Sleeping pills (hypnotics) belong to the group of psychotropic drugs. They act in the brain and ensure a better sleep by adjusting certain control circuits. However, taking sleeping pills is often associated with side effects. That is why strong drugs are only available on prescription. Herbal sleep aids such as valerian, on the other hand, are available without a prescription. In general, sleeping pills – whether synthetic or herbal – should only be taken when absolutely necessary.
Sleeping pills help with insomnia
Sleeping pills are substances that promote sleep and are therefore used to treat sleep disorders. Modern agents only induce sleep and no longer force it. Sleep aids can either be synthetically produced or based on herbal agents. While the latter are available without a prescription, synthetic agents – especially if they are stronger – usually require a prescription. Sleeping pills come in various dosage forms, including capsules, tablets and juice. Depending on whether there are problems falling asleep or staying asleep, drugs with different durations of action are used. Intravenously, sleeping pills are usually used only before certain examinations, such as a colonoscopy, or to induce anesthesia.
Wide range of sleep aids
Synthetic sleep aids are not a strictly delineated group of active ingredients, but can be divided into several groups:
- Benzodiazepines
- Non-benzodiazepine agonists
- Barbiturates
- Antidepressants
- Neuroleptics
- Antihistamines
In addition to the substances mentioned, there are a number of other sleep aids. As substances of organic origin, the amino acid tryptophan, the hormone melatonin and the melatonin derivative ramelteon are used. Other synthetic sleeping pills, which were more commonly used in the past, are nowadays either not used at all or only in particularly severe cases due to their side effects. The following is an overview of the major groups of synthetic sleep aids.
1. benzodiazepines: use only for short periods.
Benzodiazepines are among the most commonly used sleep aids. They have antianxiety, anticonvulsant, and sleep-inducing effects. Commonly used active ingredients are:
- Flurazepam
- Nitrazepam
- Temazepam
- Triazolam
They should only be used for a short time to treat sleep disorders, as they can be addictive if taken for a long time.
2. non-benzodiazepine agonists: lower risk of dependence.
Non-benzodiazepine agonists are also very commonly used to treat sleep disorders. Although they have a different structure than benzodiazepines, they attack the same receptors. Typical representatives are:
- Zaleplon
- Zolpidem
- Zopiclone
Compared to benzodiazepines, they have the advantage that their dependence potential is lower.
3. barbiturates: strong sleeping pills with neenwirkungen.
Nowadays, barbiturates are used as sleeping pills only when other sleeping pills fail to relieve symptoms. This is because they have unpleasant side effects and can also lead to death in the event of an overdose.
4. antidepressants: sleeping pills for depression.
Antidepressants not only help with depression, but also with sleep disorders. Especially amitriptyline, doxepin and trimipramine have a calming-dampening effect and thus a sleep-inducing effect. Antidepressants are used especially for sleep disorders caused by depression. Likewise, they are used when anxious-depressed mood develops as a result of sleep disturbances.
5.Neuroleptics: effective for mental disorders.
Neuroleptics are also not typical sleep aids, but are used to treat mental disorders. However, they can also help with sleep disorders because of their sedative-dampening effect. They are especially commonly used for sleep disorders caused by psychosis.
6.First-generation antihistamines as sleep aids.
First-generation antihistamines not only relieve allergic symptoms, but also have a sedative effect.Certain agents such as doxylamine, meclozine, and promethazine are also used as sleep aids because of this.
Side effects of sleeping pills
Because of possible side effects, sleeping pills should only be taken when absolutely necessary. Whether and how strong side effects occur always depends on the particular drug. In the case of agents that are broken down only slowly due to their long duration of action, tiredness, fatigue, dizziness, and impaired reactions may occur the next day (hang-over effect). Some sleeping pills, such as benzodiazepines, are relatively quickly addictive. They should therefore only be taken for a short time and under medical supervision. If longer-term treatment is necessary, other sleeping pills are often prescribed. These drugs usually have a lower risk of dependence, but often have more side effects. If you have been taking sleeping pills for a long time, you should not stop taking them overnight. Rather, reduce the dose slowly step by step to prevent unpleasant withdrawal symptoms (rebound effect).
Sleeplessness due to sleeping pills
Sleeping pills are increasingly used to treat sleep disorders these days. The drugs may help sufferers sleep better in the short term, but in the long term many drugs destroy the structure of sleep. For example, certain drugs such as benzodiazepines suppress the particularly restorative deep sleep phases. As a result, the quality of sleep decreases significantly. Due to the influence of the drugs on the structure of sleep, those affected can sometimes sleep even worse than before after stopping the sleeping pills. Often they then need further medication, creating a vicious circle. That is why sleeping pills should always be taken only as a last resort.
Nothing for liver patients and pregnant women
Pregnant women and nursing mothers should not take sleeping pills. Patients with liver disease should be sure to talk to their treating physician before taking them to avoid further damage to the liver. For people who have a history of addiction, only medications with a low risk of dependence are considered. Before taking a sleeping pill, be sure to check for possible interactions with other medications. Interactions occur with alcohol, among others, as well as medications that also have a central depressant effect.
Herbal sleep aids
Herbal sleep aids have the advantage of having no or only mild side effects. However, their sleep-inducing effects and duration of action are also less. That’s why they are usually used only to treat problems falling asleep, not sleep disorders. You do not need a prescription for herbal sleep aids; you can obtain them over-the-counter in pharmacies and drugstores. For the treatment of difficulty falling asleep, herbal sleep aids are suitable with:
- Valerian
- St. John’s wort
- Hops
- Melissa
- Passionflower herb
Usually you need to take the remedies for a few days to a few weeks before the effect.
5 home remedies for insomnia
With sleep disorders, you do not always have to immediately resort to sleeping pills. Often, the symptoms can also be treated well with home remedies:
- Make sure you relax sufficiently before going to bed. Listen to quiet music, read a book or do a few relaxation exercises.
- Ventilate thoroughly before going to bed. With fresh, cool air it sleeps better than if it is hot and stuffy. It may also help to leave a window tilted overnight.
- Exercise is healthy, but not right before bedtime. This makes namely awake and thus makes it more difficult to fall asleep.
- Drink a hot milk with honey before bedtime. On the other hand, refrain from caffeinated drinks and alcohol.
- Take a hot bath before going to sleep. Bathe at 35 to 38 degrees no longer than 20 minutes. As bath additives are hops or lemon balm well suited, because they make you sleepy.
With these tips, you may be able to manage your insomnia without the use of sleeping pills.
