The Mayo Clinic provides the following examples of common over the counter sleep aid options as well as potential side effects: There are a wide variety of OTC sleep aids available. As is true with any substance, there are risk factors and potential unwanted side effects associated with taking sleep aids which exponentially increase when the substance is abused. Should Ambien be ineffective for any reason, there are a variety of alternatives that may prove to be more effective, including over the counter (OTC) medicines, and prescription medications. When an individual is prescribed Ambien, it is done so because it is considered the best possible option. There is no substitute for Ambien that will be best for everyone, as each person has distinct needs. Also, don't drink alcohol while taking sleep meds or take a sleep drug with other meds they might interact with dangerously, including antidepressants and certain antibiotics. Use caution if you drive the next day you might still be drowsy.Ambien (generically known as zolpidem) is a non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotic, central nervous system depressant used to treat certain sleep problems, such as insomnia. Follow instructions closely, starting with the lowest recommended dose for only a few days at a time, and taking them only if you allow yourself at least 7 or 8 hours of sleep. Reserve sleeping medications for short-term bouts of sleeplessness, such as those caused by jet lag, anxiety after the death of a family member, or a job loss. Studies suggest that CBT helps 70 to 80 percent of people with chronic insomnia, and effects are long-lasting, with few-if any-downsides. With CBT, you work with a licensed sleep therapist, learning about habits or attitudes that may compromise your sleep, and keeping a sleep diary. Mike recommends first trying to improve your sleep hygiene: going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, avoiding that late-afternoon cup of coffee, limiting alcohol, and sleeping in a dark, peaceful bedroom (that means no smartphones and tablets in bed).įor chronic insomnia, Best Buy Drugs recommends cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a first-choice treatment. If your doctor rules out other conditions that may be affecting your sleep, consider nondrug measures before popping a sleeping pill. That way, he or she can rule out any underlying conditions that may be causing your lack of sleep, for example, anxiety, depression, restless legs syndrome, and even heart disease. No matter your age, Malani recommends adding any concerns about sleep to the list of topics you discuss with your doctor during regular checkups. "And not discussing it can potentially lead to health issues (related to sleep) not being identified and managed." "If older adults believe that these changes are a normal, inevitable part of aging, they may not think of it as something to discuss with their doctor," Malani adds. But that's a harmful misconception, says Preeti Malani, M.D., chief health officer and a professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at the University of Michigan. What's more, only 26 percent of those polled spoke to their doctor about ways to improve their sleep. In the University of Michigan poll, more than half (54 percent) of adults 65 and older said they believed poor sleep was a normal part of aging.
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