Hi friends,
Medicines
for sleep or ‘sleeping pills’ are viewed by different people in different ways.
For a lot of people, sleeping pills mean tablets that are addictive and damage
one’s organs such as kidney and liver. For others, taking them is a habit even
though it may be harmful. Still others discount the presence of any harmful
effects and use it. Yet another group of people might feel it as safe as long
as it is prescribed and supervised by a qualified expert. So what is the
reality? We shall discuss this today.
While
the term ‘sleeping pill’ is often used to refer to any medicine that can put
one to sleep, they are chemically very different and have different properties.
The first thing to understand here is that medicines that induce sleep often
have additional properties, which may be beneficial, or viewed as side effects.
Depending upon these properties, certain medications may be primarily used for
sleep while others, although inducing sleep, have primary effects that are used
for some other purpose. Another way of looking at these medicines is to divide
them in to two groups – addictive or habit-forming, and, non-addictive or non
habit-forming.
Many
classes of medicines can be classified under the heading of sleeping pills that
are addictive. Usually, these medicines have additional actions like
anti-anxiety and muscle relaxant effects. Some of the newer ones have an almost
exclusive sleep effect. The duration of effect of these medicines varies from
couple of hours to an entire day or even longer, facilitating selection based
on the exact need. The older medicines were very dangerous in overdose, but the
newer ones are far less so. But they are all addictive, some more and some
less. This means that the following things are likely to happen on regular use:
need to increase the dose periodically because of inadequate effect at the
previous dose (tolerance); anxiety, sleeplessness and seizures (fits) on abrupt
stoppage (withdrawal symptoms). Daytime sedation may lead to dulling of
intellectual functioning, errors at work, accidents and falls, with their
attendant implications. Because of this risk, these medicines should not
ordinarily be used unless benefits clearly outweigh the risks. When they do
need to be used, they are not recommended for more than 4-6 weeks.
Many
medicines can be used for the purposes of inducing/ improving sleep and are not
addictive. These medicines include certain antidepressants, antipsychotics and
miscellaneous agents such as anti-histaminics (often used in the treatment of
allergy/ common cold). They are often used in much lower doses than in cases of
treatment of depression/ psychosis and must be used with caution, under the
supervision of a qualified psychiatrist. They can also have certain side
effects which can be minimized/ abolished with an expert prescription and
supervision. Their biggest advantage is that they are not addictive and their
additional antidepressant properties can be a boon, as sleep disturbances are
often associated with stress.
Irrespective
of the kind of medicine, they should only be used when their use is clearly
warranted and the benefits clearly outweigh the risks. For most situations
where sleep disturbance is temporary, medicines must not be used. In any case
sleep hygiene measures (http://drsathyaprakash.blogspot.in/2016/06/how-to-get-good-nights-sleep.html)
must first be instituted before medicines are tried.
So
going back to the original question? Are medicines for sleep addictive? Some are,
some are not. Are they safe? If they are properly prescribed and monitored,
they are safe, but it is best to avoid the addictive ones as far as possible.
So that was the discussion for this week
friends. Hope you liked it!
Please let me know if you want me to
discuss any specific issue by typing in the comments section below.
Write in at stayhappy.prakash@gmail.com
So until next time, STAY HAPPY!
Dr. Sathya Prakash, MD, Dip. CBT
Consultant Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist
and Behavioural Sciences Expert
