Insomnia and sleeping pills

In some cases, sleeping pills are prescribed to treat insomnia. It is taken shortly before bedtime. Best used in conjunction with good sleep practices include:

Maintain a specific daily time for sleeping and waking up. The best time to sleep is between 22:00-23:00 During this period, the secretions of the hormone melatonin, responsible for sleep, are activated, which affects the quality of sleep.

Stop eating three hours before bedtime and avoid stimulants such as tea and coffee.

- Preparing for bed an hour before the specified time: such as dimming the lights and stopping the use of the mobile phone.

The bedroom is preferably free of electronic devices that affect sleep quality.

Avoid napping during the day as much as possible.

Doing exercise at least three times a week.

What are sleeping pills?

Most sleeping pills are classified as "sedative-hypnotic". This is a specific class of sedatives used for sleep. Sedative hypnotics include benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and various hypnotics.

Benzodiazepines such as Ativan, Librium, Valium, and Xanax are anti-anxiety drugs. These drugs increase the intensity of the feeling of drowsiness. They may be urgent in some cases and beneficial in the short term, however all benzodiazepines are addictive and can cause memory and attention problems and are therefore not usually recommended as a long-term treatment for sleep problems.

What are the side effects of sleeping pills?

Sleeping pills, like most medicines, have side effects.

Usually, the doctor explains to the patient about the side effects, especially if the patient suffers from asthma or other health conditions. Side effects can also be dangerous for people with certain chronic lung problems such as asthma, emphysema, or forms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Can I be allergic to sleeping pills?

Yeah. People can have an allergic reaction to any medicine, so it is important to contact a doctor immediately if one or more of the following symptoms occur:

* Blurred vision

* pain in chest

* Difficulty breathing or swallowing

* Shortness of breath

* Hoarseness

*Itchy

* nausea

* Rapid heartbeat

Relaxation techniques as an alternative to sleeping pills:

Relaxation techniques that can relieve stress and help you sleep include simple meditation practices, progressive muscle relaxation and the use of deep breathing. Constant practice of these skills will help you relax at bedtime and improve your sleep more effectively than sleeping pills.

It is very useful to consult a psychologist or therapist, as he will help you to acquire relaxation techniques in addition to breathing exercises.

Many therapeutic techniques help to overcome insomnia, the most important of which is cognitive behavioral therapy: it helps the patient to overcome insomnia without the need for medication through therapeutic steps based on behavioral and cognitive exercises.