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otc sleep aids

Insomnia is one of the most common complaints when patients go to their doctors. While it is not a debilitating sickness in itself, insomnia may cause bodily harm in the long run. This condition may cause huge amounts of stress to long-term sufferers which may further lead to stress-related diseases such as cardiac disorders. Furthermore, lack of sleep affects the overall performance of a person’s daily activities including his work, social life and personal life.

While there are many ways to prevent insomnia such as changing your daily habits, sometimes it just wouldn’t work enough for you to get a good night’s sleep. In this article, I will write about over-the-counter or OTC medications which may help you to sleep if you have short-term or transient insomnia.

ANTIHISTAMINES

These medications, which are most commonly used in cases of allergies, are the most common over-the-counter drugs for insomnia. Histamine, a chemical messenger released by the brain during allergic attacks, is also a chemical that promotes wakefulness. By suppressing the action of histamine, antihistamine medications also promote sleepiness. This is why we feel very drowsy every time we take antihistamine medications.

Commonly, the antihistamines sold and marketed today as OTC medications for insomnia normally contains one of these two types:

1. Diphenhydramine citrate or Diphenhydramine hydrochloride. Brand names include Nytol, Benadryl, Compoz, and Sominex.




2. Doxylamine succinate. Brand names include Unisom Sleeptabs and Nighttime Sleep Aid

While these medications are effective in alleviating symptoms of short-term insomnia, it is not proven to be effective in patients suffering from insomnia for 2 weeks or longer. The main reason for this is the side-effects associated with the long-term use of these OTC sleep aids.

Side Effects of Antihistamines as OTC Sleep Aids

1. Prolonged drowsiness that may carry to the next day. This side effect depends on the people who take antihistamines, some of which may display none or severe daytime drowsiness.
2. Headaches and feelings of dizziness.
3. Dry mouth and throat.
4. Reduced alertness and lack of focus, coordination and concentration. Driving is prohibited while you take this medication, as the activity requires you to have mental alertness and coordination.
5. Gastrointestinal side effects such as vomiting and constipation.
6. While the effects of antihistamine in pregnant or lactating women are still under study, medical practitioners discourage its use during pregnancy. Also, these drugs could be secreted into the milk of lactating mothers which may have harmful effects on the newborn.

Furthermore, it is not advisable for the person who is taking these kinds of OTC sleep aids to drink alcohol because antihistamines add greatly to the sedative effects of alcohol. Taking these kinds of medications with medications that cause drowsiness is also discouraged.

Other Problems Associated with OTC Sleep Aids

For patients who have taken OTC sleep aids for a week or more, they will most likely develop a drug tolerance to it. This means that larger doses of this medication may be required to achieve the desired effect.

Another problem associated with taking OTC sleep aids is the eventual drug dependence of the person taking the medications. A person may not be able to sleep anymore without taking the medication. Abrupt stopping of drug intake may also cause withdrawal symptoms.

Technorati Tags: best sleep, best sleep aid, effective solutions, otc sleep aid, over the counter sleep aid

photo credit: Coletivo Mambembe

Happy pillows

If you are one of the millions of people across the globe who cannot consistently get a good night’s rest, then you are probably in search of effective solutions to your dilemma.  In our quest for restful, peaceful slumber, we’ll go to just about any lengths- from changing dietary habits to going to sleep specialists to taking medication and herbal treatments.  But, one of the possible solutions we overlook is one of the simplest – your pillow.

Did you know that your pillow has a great deal to do with how well you sleep at night? It’s true – your pillow can make or break a good night’s sleep, just as a mattress can.  This is why finding the best pillow for your bed is essential. Here are three things to know about finding the right pillow.

Your Pillow Supports Your Neck And Head

One of the reasons why a pillow is vitally important is because it cradles and supports your neck and head. Why is this important? Well, there are two reasons.  The first is that many sleep problems are caused by improper breathing.  If you can’t seem to fall asleep, it may be because of airflow problems caused by a pillow that doesn’t adequately support your head.

The second reason is simply because being uncomfortable prevents people from sleeping – especially if your head and neck are being affected. Plus, having an inadequate pillow just causes you soreness and tightness throughout the night and the next day.  You want to have a pillow that supports your neck and head properly and sufficiently.

The Fill Matters

The fill – the stuff that is inside the pillow – really does matter when it comes to comfort and support.  These days, pillows come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and fills. You can get a traditional down pillow, which tend to be very soft, or you can get a synthetic pillow filled with polyester or latex material that offers more support. Plus, synthetic pillows are often allergen-free, which means they will not cause sniffling and sneezing that sometimes comes with pillows made with down.

Choosing the fill goes hand in hand with another important factor: positioning.

photo credit: Tambako the Jaguar

Feathers?

Your Pillow Should Match How You Sleep

People generally sleep in three different postures: on their back, on their stomach, and on their side.  Some even sleep with all three postures at one point or the other during the night.  To maximize your comfort level (and thereby increase the chance that you will get a good night’s sleep), you should match your sleep profile with your pillow.

If you are a back sleeper, you will need a pillow that has medium firmness and isn’t too high (or too low, either).  This is so that your head is adequately supported.

If you are a stomach sleeper, you will need a soft pillow that is low to the mattress.  A thin down pillow is perfect.

If you are a side sleeper, then a firm pillow made from synthetic material that also fills out the space between your head and shoulders is perfect.

If you have had a great pillow for a while, but always have to fluff it up or otherwise rearrange it, it’s probably time for a new one.

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