5 Reasons Why Over the Counter Sleep Aids are Popular

Prescription sleeping medication like Rozerem seems promising without the problems of dependence and rebound insomnia. However, people continue to look to OTC sleep aids as alternatives. These may not boast the same effectiveness as prescription sleeping medication and their hangover side effects are infamous. Here are the 5 actual reasons observed why OTC sleep aids are still very popular.

1. It's convenient. That's obvious. The most popular ones are the antihistamines that have FDA's approval for use as OTC sleep aids so you don't have to get a doctors' prescription. It is a recognized fact today that having the occasional or transcient insomnia due to work or lifestyle circumstances is common. OTC sleep aids are recognized to be useful in such situations. The only problem is that some people might start to rely on them out of habit and take them long term instead.

2. There are less surprises. These antihistamines have been around for a long time, much longer than the popular prescription sleeping medications like Ambien and Lunesta. Antihistamines are decades old while non-benzodiazepines like Ambien emerged in the 1990s. Hence, the probability of unknown dangerous side effects is much lower for antihistamine OTC sleep aids.

As it is, doctors are usually wary of new sleeping medications that have not stood the test of time. This is one of the 2 major objections from prescribers that any drug company faces when marketing a new medication. Painful lessons were learnt with the withdrawal of drugs like Vioxx, the painkiller and Avandia for diabetes.

It must be noted however that supplement OTC sleep aids differ from antihistamines. Supplements do not require FDA approval as over the counter sleep aids and hence, long term safety have not been documented all along.

3. The lesser evil. The side effects of OTC sleep aids are deemed the lesser evil. Most people put up with the infamous hangover side effect or have simply adapted how they take the OTC sleep aids e.g. smaller doses or just sleep earlier and longer. Granted these hangovers and other related side effects can be extreme for some people. However, next day drowsiness seems less bizarre than unconsciously sleepwalking on prescription sleeping medications. FDA has recently required that stronger warnings were added to sleeping medications' labels about these side effects that can be life threatening.

4. Cheaper than a can of coke. An OTC sleep aid costs only 30-40 cents compared to Lunesta at $3-$4 a tab. People are happy to resolve their sleeplessness at lower cost and lower risks. Cost is always a major deciding factor if the additional benefits of prescription sleeping medication don't measure up to the price difference.

5. Instant lifestyle. Change is constant and fast for this sleepless 24/7 generation. We want both instant gratification and instant solutions for our stress filled lives. OTC sleep aids are readily pocketed along with our Blackberrys and iPods.

It goes without saying that there is no magic panacea for insomnia. Over the counter sleep aids are best used for the occasional insomnia at recommended doses. You will develop tolerance if used longer than necessary. As with prescription sleeping medications, OTC sleep aids must be taken responsibly i.e. being aware of possible drug interactions with any current medication, resolving the underlying cause of insomnia, etc.

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Prescribed Sleep Medicines

What are the kinds of prescribed sleep medicines? What are their effects as well as their side effects? Here's an article from health.com about some of the prescribed medicines in providing a rapid relief of the symptoms of insomnia.

Sleep medicines may provide rapid relief of the symptoms of insomnia. But many of these medicines have side effects, such as low blood pressure, anxiety, and nausea. These medicines also may become less effective when your body gets used to the them. And some have not been shown to be effective for long-term treatment of insomnia.

Hypnotic medications help you fall asleep or stay asleep.
Antidepressants that have a calming or sedative effect can be used to aid sleep.
Rozerem is a different type of sleep medicine that helps regulate your body's internal clock. Rozerem has few side effects and is not habit-forming.

If you are taking any of these medications, it's usually best if you take them only for a short time, at the lowest effective dose, and stop taking them as soon as you can. This is true for all people, but it is particularly true for older adults, who can become dependent on sleep enhancers and sometimes experience diminished thinking capability during and after long-term sleeping medication use.

The most successful long-term treatment results have been achieved with behavior therapy. Behavior therapy results in similar improvements in both overall sleep quality and less time in getting to sleep compared to using medications, without any side effects. Many people receiving such therapy benefit from the treatments and become good sleepers. Perhaps most important, these results are maintained over time.