Has anyone had experience of herbal sleeping tablets causing clinical depression?

Question

Twelve years back now, I started experiencing bad insomnia so I started taking an over-the-counter herbal sleeping tablet. (I won't mention the brand, as I think there may be rules against it on Yahoo Answers.) The insomnia gradually developed into full-blown depression and over time, the tablets ceased to work. it was years later that I read in the national press that these tablets could have been the cause of the depression. Has anyone else had experience of this?

It's not Nytol, no. Natrasleep is what I was taking.

(I haven't used Nytol myself but I imagine it's fine. Just make sure you read any info. that came with it.

I've found this link, which answers my question really: - http://www.mypharmacy.co.uk/alternative_medicines/medicines/n/natracalm_natrasleep/natrasleep.htm I'd still like to hear of anyone's experiences though please. Here's a link re: Nytol. http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100001911.html

Answer 1

I know someone who had a problem with an OTC allergy medication causing severe depression. It seemed to come out of nowhere, and I don't know how he connected the two, but when stopped taking it, the depression went away. So, I suppose depression can be a side-effect of all different types of meds.

Personally, I don't trust herbal supplements. I'm not opposed to them in theory, but their production is fairly unregulated, and the they don't go through the same testing as prescription drugs. Some of them don't even contain the herbs they say they do, or the dosage that the manufacturer claims.

Even if you are sure that an herbal supplement contains exactly what's on the ingredient label, though, the side-effects are still a big unknown, and can lead to experiences like yours with sleeping tablets. So, if I need a medication, I'd rather take my chances with a prescription from my doctor than an "herb" that could be anything.

But, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. :-)

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

Stress is a common thing that people experience every day, be it from your work, your personal life, or your financial situations. Some times the stress weighs you down so much that you do go into a depression or time of feeling hopelessness. This happens to ALOT of people, believe me, being in the Army myself, I see it a lot. The best thing you can do is to relieve this stress the best way you can, if you cannot remove yourself from stress causing situations or the environment then try and think of things that make you calm or relaxed. If this doesn't work then try exericising, the best type of exercise to do when relieving all that added stress is generally running, but anything works. If at the very least none of this helps, then you can go see a physciatrist for some medication that will help you in relieving these feelings of depression, anxiety or stress. I personally don't like the medications just because of the side effects so I do my best to try to personal intervene in my own stress and depression related problems and I do pretty okay now. It also helps if you just have some one to vent to or a girlfriend or wife you can go home to and help you forget all of those stressful situations for a little while. Any little bit of relief, even if its short, is a great amount in a stressful lifestyle.

Answer 3

A cup of chamomiletea before bed will just relax you a little and help you drop off to sleep. There have been no recorded side effects reported by anyone useing chamomile.

Answer 4

have been taking nytol for a couple of nights now had brill sleep,but now,ooh my god,should i stop!!!!!!!

Answer 5

its not nytol is it?, i bought some today.i havent started taking them yet.