The Drawbacks of Sleeping Pills

Copyright (c) 2008 Writer fill

Sleeping pills are commonly used for people who find trouble sleeping. However, there is evidence to show that, over time, these pills are not as beneficial as they claim to be. In fact, they will ultimately disrupt your natural sleep cycle making a good night's sleep much more difficult to come by in the long-term.

Scientific studies in recent years have shown that long-term use of sleeping pills can have many negative effects, and that those who suffer from insomnia may even be better off without them. For a start, they can become addictive. This is due to the chemicals they are made of, which also lead to a decrease in brain cell activity throughout the day.

The longer you have been using them, the more likely it is that your body may become used to the medication and that they may become ineffective. To combat this problem many people increase their dosage, though it is important to be aware that this will dramatically increase the risk of physical and mental side effects. Overdose can even prove to be fatal. In fact, 1000 people each year in the US die as a result of overdose on sleeping pills.

Even when they do their job, they may still be unable to replicate normal sleep patterns. Our brain waves will be altered, making us miss out on the stages of sleep that are required naturally. This can leave us feeling drowsy when we wake, and can also lead to other side effects including blurred vision, palpitations and dizziness.

Sleep is not natural when it comes as a result of using them. Rather, it is the drug sending us to sleep. This leads to our body developing a dependency on the pills in order to fall asleep in the future, which is another reason why it can be so difficult to stop taking the pills. This leads to an effect known as 'rebound insomnia' which can be difficult to treat.

The rebound insomnia itself means that you lose your natural ability to fall asleep after you have weaned yourself off the sleeping pills. The natural process no longer takes place, and the mind feels as though it needs them in order to let the body sleep. This effect can be worse than the insomnia experienced before the pills were ever taken.

When they are used you may find that your daytime function may even get worse, where feelings of fatigue, lethargy and a lack of concentration are all common side effects. No medication is able to replicate the natural effect of a good night's sleep, though many people take these pills in the hope that there will be a quick answer to their problems.

The truth is that they do not do all that they claim, and can be detrimental to your health. In scientific studies placebos have been shown to be more effective and producing a good night's sleep. So next time you find yourself having sleep troubles, try to remember that it is always best to have a natural sleep even if that is difficult.