What are the benefits and risks of over-the-counter sleep medications?

You can walk into a drugstore and choose from an array of sleep aids, offered without prescription. The main ingredient of over-the-counter sleeping pills is an antihistamine. Antihistamines are generally taken for allergies, but also make you feel very sleepy. Common over-the-counter sleep medications are Sleep-Eze, Sominex, Nytol, and Unison; they contain antihistamines such as:
diphenhydramine hydrochloride,
diphenhydramine citrate, or
doxylamine succinate.
In general, over-the-counter sleep medications are not a good choice because they:
Are not intended for long-term use.
Interfere with mental alertness during the day, so you should avoid driving and other similar tasks. You may also be at risk for falling.
Reduce the quality of your sleep by reducing time you spend in deep sleep.
Use over-the-counter sleep medications only for transient or short-term insomnia and in conjunction with changes to your sleeping habits. Be sure to pay attention to your body’s physical response to these sleep medications. Immediately discontinue use if you experience any severe adverse effects.

The free relaxing music and nature sounds on this website have been carefully chosen for their ability to aid sleep, reduce stress, and provide a relaxing atmosphere for activities such as yoga, tai-chi, and meditation.
Rhythmic drumming creates a hypnotic effect to help induce sleep
The sound of the vibraphone is calming, and may reduce stress
Rain acts as a white noise machine that masks household noises such as refrigerators, heaters, and creaking floors
The booming sound of thunder helps to mask loud stereos, barking dogs, and traffic
The sound of steady, rhytmic ocean waves provide a sensation of relaxation and calm.
Birds and windchimes are comforting sounds that provide a relaxing and stress free atmosphere
An atmosphere of rain and thunder may be especially relaxing, because one feels they cannot go out to work
Ocean waves may remind one of a relaxing and calm vacation

INSOMNIACS may get much-needed sleep relief by eating a bowl of sticky rice before bedtime, Australian research suggests.
Scientists have discovered that starchy rice boosts two key sleep chemicals that make you fall into a slumber faster.

“This rice might not be better for you but there’s no doubting that if you eat it four hours before bed you’ll fall asleep quicker,” said Chin Moi Chow, from the University of Sydney.
Dr Chow and her colleagues compared types of rice at different ends of the glycemic index (GI) — healthy long-grain rice, which is low GI, and higher GI jasmine rice, which has shorter grains.

They enlisted 12 young men with no sleep problems to test whether high GI carbohydrates were better at inducing sleep.
Observations in the sleep lab revealed that the high GI option put the men to sleep an average of nine minutes after going to bed, half the time it took with the other rice.

food, drink and sleep

Sleeping Pills – The occasional sleeping pill prescribed by your doctor may be helpful to get you over a specific crisis and re-establish your sleep pattern. However, you need to be very aware of the dangers of long-term use of sleeping pills. Prolonged use of sleeping pills can lead to a vicious cycle of physical and/or psychological dependence. In the long run, sleeping pills can actually hinder sleep. If you have high blood pressure, stay away from Tylenol PM. Antihistamines may cause drowsiness, but they also cause high blood pressure over time.

Food and drink – When we eat can be as important as what we eat. Natural practitioners recommend a larger breakfast, a moderate lunch, and a light supper. Supper is to be eaten no later than 6pm. Our human digestive system works best in the morning, and gets slower as the day progresses. Food eaten late in the evening is likely to remain in the stomach half-digested during the night and can interfere with good sleep. If your travels force you to eat later than 6pm, or you are dining late with friends, you can adapt by keeping the portions small and minimize any alcohol. There are some times when I recommend a light snack just before going to bed. This works often with diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Experiment to find what works best for you. We are all unique. Processed foods are best avoided. Everyone is aware of the effects of chemical additives in food, but many processed foods contain additives to which many people react adversely. Too often, while they are aware of the adverse reaction, they do not associate it with the food they’ve recently eaten.

Sleep Aids for Adults

The Head and Neck
PillowPositive is a unique positional sleeping aid - a patented cervical pillow that has been clinically tested and shown to be helpful in reducing snoring. PillowPositive encourages you to position your head so that snoring is reduced whether sleeping on your back or in a side position.
The Nelson Sound Sleeper - The Nelson Sound Sleeper is an ergonomic pillow with optional internal speakers. It is designed to support the entire body from the lumbar to the head. The Sound Sleeper provides an inclined sleeping position which supports the spine in its natural curvature while a person is sleeping on the back. Its unique and patented design allows the sleeper to roll to either side and supports the body in such a way that it takes the pressure off the shoulder and distributes the weight along the head, neck, shoulder, and rib cage. Since music can be heard through the pillow, both back and side sleeping positions provide a pleasant and restful environment.

two uncommon factors thst can lead to sleep problems

Bladder Problems – Particularly in old age, some people suffer disrupted sleep because of the frequent need to urinate at night. Their bladder problems cause them to awaken, and then they may have a hard time falling back to sleep. Core issues of these bladder problems must be addressed. Is it a prostate problem? A sphincter control problem? An infection? or Hormonal? We will need to help you determine that.

The Chemistry of Sleep--Serotonin and melatonin are the two chemicals generally associated with healthy sleep. Melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland, located in the brain’s center, in response to dimming of light. When melatonin increases, the body knows to carry on specific nighttime functions. Melatonin enhances repair by acting as a powerful antioxidant and by stimulating the immune system, including the response to inflammation. While some aspects of inflammation response must take place in the daylight, the process does not get into full swing until about an hour after going to sleep. Disruption of either of these hormones can lead to other diseases such as depression.

electrical pollution and sleep

Many scientists believe that the electrical pollution we face every day may interfere with our natural electromagnetic fields and impair our body’s ability to function properly and repair itself efficiently. The result is a loss of mental acuity, a feeling of being half-well, and stress from our inability to perform.
What can we do to insure we receive the best possible nights sleep?
Exercise – Of course, you knew that didn’t you? Avoid exercising late at night! The best times to exercise are early morning and afternoon, however, some light exercise in the evening can release energy and tension. A light walk around the block just before retiring may be helpful, as well. The type of exercise we do can also hurt or help our nervous system. For example, aerobic sports are not good for Blood Type A people, but are excellent for Blood Type O people.
Naps – Remember, if you take a nap during the day, you are likely to get less sleep at night. Try some deep breathing exercises, or take a brisk walk after eating to overcome daytime sleepiness. Avoid falling asleep in the chair watching TV in the evening because it confuses your body clock when you have to wake up to go to bed.
Magnetic Field Deficiency - The solution here is to…Energize! Touch the earth at every opportunity. Feel the Far Infrared rays of the sun, drench yourself in negative ions of the forest or where waves hit the shoreline and, while you sleep, restore your body to a higher natural energy level using a magnetic field product of your choice. There are a lot of great products out there. I would recommend against purchasing a magnetic sleep pad from one of the groups that travel through town once or twice a year, set up in restaurants or hotels, and offer a free meal in the hopes of enticing elderly people to release large sums of money from their pocketbooks for an inferior product.

Melatonin Levels

There are many possible reasons why melatonin levels become depressed:

Dietary Deficiency of Tryptophan: Melatonin is synthesized from the brain hormone called serotonin. Serotonin is made from the amino acid tryptophan which is found in eggs, cottage cheese, cultured dairy food, and beans. A diet low in tryptophan can cause low levels of brain serotonin, leading to depression and a low level of melatonin. Eating foods high in tryptophan may help both mind and body. The FDA took L-Tryptophan off the market in the 1970's, but you can purchase 5-HTP as a replacement if you are extremely deficient, until you get your levels back to normal with healthy lifestyle changes and better eating habits.

Metabolic Dysfunction: Even when tryptophan is sufficient, melatonin output may remain low due to a metabolic error in the synthesis or function of serotonin. Supplementing with melatonin pills becomes the easiest option for this challenge. We use Source Naturals sublingual orange-flavored 2mg tablets with excellent results. I have noticed, over the years, that about 50% of my clients who test they need melatonin need to take the tablets during they day. When these people take melatonin at night, it wakes them up! I haven't figured that out yet, but I know they need the product. It's OK to experiment with the timing of this particular product.
Inadequate Cellular Energy: Just like electricity, magnetisim is ceaselessly being produced in the body due to the presence of potassium, sodium, chlorine ions acting as magnetic materials. All the organs, muscles, tissues, and nerves create their own magnetic fields, but sometimes it is not enough. Sometimes the addition of a magnetic mattress is needed to support optimal cellular function.

Magnetic Field Deficiency – Our bodies operate ideally in the earth’s natural magnetic field. However, today the earth’s magnetic field is at a cyclical low…the lowest it has been in hundreds of years. We are warned of the harmful effects of "electric smog" from cars, television, computers, radio, radar, electric blankets, microwave ovens and other appliances, power lines, and so on. In our homes, the electromagnetic activity is strong enough to overpower the earth’s natural magnetic field by as much as 16 times.

sleeping aids

Sleep medication information, dosage, side effects, drug interactions, and warnings. Sleeping problems or trouble sleeping are a common complaint of people with arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other rheumatic conditions. For some patients, sleep medications, sleeping pills, sleep medicines, or other sleep aids are needed to help alleviate sleeping problems.

Sleep and Stress

Stress – We most often think of "stress" as anything outside us that we see as troubling or unpleasant. The stress response is an evolutionary adaptation enabling early man to fight or flee to survive very real dangers. For modern humans, stress prepares us for bosses, office politics, deadlines, traffic, money problems, and the behavior of our children.
Your body reacts instantly in many ways when faced with stress:
· Saliva dries up and digestion stops, so that blood can be diverted to the muscles and brain.
· Sugars and fats from your liver flood your body with fuel for quick energy.
· Your muscles tense to prepare for action.
· Perspiration cools our body, allowing it to burn more energy.
· Blood-clotting mechanisms are activated, so less blood will be lost in case of injury.
· Your heart rate and blood pressure increase, as blood rushes from your hands and feet to the large muscles of your arms and legs.
· Your breathing becomes shallow and faster to supply increased oxygen to our muscles.
· Adrenaline is released into your bloodstream, overcoming any effects of fatigue.

During sleep our bodies repair and restore themselves. Enzymes activate protein production, the blood circulates throughout the body carrying nutrients and oxygen, cells rid themselves of toxins, and the lymph system carries them away. At the same time, immune system cells are activated, which start the process all over again keeping our cells in a state of optimal health.
When that activity occurs as intended, when cell energy is adequate, when circulation flows freely, when the immune system is not restricted in any way, and when there is adequate sleep time, our bodies are restored. However, most of us have weaknesses with one or more of these areas.