HOW BAD IS IT TO TAKE SLEEPING PILLS EVERY NIGHT?
Over-the-counter antihistamines haven’t been well studied for their effects on sleep, and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends against using them for insomnia. Many can linger in your system and cause daytime grogginess and falls. Long-term use can carry the risk of memory problems, confusion and constipation, all of which may be more pronounced in older adults. Some studies have suggested long-term antihistamine use is associated with increased dementia risk, though the link is not definitive.
While they aren’t considered sleeping pills, many people also take supplements like the hormone melatonin for insomnia. Experts said it’s important to note that many supplements have not been rigorously tested for effectiveness and may not contain the amount of melatonin listed on their labels – or any at all.
Prescription pills have their own side effects, from dizziness and headaches to gastrointestinal problems. You also shouldn’t mix them with certain drugs and substances, including alcohol, opiates and antidepressants. Doing so can further depress the central nervous system and result in slowed breathing, which can be dangerous, Dr Neubauer said. And prescription sleeping pills can trigger sleepwalking or lead to severely impaired driving.
The body can become accustomed to these pills over time, so people often end up needing higher doses to get the same effect, Dr Rodriguez said. With some of these drugs, especially benzodiazepines, this dependency can escalate into addiction. That’s why it can be so difficult for people to come off sleep medication and why many stay on prescription pills for years.