Whether this is all in my head or not, I have to take sleeping pills to sleep. They are generic OTC pills, usually the simply sleep stuff made my tylenol or something along those lines. I usually take between 1-2 pills, 25-50 mg of dyphenhydramine at a time, which is the recommended dosage. I have tried to not take them but I can't sleep, and I'm sure it's a mind thing now as well as the fact they actually work. But really, how bad would it be if took them everyday? Would it hurt my liver (or kidneys, I can't remember which one is for meds) any more than birth control or any other meds that we take an a daily or near daily basis?
2006-11-28 18:38:48 · 10 answers · asked by #1 Buckeye Fan!!!! 4 in Health ➔ Other - Health
Insomnia is complicated. See a doctor that has experience in insomnia. If you insist on taking sleep meds OTC then at least do not take tylenol (acetominophen) products every night. The sleep agent in ANY over-the-counter med is diphenhydramine, also known by the brand name 'Benadryl'. Take this med ALONE without the tylenol (acetominophen is liver-toxic if taken chronically).
Here are some other 'natural' sleep aids that you could try, which can be found in most health stores: Melatonin and Valerian root (look these up).
I lecture on insomnia, and I can tell you that the subject is far too complex to be fixed in this forum.
2006-11-28 18:49:30 · answer #1 · answered by michalakd 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sleeping pills, whether mild or not can be harmful to your health when taken for a prolonged period of time. First, they produce, as I suspect in your case, a psychological dependence where the person is unable to sleep unless he takes sleeping pills. Second, the physical, and more dangerous, dependence and tolerance that regular intake of barbiturates can lead to more serious trouble. Tolerance means you have to take more pills to produce the same effect. The danger of damaging your liver, and the nerve centers of your brain is thus increased. As in other drug taking habits, the danger of overdose is always present.
The sleep produced by sleeping pills is not really helpful, since it produces a stupor like sleep where the person does not dream.Thus, the brain is unable to unwind and remains tense and when the person awakes from his drug induced sleep he is not refreshed and rested, but still wound up.
What is best for you if you cannot sleep is take light exercises. avoid heavy meals at night, and even change the position of the furnitures in your bedroom to find the coolest and most relaxing location for your bed.Or better yet, consult a doctor and find out the cause of your sleep disorder instead of resorting to barbiturates and other sopoforics that will definitely damage your health AND psyche in the long run.
2006-11-28 19:00:19 · answer #2 · answered by ruben 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That depends on several factors. If you are talking over-the-counter pills, they are pretty safe. Essentially they are nothing more than Benedryl (like you take for allergies). Antihistamines make you drowsy & help you sleep. Now, if you are talking about prescription sleeping pills...that can be another story. These should only be used in the short-term & always under the supervision of a doctor. The newer ones such as Ambien are not supposed to be addictive, but any of the benzodiazapines such as Xanax or Valium are VERY addictive & probably shouldn't be used for sleep.
2016-03-29 15:23:01 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take the simply sleep ones ( or walmarts generic which is half the price). Stay away from the tylenol pm though because tylenol is harmful to your liver and they would cause harm if used daily. The simply sleep are not, my husband takes them nightly for about 2 years now with no ill affects. Happy dreams!!!
2006-11-28 18:42:47 · answer #4 · answered by mac 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have to take them sometimes to get back on a normal sleep cycle. I do remember reading an article for a paper I had to write, it said something to the nature that OTC sleeping pills gave users a higher mortality rate. I have no info on precription sleep aids, but I am checking into those myself.
2006-11-28 18:43:43 · answer #5 · answered by Stephanie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sleeping pills arent that bad, but if u abuse the use of it, u can get serious health problems, I recomend more exercies, and not eating at all before u go to bed, drink a lot of fluid, I recomend water, and if u are hungry, eat, but not too much, fruits or naturale juices are find, good luck
2006-11-28 18:42:13 · answer #6 · answered by rage_adicction 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a friend who had liver problems took a lot of them and he died. dont know if thats what did it, but he never took them then he did about 7 or 8 of them and he died.that night.every kind of drug hurts your liver to a degree, but if you have a healthy liver, it will probubly take along time to hurt your liver.
2006-11-28 18:44:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They disrupt your REM (rapid eye movement) sleep which is not good.
Get off the sleeping pills except for emergencies.
2006-11-28 19:24:13 · answer #8 · answered by ixlinxs 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its very bad and addicitve. It hits your brain. Do not be dependent on them.
2006-11-28 18:42:42 · answer #9 · answered by Subhasis G 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take melatonin instead.
2006-11-28 18:46:28 · answer #10 · answered by Sun 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋