There was a time when insomnia or difficulty getting a good night rest is treated with some home remedies like drinking milk or by using imagery like "counting sheep". The widespread application of Western medicine has provided people with easy and convenient options to treat illnesses to the extent that even sleeplessness is treated with sleeping pills or you may call these as "sleep better pills."

As people reach for over the counter sleep aids every now and then, it can become habitual. Most of these so-called "sleep better pills" are not intended for long-term use. Persistent insomnia can be caused by an underlying medical condition. Thus, the solution is to seek medical help from a doctor.
Are sleep better pills, sleeping aids, or medications appropriate for you?

Pills are used on a short-term basis.

Sleep aid and medications can be used by doctors briefly at the beginning of behavioral treatment. It must be used sparingly and for a short while only. Some other healthier and medically sound solutions need to be developed to prevent dependency, tolerance and abuse.

Pills are not instant problem solvers.

The thought that it can help you with sleep induction is very tempting. Unfortunately, these do not cure the underlying cause of insomnia; at worse, it can make the problem worse.

Active ingredients of sleep better pills.

The usual main ingredient in OTC (over-the-counter) sleeping pills is an antihistamine such as Benadryl. This is largely taken for allergies, hay fever and common cold symptoms. The side effects, such as next-day drowsiness, can be usual and severe.

Other severe side effects

This includes prolonged drowsiness the next day, confusion, and absent-mindedness are among the other side effects of habitual taking of sleep better pills. Some other adverse effects that need to be watched out are: drug dependence and drug tolerance when reliance on the pill is developed; withdrawal symptoms when medication is stopped; rebound insomnia refers to the worsening of insomnia; and drug interactions when the pills interact with the other medications and yield adverse reactions.

Need-to-know guidelines for using sleeping pills.

If you decide to use sleeping aids, consult your doctor about it. Whatever product you use (OTC, prescription, or herbal), discuss it with your primary care physician especially when you are taking other maintenance drugs because combining medications can be very dangerous if interactions result to adverse reactions. Ask your doctor about decreasing and terminating use to prevent withdrawal symptoms as well as development of dependency to tolerance to it.

Practice safety precautions.

Make sure to take the pill only when you can get a full night sleep or you may get drowsy the following day. It is also important to read the package insert to understand the details about the pill you are taking. Do not drive or operate a machine after taking the pill.

Most importantly, take the sleep better pill when it has been prescribed or recommended by a health professional. Do not self-medicate or resort to pills when there are natural ways to induce sleep. Try the natural, traditional solutions first - drink milk, take a warm bath before bedtime, or use imagery, meditation, and relaxation techniques. Using pills must be the last resort and only with the guidance of a doctor.