Over The Counter Sleeping Pills
Most people go to the drug store to purchase over the counter sleeping pills when they first have trouble sleeping. People who suffer from sleepless nights either have trouble falling asleep in the first place, or have trouble staying asleep throughout the night. Often it is a case of both. Not sleeping well is a terrible problem. Not only does the body suffer from the denial of rejuvenation and a renewal of energy, the mind also suffers. Sleepless nights cause foggy days, not to mention the added frustration, stress, and anxiety centering on the problem and what to do about it. Therefore, over the counter sleeping pills seem to be the quickest and simplest solution.
Over the counter sleeping pills boast the ability to solve both kinds of problems with a specialized formula that is time-released throughout the night to keep you asleep once it does its job to get you to sleep in the first place.
Almost all over the counter sleeping pills have the risk of dependency; some more so than others. In many cases, the human body develops a tolerance to over the counter sleeping pills which then results in the need to increase the dosage. The problem with this of course, is a higher risk for dependency. It can easily become a vicious cycle. It is no wonder so many people are addicted to over the counter sleeping pills.
The main ingredient in most over the counter sleeping pills is something in the antihistamine family. This is also the primary ingredient that causes drowsiness the next day. In fact, that drowsiness is often so severe that people commonly refer to it as a "sleeping pill hangover". This is perhaps the biggest potential problem with over the counter sleeping pills. This grogginess is usually worse than the mental fog from not sleeping. This is especially difficult for people who are not, by nature, morning people. A natural slowness in the morning, exaggerated by the effects of over the counter sleeping pills, causes many people to feel that the benefits of over the counter sleeping pills are not worth the sacrifice to the quality of their days.
Over the counter sleeping pills can be categorized into two main types: herbal remedies and antihistamines. Antihistamines work by inhibiting a neurotransmitter that will depress the central nervous system. Some of the more popular over the counter sleeping pills include Tylenol PM, Sominex, Unisom, and Equate. The most popular herbal over the counter remedy is Melatonin.
Although pharmaceutical manufacturers have addressed these concerns regarding over the counter sleeping pills and have worked to produce a product that minimizes such negative side effects, no over the counter sleeping pill is completely free of these potential problems. Everyone's body reacts differently to the drugs, so you will have to find the best over the counter sleeping pills for you based on trial and self evaluation. Your best chance at finding a satisfactory over the counter sleeping pill is to first try those in the herbal family.