{"id":3694,"date":"2019-11-18T11:24:06","date_gmt":"2019-11-18T10:24:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/?p=3694"},"modified":"2020-06-16T11:59:12","modified_gmt":"2020-06-16T09:59:12","slug":"how-do-sleeping-pills-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disturbmenot.co\/how-do-sleeping-pills-work\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do Sleeping Pills Work and What Are Their Effects?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many people resort to the use of sleeping pills to get a restful night\u2019s sleep. In the pharmacy, you can find a wide variety of over-the-counter and prescription sleeping pills, as well as natural herbal extracts. But <\/span>how do sleeping pills work<\/span>? Some of them are merely soothing, and others directly cause sleep.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Since <\/span>insomnia<\/span> is as old as humanity, substances such as <\/span>alcohol<\/span><\/a>, opium, and herbs were used as \u201cdrugs\u201d to interfere with sleep since well before the 20th century. Most experts say that sleeping pills are a short-term solution to the problem. Prolonged use may exacerbate insomnia, especially when you stop taking the medication. But if you need it, which sleeping pill or natural aid is right for you?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Do Sleep Aids Work<\/b>?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Sleeping pills are also called hypnotics because they activate hypnogenic zones in the cortical structures, suppress the ascending reticular activating system, and enhance the retention effect of the GABAergic system. Put simply, sleeping pills are designed to initiate, maintain, or prolong sleep. Essentially, the overall <\/span>sleeping pill effect<\/span> is similar to the influence of narcotic drugs except that they don\u2019t extend to the spinal cord.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When examining the cortex of the large hemisphere under the influence of sleeping pills (by electroencephalographic examination), wave synchronization was detected, similar to physiological (natural) sleep. This indicates that the low and high-amplitude fluctuations of alpha and gamma waves from natural sleep can be induced by most <\/span>sleeping pills\u2019 ingredients<\/span>. And there\u2019s another similarity between medicated and natural sleep: both enable brain cells to recover, reduce catabolic (degradation) processes, and increase anabolic processes.<\/span><\/p>\n

The significant difference, however, is that anabolic processes (the processes of building molecules) occur much more significantly in natural sleep than they do in medicated sleep. These processes are essential for cell renewal and growth and for the body as a whole.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prescription sleeping aids <\/span>restore phosphorus and oxygen metabolism in the central nervous system. Some of them have been shown to prevent the reduction of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the brain, which is responsible for storing energy and transporting it in cells. Retention of higher CNS functions during sleep plays a protective role against brain cell damage. This explains the healing role of sleeping pills when it comes to damage to both nerve cells and internal organs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sleeping aid prescriptions<\/span> include medicines in the following groups: barbiturates, benzodiazepines, piperidinediones, and quinazolinone derivatives, as well as various combinations between them. These drugs also produce anxiolytic, sedative, and anti-seizure effects\u2014which is why they\u2019re considered sedatives or sleep and anxiolytic agents. Keep in mind, the way each drug interacts with the body will also be determined by its specific dosage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sleeping Pills That Actually Work<\/b><\/h2>\n

There are two types of sleeping pills, categorized by how long they act on the system. These are short-acting hypnotics (which serve to initiate sleep) and long-acting hypnotics (used to provide a sufficient duration of sleep).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Barbiturates, for example, disrupt the ratio of the two phases of sleep in favor of the NREM phase. For this reason, they often lead to headaches, fatigue, and drowsiness the next day. Benzodiazepines retain the ratio of the two phases of sleep and are used more often to initiate sleep. Another group of <\/span>sleeping pills that knock you out instantly<\/span> include quinazoline derivatives, which help you achieve a sleep duration of 6\u20138 hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These sleeping pills might also be a combination of different agents to help initiate sleep. These could be as combinations of barbiturates; barbiturates in combination with other drugs; or sleeping pills and sedatives in combination (but not barbiturates).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The idea that a pill can solve sleep problems instantly is very appealing. Unfortunately, sleeping pills do not cure the underlying cause of insomnia. In fact, they can even exacerbate the problem in the long run. Keep in mind, sleep medicines, including <\/span>sleeping pills<\/span> that are <\/span>over the counter<\/span>, are recommended for short use, often at the beginning of behavioral therapy to help a patient with severe insomnia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In general, sleeping pills and other similar medications are most effective when used in the short term, for example, when traveling to different time zones, for recovery from medical procedures, as a supportive treatment for a concussion, and so on.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Are the Best <\/b>Natural Sleeping Aids?<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"How<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some of the most commonly used remedies for sleep disorders and how they help you sleep:<\/span><\/p>\n

Melatonin<\/b><\/h3>\n

When it gets dark outside, the brain begins to produce a hormone called melatonin. This hormone regulates the sleep-wake cycle by telling the brain when it\u2019s time to sleep. The brain produces less melatonin when it\u2019s light out and more when it gets dark. The older you are, the less melatonin your brain produces.<\/span><\/p>\n

Melatonin for sleep<\/span> can be especially helpful for people who change time zones <\/span>to avoid jet lag symptoms<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>Sleep aids<\/span> like this could also be beneficial for older people or those who work night shifts. In recent years, many manufacturers have marketed foods and beverages containing <\/span>melatonin<\/span>, offering its <\/span>benefits<\/span> to consumers. However, doctors are skeptical about their effectiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n

Roots of Valerian<\/b><\/h3>\n

Valerian is a sedative, used since ancient times. It\u2019s an essential component in herbal sleep medicines. It\u2019s been proven that valerian facilitates sleep and improves sleep quality.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prescription Sleeping Pills<\/b><\/h2>\n

Usually, for more severe sleep disorders, doctors prescribe medicines such as zopiclone, zolpidem, alprazolam, or diazepam. Unfortunately, these drugs have severe side effects and lead to addiction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sleeping pills and tranquilizers (<\/span>sedatives<\/span>) are intended to help with anxiety and <\/span>insomnia<\/span>.\u00a0 They belong to the group of substances that suppress the functions of the central nervous system. For this reason, some of them are used to control epileptic seizures. In almost all cases, their use should be for a short period.<\/span><\/p>\n

Antihistamines<\/b><\/h3>\n

Traditionally, these are used as anti-allergy products. The first generation of antihistamines have a strong sedative effect and can successfully be used as <\/span>sleep medications<\/span>. Some of the antihistamines that have a sedative effect are diphenhydramine, doxylamine, cyclizine, and chloropyramine. However, new-generation antihistamines like cetirizine or loratadine have no sedative effect.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Side Effects and Other Concerns<\/b><\/h2>\n

Sleeping pills come in the form of multicolored tablets and capsules; other aids for sleep come in the form of a solution for injection or suppositories. Regardless of how they\u2019re administered, these products all lead to short-term and long-term effects.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These effects include depressing the central nervous system, which means that the medication inhibits brain functions. The person taking <\/span>sleeping medication<\/span> will become calm and relaxed, but they may also feel sleepy, dizzy, and emotionally indifferent. They can no longer concentrate fully and their reflexes slow down.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

People taking these medications may overestimate his or her own abilities, which leads to some risks, such as having trouble driving. In fact, operating machinery and performing other dangerous activities under the influence of sleeping pills and tranquilizers are extremely dangerous and should not be allowed. This can be the case even if they take <\/span>over the counter sleeping pills<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The use of sleeping pills and tranquilizers can quickly cause a strong dependence\u2014both physically and psychologically. This also means it doesn\u2019t take long before users need to increase the amount they take to produce the same effect.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, the long-term effects of these medications include <\/span>addiction<\/span><\/a>, fatigue, memory impairment, laziness, and sometimes muscle weakness. It\u2019s also essential to emphasize that the combination of <\/span>sleeping pills and alcohol<\/span> can cause a fatal central nervous system depression.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the differences between the specific substances, they all act similarly, and today they are often referred to under the general term \u201cbenzodiazepines.\u201d In the past, barbiturates were the class of sedatives commonly prescribed for anxiety and insomnia, but after the 1990s, their medical use as an <\/span>insomnia medication<\/span> has declined dramatically. The main reason for this is that barbiturates have a very high potential for abuse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nowadays, it is already well-known that benzodiazepines are a frequently abused medication and can easily be highly addictive. However, despite these serious drawbacks, their medical use is not diminished.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Are the Disadvantages of Taking Sleeping Pills?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Many people have problems with <\/span>anxiety<\/span>, <\/span>stress<\/span><\/a>, fatigue, or <\/span>depression<\/span>, all of which can cause a sleep disorder. Benzodiazepines reduce the brain\u2019s sensitivity to external stimuli by slowing down brain functions. As a result, the environment seems more relaxed, although it hasn\u2019t changed. Some benzodiazepines have a calming effect, while others cause sleep. Often for sleep problems, fast-acting sleeping pills are prescribed, whereas long-term medications are recommended for anxiety and stress during the day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, <\/span>sleeping aids <\/span>do not solve problems, but rather mask them. The only thing that helps is to trace the causes of the issues and to work to solve them. The use of benzodiazepines for a more extended time makes finding problems under the surface much more difficult. For this reason, treatment with benzodiazepines should be for as short a duration as possible, almost never exceeding two weeks. However, treatment may need to be longer for people with epilepsy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Most importantly, keep in mind that the prolonged use of most the <\/span>strongest sleeping pills <\/span>leads to addiction. One of the solutions to this problem is regular contact between the doctor and the patient taking benzodiazepines because this ensures the medication is monitored. The new use of benzodiazepines is to control withdrawal symptoms in people who are <\/span>addicted to alcohol<\/span><\/a> and opioids.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the biggest risks of using <\/span>sleeping pills<\/span> is <\/span>overdose.<\/span> A <\/span>benzodiazepine or barbiturate overdose<\/span><\/a> occurs mostly in combination with other central nervous system depressants (opiates\/opioids, other barbiturates, alcohol, etc.). The symptoms of an overdose include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n