Sleeping pills seem to be the most common answer for people with sleeping disorders. All you need to do is visit the nearest pharmacy or online pharmacy, buy the sleeping pills, take one whenever you have problems sleeping and within a few minutes you would be in deep sleep. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it?
Far from it. Taking cheap sleeping pills can result in many negative effects which you might not be aware of. This is because there may be certain chemicals in the pill that may not be suitable to you and can cause strange reactions in your body. This is why it is important to always consult a doctor before consuming any medication or find out which ingredients are present in the medication that you are taking.
Negative Effects of Sleeping Pills
Many people go for over-the-counter, sleeping pills for obvious reasons. They are available without prescription and they are not heavy on the pocket either.
But, here’s what they can do to your body:
You Can Become Addicted
Sleeping pills are prescribed in dosages which needs to be monitored. If the usage is not monitored properly, it is very easy for people to become dependent on them. When a doctor prescribes medication to a patient, it is based on the severity of the problem and other factors concerning the patient. This will ensure that the medication then functions effectively to treat the ailment which the person may have. Once a person becomes addicted, it is hard to get off it. When this happens, it becomes a serious problem.
Parasomnia Is Rare, But Real
Although parasomnia is not a common side-effect of sleeping pills, it is serious and can be very dangerous. Parasomnia means uncontrollable actions, behaviors and movements which a person carries out while sleeping and therefore, unaware of their effects and danger. Sleepwalking is the most common action associated with parasomnia.
Increased Risk of Death
The results of recent research studies have raised serious questions over the wide and unsupervised usage of sleeping pills. One such study which was published in the British Medical Journal Open, reported that a person consuming sleeping pills as low as twice a month stands 4 times more chance of death within the two and a half years that those who are not taking any sleeping pill.
The same study stated that the chances of death increases by 6 times in people who are on high dosage of Temazepam. The fact that in 2010 alone, Temazepam medication was distributed around 2.8 million times in UK has raised serious concerns regarding the health of British people.
Similarly, Zolpidem which was prescribed as much as 5.3 million times in UK during the year 2010, is told to increase the risk of death by 6 times, in heavy users.
Sleeping pills are effective in treating sleeping disorders, however due to their dangerous effects should not be used unless the condition becomes incurable by other means or medications. Even if their usage becomes mandatory, never go for over-the-counter cheap sleeping pills, rather, consult your doctor.