Insomnia affects roughly 15-30% of the general population around the world, and yet, so many people find themselves struggling to find ways to get adequate rest. With a condition like insomnia, you likely have tried a lot of treatment options: light therapy, meditation, and other lifestyle changes. But what if this doesn’t work? Are sleeping pills an alternative to use for treating insomnia, and if so, how do they work, and when should someone use them?
If you’re eager to answer these questions, you have come to the right place. In this article, we’ll explore sleeping pills and insomnia, including how these medications work, why people use them, and when you might consider implementing them in your life. We’ll help you understand the benefits, the risks, and what you should do to help your sleep disorder. First, let’s look at how sleeping pills work and why they are so helpful to people with sleep disorders.
How Sleeping Pills Work: Exploring the Ways They Help Insomnia
For those who have struggled with insomnia, you know the challenges: the sleepless nights, the fatigue during the day, and the feeling of restlessness that never seems to go away. However, with sleeping pills, you might be able to overcome some of this. Sleeping medications prescribed to you for symptoms of insomnia work in a unique way, specifically in how they encourage sleep and work to improve your sleep quality over time.
Fortunately, short-term use of sleeping medication can help initiate, maintain, and improve sleep quality, ensuring that you start to avoid sleep disturbances and poor sleep quality. However, in the long term, there are some challenges, as experts have found proof that these medications can increase one’s mortality, including cancer and all-cause mortality rates.
Moreover, other researchers have found that sleeping pills don’t necessarily get rid of insomnia for some patients but could do little to alleviate specific symptoms (Source: BMC Geriatrics). So, they may help with insomnia, but they may not. Because of how they interact with your body, they can encourage sleep, but they do not alleviate all concerns of insomnia or all symptoms that you might experience. However, there are different types of sleeping pills that have different effects on the body.
Do All Sleeping Pills Work the Same?
The truth is that not all sleeping pills work the same. You might come across four main types, whether you purchase them over the counter or are prescribed. These include sedative-hypnotics, melatonin receptor agonists, antihistamines, and orexin receptor antagonists. Let’s explore each of these types and how they work with your body to encourage rest:
- Sedative-hypnotics: These prescriptions are beneficial because they can help with sleep maintenance and total sleep duration. For elderly patients, the main side effects found were headaches and morning drowsiness, but overall, these prescriptions helped encourage sleep (Source: PubMed).
- Melatonin Receptor Agonists: Because these medications specifically focus on the melatonin receptors in the brain, they work more with your body than other medications. In the short term, they led to better sleep onset latency and sleep quality while having fewer side effects because they are regulated as nutritional supplements, not prescriptions.
- Antihistamines: While it might seem like an odd choice for a sleeping medication, antihistamines work pretty well. They block specific receptors that limit histamine, then causing sedation and sleepiness. This is why you feel sleepy after taking allergy medication, but these medications should only be used in the short term because tolerance can be built up over time.
- Orexin Receptor Antagonists: Similar to sedative-hypnotics, these sleeping pills are meant to help encourage sleep onset and maintenance. While they are helpful, people should be cautious. These medications are known for specific adverse effects, like worsening symptoms of depression, sleep paralysis, or even challenges for those with sleep apnea (Source: PubMed).
Now that you know a little bit more about these medications and their impact on your sleep and insomnia symptoms, how do you know when you need to use sleeping pills? Let’s explore some reasons and warning signs that you should turn to sleeping pills—even if just temporarily.
When Should You Use Sleeping Pills to Help Your Insomnia
If you have struggled with your insomnia symptoms for quite some time and you’re struggling with getting regular sleep, it might be time for you to get certain medications to help you. However, with any significant decision like this, it’s best to consult your primary healthcare provider. They will be able to guide you to what they recommend while providing you with complementary options that could better support your sleep through lifestyle changes.
Typically, if you are considering whether sleeping pills are the right move for you, it comes down to a few warning signs that you’ll notice:
- Impairment to Your Daily Routine: If your lack of sleep is beginning to weigh heavily on your daily performance, then it is time to consider getting a sleeping pill.
- The Presence of Other Diseases or Disorders: For those who struggle with life-threatening diseases like cancer, their fatigue may be even harder to overcome than those with insomnia, requiring them to use sleeping pills to support their health.
- No Other Options: If you have tried absolutely everything—including lifestyle changes and dietary alterations—then it might be time for you to try sleeping pills. Even if it is just temporary, it could give your body the relief it needs.
Take Steps to Protect Your Sleep Health and Alleviate Insomnia
With so many challenges due to insomnia, sleeping pills might be the best alternative for you, especially if you have exhausted all other options. While we have shown you plenty of support that exhibits the benefits of these medications, it’s always a good idea to seek guidance from a trusted healthcare professional. Based on your unique situation, they can provide insight into what they recommend and what sleeping pill best fits your needs. What will you do to help alleviate your insomnia symptoms?
