Is it OK to take sleeping pills every night? Can You Be Overdoing It With Sleeping Pills?
More Americans are having difficulty getting a good night's sleep, a national health survey found.
And the amount of people who use prescription sleeping pills continues to increase -- currently about 4 per cent of Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But are they safe? And are they effective?
Results of research done on the health dangers of sleeping pills vary widely, from one which found barely any risk.
Research confirms that fatal overdoses are an issue. There are dependency problems and possible side effects to consider.
Additionally, according to Consumer Reports, over the long run, sleeping pills might not even bring their intended benefits.
If you're taking sleeping pills, it's important to only use them with your doctor's OK and according to instructions. If you take them they could actually make your sleep problems worse.
Whether you're abusing sleeping pills so, how can you know? Here are some warning signs:
- You're taking additional doses to see if that works better, or another pill in the middle of the night if you wake up.
- You're taking a prescription pill AND an over-the-counter sedation product at the identical time.
- You are using pills to treat stress.
- You are taking sleeping pills or when you will need to be alert.
- You have taken a sleeping pill every night for at least 7 to 10 days, or several times a week for months or weeks.
