At some point in time, you would find yourself asking if you have to take sleeping pills in order to help you cope with the symptoms and effects of insomnia. You are not alone. A lot of people out there are also asking this type of question to themselves.
Before going out to buy any type of over the counter sleep medicine or taking out that prescription of sleeping pill that your doctor have given you, make sure that you list down all the significant point of consideration in taking the plunge, or in this case, popping the pill.
Remember that many kind of conditions cause insomnia. Old age, depression, anxiety, stress, pregnancy and menopause in women, jet lag, shift work, are conditions that usually cause you to feel various symptoms of insomnia, at diverse levels and periods. Aside from such conditions, insomnia can also be due to another type of sleep disorder, obstructive sleep apnea being one of the foremost sleep disorders that can also trigger insomnia sleep disorder.
Furthermore, some things in your lifestyle and habits can also lead to sleep deprivation or sleeplessness. Situations like excessive intake of caffeine, substance abuse, and alcohol addiction can lead to insomnia, among other health troubles. Meanwhile, you may be affected with a health or medical condition, which you are not aware of yet, but is manifesting itself through insomnia symptoms.
After having a clear diagnosis of your condition and rooting out the particular causes of your insomnia, your doctor would start giving you recommendations for its treatment.
One of the options he would likely give you is providing a prescription for several types of sleeping pills. This is so, unless you have an underlying medical condition. In this case, what is important is treating that other medical condition, instead of focusing on treating the insomnia, itself. Most probably, your doctor would be sending you off to see another specialist in this case.
Now, it would entirely depend on you if you would take your doctor's word of recommendation on which sleeping pill to take. You need to think about several factors carefully before making a final decision.
First, remember that these sleep pills would only offer you a quick or instant relief from the symptoms of insomnia, like the inability to fall asleep. Oftentimes, you would be able to fall asleep, but somehow, you will still not be able to continue staying so. Because the chemical properties of the sleep pills interfere differently with the sleep controls of your brain, it is not surprising if you become wakeful in the nighttime even with taking a sleeping pill.
In addition, if your insomnia is largely because of the way, your lifestyle is and the various unhealthy sleep habits that you keep, then it is much better to concentrate on changing these habits and consider making lifestyle adjustments in order to improve your sleep. Gradually, you would also be totally healed of your insomnia.
However, if you cannot cope well on the effects of having to change your lifestyle, behaviors and habits, you can probably consider taking sleeping pills for only a short while.
Keep in mind that most sleeping pills have addictive properties, after prolonged use, or after a certain period of using them, you might find yourself being able to sleep without taking such and needing higher doses of it. Your body can develop tolerance for it and later, you will find that the usual dose do not work anymore on you. Moreover, if you stop taking them, you start to feel withdrawal symptoms.
Make sure that you have covered all these factors and are adequately prepared for unpleasant effects when taking sleeping pills.
About the Author
Gerrard Mackenzie is the author of the eBook Supercharge Your Sleep and has taught thousands of the stressed-out, tired and overworked how to overcome their sleeping difficulties and get a better night's rest. He is also a great promoter of the power nap.
2 months ago
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