaction time the following day, it is important to avoid anything that requires great focus, such as driving, until you know how you react to sleeping pills.  
 
Some people may develop parasomnias while taking prescription sleeping pills. For instance, those who take Z-drugs may walk, talk, eat, or drive while asleep, which can put you in a very dangerous situation.  
 
One of the greatest risks of prescription sleep aids, however, is their risk of dependence, which can lead to abuse and misuse. Additionally, if you suddenly stop taking the medication, you may experience symptoms of withdrawal. Given the risk of dependence, sleep aids with this possibility are not typically recommended for those with a history of substance abuse.  
 
It’s also important to be aware of what cannot be taken while on a sleeping pill. Specifically, alcohol and sleeping pills should not be combined because alcohol can increase the sedative effects of the pills. Even a small amount can cause dizziness and confusion, and in some cases, the combination may lead to dangerously slowed breathing and unresponsiveness. If you’re taking a sleeping pill, avoid alcohol.  
 
Opioids, as well, are a combination to avoid with sleeping pills. Opioids are a class of pain-relieving drugs that include hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine, but also include illegal drugs such as heroin. It can be dangerous to combine opioids with sleeping pills because it increases the sedative effects and, like alcohol, can lead to slowed breathing or unresponsiveness. In severe cases, it may even cause breathing to cease.  

Tips for Taking Prescription Sleep Aids 

If you have been unable to improve your sleep through lifestyle changes and improvements to your sleep hygiene, a prescription sleep aid may be an option to reclaim your nights. Here are some tips to remain safe while taking them. 

  • Get a medical evaluation. Before taking any sleeping pills, it’s important to first see your doctor for an evaluation. In some cases, they may be able to find a cause for your insomnia, which can then be treated. 

  • Avoid alcohol. Alcohol should not be mixed with sleeping pills because it can increase their sedative effects. In severe cases, the combination may lead to dangerously slowed breathing and unresponsiveness. 

  • Take sleeping pills only before bed. Sleeping pills can impede your decision-making process, both in how well you can evaluate your surroundings and the speed at which you make decisions. If you take a pill during the day, you increase your risk of dangerous situations. Always take your sleeping pill in accordance with your doctor’s guidance, which is typically right before bed. 

  • Take a sleeping pill only when you have enough time to sleep. Prescription sleeping pills remain in effect for a certain amount of time, no matter whether you have given yourself enough time for a full night of sleep or not. If you take a pill when you don’t have 7 to 8 hours to sleep, you risk waking in a state where you cannot focus entirely. However, some pills are short-acting and designed to help with middle-of-the-night wakeups, so these are safe to take when you don’t have seven more hours to sleep. Always check with your doctor on when to take a sleeping pill. 

  • Follow your doctor’s orders. When taking prescription sleep aids, it is important to follow your prescription precisely. For example, some types of sleeping pills are only intended for short-term use, and using them for too long may increase the risk of dependence.  

  • Quit carefully. With the risk of dependence, it’s important to stop taking the prescription sleep aids carefully and with your doctor’s assistance. In some cases, you may need to gradually stop taking the medication.  

Prescription Sleep Aids: What to Know

Prescription sleep aids often act as a last resort for those who struggle to fall or stay asleep. If they find that improving sleep hygiene and addressing health concerns does not improve sleep, a doctor may then recommend trying a prescription sleep aid.  
 
While these medications can help you fall and stay asleep, they don’t come without their risks. There are side effects that you may develop in addition to the appearance or aggravation of sleep disorders. It’s also important to be aware of what is and isn’t safe to take while on a prescription sleep aid.  
 
If you think that prescription medication is needed to improve your nights, always discuss your options with a doctor to find the best course of treatment for you.  

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Written by

Jessica G

Medical writer freelancer who has written hundreds of articles on varying topics. Masters of Engineering degree in Biomedical Engineering.

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