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Prescribed Sleep Medication or Natural Sleep?
My primary care physician prescribed a sleep medication called Zolpidem. He said to take one 10mg tablet nightly as needed for sleeping difficulty. Zolpidem is a sedative-hypnotic, which, works by slowing activity in the brain so that one can fall asleep. This sleep medication is somewhat strong and it does have side effects such as “a drugged feeling”, constipation, diarrhea, gas, heartburn, and changes in ones appetite, unusual dreams heavy menstrual bleeding, and many others. My doctor did not recommend any natural cures for my sleep problem. Sleep Medication Physicians know that sleep medication will put you to sleep, but they also know that sleep drugs should be used only after natural aids fail to help you with your sleep. In my opinion, my doctor wanted to solve the problem quickly or his sleep training was not extensive. Other prescribed medications such as, AMBIEN CR and Lunesta are useful, but you should always try solutions where you can buy over the counter remedies instead of doctor prescribed drugs, which are powerful with many side effects. Over the counter sleep medication are chocked full of chemicals that are intended to put you into a relaxing sleep. They sometimes contain tryptophan a man-made chemical that helps increase serotonin and melatonin, which the body uses to help you get to sleep. If you lack these two chemical parts it often makes it difficult to get a good night's sleep. Most over the counter sleep aids come in addition to painkillers like the ones that soothe headaches or ones that reduce aching muscles. One should only think of using OTC sleeping medication only after things like routine and relaxation techniques are not effective in helping one get to sleep. If over the OTC medications are not providing you with results that are helping you sleep, then you may have to discuss the problem with your doctor. Your doctor can offer you a number of options to try in order to get a good night's rest and to find out what is the root cause of your sleeplessness. If you have ruled out things such as your bed and bedroom's lighting and have straightened out your sleeping routine there may be other things that could cause your inability to sleep.
For example, you may experience restless leg syndrome or it might be that you are quite simply a light sleeper where tiny noises cause you to wake up. If the situation get's to that point, then you will probably need more help by getting a prescribed sleep medication from your doctor. These may be painkillers, muscle relaxants as well as medications strictly listed as sleeping aids and they are made to work quickly and effectively. These medications are usually designed to put you to sleep fast by manipulating your mind and body so that it is in a position to make the most of REM sleep. These types of medications resolve several issues pointed out in people who sleep lightly. They do, however, also have their disadvantages in that they can make you sleep too long or too deep if you need to get up prior to your full eight hours of rest. It is also important to remember that any prescription medication should not be taken every day and are prescribed only when you need a few days sleep. People would be smart to look into many different things to help you sleep short of prescription medicines.
What is your "best" sleeping remedy?Do you have a great story about getting some zzzzzzzz....? Do you have a secret for getting to sleep? Do you have a cure for snoring? Share it!
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