The Sleeping Pills

Archive for the ‘Sleeping Pills’ Category

It is disturbing to see a great number of people having problems these days with getting enough sleep every night. Aside from food and exercise, our whole system relies on having a good sleep of at least 8 hours nightly. Sleep deprivation can lead to a lot of health problems and emotional imbalances. Having enough sleep brings many positive results to one’s well being.

Beyond the natural ways of achieving sleep, medical practitioners have resulted into prescribing sleeping pills to some of their patients. But there are also over-the-counter prescriptions and online prescription pills that have been circling the internet nowadays. However, there is danger in using sleeping pills without necessary prescription from a trusted physician and without being informed of the advantages and disadvantages of sleeping pills. Side effects of taking these pills are headache, drowsiness, facial swelling, dizziness, allergy reactions, and worst, getting into sleep while eating or driving.

You may argue that sleeping pills can really help cure insomnia, stress, and other daily troubles that are hampering your sleep. But you should take note also that sleeping pills have different types depending on the person’s physical condition and varying needs. Some of these drugs may not be advisable to patients who have history of medical conditions such as alcoholism, respiratory diseases, depression, kidney or liver problems, and pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Samples of pills that will help you get that sleep are Eszopiclone or Lunesta, Ramelteon or Rozerem,  Zaleplon or Sonata, Zolpidem or Ambien, Estazolam, Temazepam or Restoril, and Zolpidem or Ambien CR.

There are also anti-depressant prescription pills that may help treat insomnia if taken in lower dosages. But a strict medical evaluation is still advisable before taking use of these anti-depressant pills. These are Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline, Trazodone or Desvrel.

To date, there are emerging sleeping pills that are being introduced in the market. Yet, it is important to take precautionary measures before indulging into these pills to get that sleep. As I have mentioned, be reminded to always seek medical help at your nearest medical clinic or hospital. You need to get a complete diagnosis of your condition and guidelines on how to treat the problem effectively. Often times, the doctor will tell you until when you need to take it or when you need to stop the use already.

Always take sleeping pills when you are about to go to bed. Do not take it if you still have errands or activities to do. It may wear down your energy and lead to possible risks.

Do not combine sleeping pills with any form of alcoholic drink. It can increase sedation to the user, making you faint or confused.

Take note of after effects that are not mentioned by your doctor. Always be extra careful as this may be signs of other possible conditions of dangerous side effects.

Generally speaking, sleeping pills are not bad to health if taken in properly. Besides, who do not want a healthy and regular sleep every night? Just remind yourself that you are popping those pills to cure your sleeping problems for a certain period of time, and not be totally dependent on it.

Many people resort to sleeping pills nowadays. Sleep deprivation is becoming a tragic result of the busy and advancing environment we are living in at present, where people stay till the wee hours of the morning partying or even working in front of the computer. The body has been unconsciously regulated to already work that way. Having used to that kind of lifestyle brings them into sleeping disorders and health problems most of the time.

Eight hours of sleep should be a healthy habit for everyone. Sleep nourishes our tired mind and body. It replenishes the energy we have lost throughout the tiring day-to-day routine. It relaxes the thoughts of our souls. But did you also know that getting sleep from popping in those strong sleeping pills have adverse side effects that may lead you to strange and improper behaviors?

The Food and Drug Administration have continuously been monitoring these sleeping pills because of its after effects on some individuals. Some users have been complaining that reactionary conditions like sleepwalking, eating while sleeping, sudden flare up of emotions, sleep driving, hallucinations, and overeating. Complainants discover themselves in bed with food, and their kitchens disarrayed. Road accidents have also been recorded due to sleep driving, but there have been no clear records of road deaths due to that.

There have been cases also of finding themselves on the road with just their undergarments or night wear while being arrested, but they do recall that they went to bed to sleep. Other reports include sex while on sleeping medication, unknown phone calls, or buying stuff online while asleep. Even allergic reactions like swelling of the face and problems with breathing are also noted as warnings by medical authorities. Warning of its use with alcohol is also being carried out by these officials since valid findings have recorded its stronger side effects.

Although most of the complainants refer to using Ambien as sleeping pill, it could not be discounted that other sleeping pills may also eventually result to such strong adverse effects depending on the reactions of the system of the user. Government and medical practitioners are extending their guidelines to these manufacturing companies to be more conscious about its advertising materials. Since advertisements have been the major factor with regard to the rise of sleeping pills and its users, they have requested them to incorporate all the possible reactions and effects of the drug to the user to warn them and use it with caution.

Strong sleeping pills that can be bought over-the-counter or in internet pharmacies have also been notified about the matter. More measures have continuously come out in the medical society as to how to protect their patients into indulging to strong sleeping pills without proper consultation and without the possible risk of dependency.

We all want to get complete rest through a good night sleep. But, if taking strong sleeping pills will bring us beyond the sleep that we just need, it is best to think twice before using it.

Dogs have sleepless nights, too. Remember when you hear them continuously barking or making those freaky sounds at night, for no reason at all. Maybe, you have noticed them a little bit gloomy and have no appetite to eat. These may be signals that your dog has been suffering from the inability to sleep well.

It is but right to look after our dogs and provide the amount of care that they need, especially during these times. They have been our companions and personal guards at home or wherever we go. But our medical attention is different from them. We can always take sleeping pills and have adverse effects on our system and behavior, but it will not kill us. For dogs, accidentally swallowing those drugs that we used may be fatal for them. A sleeping for man is not a sleeping pill for dogs.

To keep your lovable dogs from swallowing your sleeping pills, below are some guidelines to follow:

• Always keep your tablets, bottles, or pills for medications in a medicine cabinet. Or, secure tablets and pills in closed containers and store it in a much higher place not reachable by children or by pets.

• Likely refrain from keeping these medicine bottles in kitchen areas if your dog stays inside the house. When they feel hungry, they will also get the urge to go to kitchen and rummage for food.

• Keep people around your home, whether a family member of guest, informed about your concern about keeping dogs safe from taking in pills. Some house guests may have their medication on purses.

• Keep hydrogen peroxide at home. Letting the dog take in two tablespoons will trigger withdrawal of substances inside the stomach.

• If in cases where the dog has finally swallowed a sleeping pill, be sure that you have the emergency number of the nearest center that looks after poisoned animals. Always keep the number visible in your house.

Even small doses of sleeping pills for humans may already cause enough harm to your dog when swallowed. It is important to know that should your dog have sleeping problems, it is not proper to let him take your pills. Man and animals have different body system and compositions. There are some drugs that are not just safe for the both of you.

It is best advisable to consult a veterinarian for your dog’s health. So, the veterinarian can properly diagnose the condition of your dog. With him, an updated chart will show you what he has been monitoring as unhealthy sleeping conditions for your dog. Correct medications will also be prescribed for your dog’s safety.

Dogs are man’s best friend, they say. They look after our safety, so we should also look after their food, health, and a safe place to stay. We all share the same space in this world. To respect the right to live of every human being is already a good start to a peaceful living.

Overdose in sleeping pills currently pose a great risk in the society today given that there is an escalating rate of people who are dying because of this each year. The famous Heath Ledger died because of an overdose of sleeping pills, painkiller, and anti-anxiety medication. The findings show that the death occurred because of acute intoxication of temazepam, oxycodone, diazepam, hydrocodone, alprazolam and doxylamine.  Another renowned individual who died because of an overdoes is Marilyn Monroe, although the press would continue to pursue people to believe that she actually killed herself, investigators said that it is a case of acute barbiturate poisoning.

Check with your personal physician first before you pop a sleeping pill. There are people who would take more than the recommended dosage especially if it’s not working on them any longer. If you can’t sleep after taking the right previously prescribed dose then almost certainly you developed a ‘tolerance’,  this does not mean however that adding more dosage will work for you.

Dying from an overdose in sleeping pill is possible, of course. It’s hard to determine how many pills will cause overdose since it depends on one’s body mass, height, gender, and weight. After taking a large quantity, you’ll only end up either dead or within the hospital because of too much vomiting and stomachache. Some would administer charcoal internally since it suck up the poison within. The worst thing that could probably happen is brain damage particularly when there isn’t enough supply of oxygen in the body. Most of the patients are conscious or in the PVS condition when they experienced loss of oxygen. Stroke and mental retardation can as well occur. It could damage the kidney and liver too given that they are the organs that work together to sieve poison from the blood. Take the matter seriously since liver failure is deadly and kidney calls for dialysis. Contrary to the popular notion that overdose in sleeping pills is a peaceful death, truth is, a person will have to go in extreme agony because of series of vomiting which will result to choking.

Experts suggest that people should choose to suffer from sleeplessness than choosing to take sleeping pills and suffer from the aftereffect.  In a survey of 2,000,000 people as the respondent, it found out that the effect of the pill is as deadly as cigarette smoking. Unfortunately, people would still opt in using this despite the fact that it impairs memory, judgment, awareness, and intelligence. Paradoxically, people suffering from sleeplessness think that sleeping pill make them better when in fact they would only make the situation worst. Moreover, the most horrible notion that people may hold in favor of sleeping pill is that it will provide a daytime advantage, when the truth is it does not.  Because of the risk of overdose in sleeping pills, commercials are now labeled with “Almost everyone has some risk of becoming dependant on sleep medication” to serve as a warning for people not to take these without doctor’s advice.

Stress is one culprit for insomnia, with life being desperately busy these days, more and more people would suffer from the condition. In view of this, the Food and Drug agency is burning the midnight candle to look for a possible way that will help promote sleep, they are now working for the drug eszopiclone which is being marketed as Lunesta–hypnotic in nature thus is cause sleep or partial loss of awareness. The new sleeping pills are said to be safe even for long time use, not like with other medication that are only advised to be taken for a short period of time. One week up to 10 days or two weeks the most is the right time span.

Earlier than the Lunesta, there were two previous sleep medication which include zaleplon (Sonata)  and zolpidem tartrate (Ambien) that are believed to be competent enough for long time use thus their manufacturers are seeking FDA approval too as of the moment. Both of them are hypnotics. A lot of new sleeping pills are being developed like the Indiplon which will be launched expectantly this year; it augments sleep by targeting the neurotransmitter GABA

The pursuit to develop the best drug does not stop. There is the Ramelteon, which mimics hormone melatonin, the reason behind a good night sleep. Another is the gaboxodol which on the other hand imitate the amino acid known as GABA. This definitely will allow insomniacs to get more sleep.

However, because of the jeopardy that sleeping pills pose in every person’s life, medical professionals expresses their distress that people think that the whole thing is as simple as popping a pill. Although, a good sleep is everyone’s right, still long term effects of sleeping pills should still be considered.  They warn that insomnia is not really a disorder rather it is simply a symptoms of more severe problems like depression and anxiety. It can connote sleep apnea too. Thus when a patient relies on the pill then the more serious condition remains ignored. Another problem is that people would highly depend on the drug that they forget about the real sleep hygiene– exercise, lessening the use of stimulants like coffee, regular bedtimes, and drinking alcohol moderately.

An estimate of 60 and 70 million of people are probably spending their night desperately wanting to sleep. They too are shelling out billions of dollars to buy remedies and medications. If these new sleeping pills will be approved then a lot of people would definitely patronize them.  If these scientists would only know how to reduce side effects like grogginess in the morning then their product would highly be advantageous. According to tests, Lunesta create low incidence of grogginess effects. Technology really paved way for the advancement of medicine thus what seems to be impossible and dangerous before are now made into less harmful ones. Time is of the essence, for sure there will come a day when a new sleeping pill will be developed wherein a person will no longer worry about its possible side effect.