Sleep Enough

I realize insomnia is a complex problem and there is no one size fits all approach to cure it. Also, insomnia can be caused by different causes at different times. So, that’s why not every remedy works every time. Insomnia caused by deep seated and long term stress is one of the most difficult health problems to fix.

Fixing the underlying cause of the stress will alleviate the insomnia, and that is why if you are having long term insomnia, you need to get to the bottom of the problem; only then will you overcome it. But if you have an urgent need to sleep ASAP, you may need to take a sleep medication after all.

When insomnia is caused by minor sleep issues, hypnotics may help temporarily as sleep aids. But I don’t really recommend hypnotics as sleep aids because they have many serious drawbacks like causing dependency and fatigue the next day. Road accidents have been attributed to hypnotic drug use.

Hypnotics are of two kinds – benzodiazepine and non benzodiazepine, and they are either effective to half life or full life. Half life hypnotics only stay in the system for half the amount of time as a full life, before their effectiveness diminishes, or they get flushed from the body. I’ve mentioned benzodiazepines before, and some of these benzodiazepines take a long time to get flushed from the body, especially for lorazepam.

Antihistamines are (somewhat) better than hypnotics, as they have less side effects and withdrawal symptoms. Antihistamines are substances that inhibit the H1 receptor, thus impeding histamine release from the body. Antihistamines do not need a prescription and are sold over the counter (OTC). One antihistamine used as a sleeping aide is diphenhydramine, used in Tylenol. Another is hydroxyzine (Atarax).

Whatever you’ve read, don’t take antihistamines beyond their recommended dosage, because they always cause unpleasant side effects. Some of the most common are dry skin, dry mouth, constipation, difficulty in coordination, brain fog, memory problems, and visual disturbances. So, the price to pay for a night of sleep is a sort of ruined day after.

Hypnotics and antihistamines should never be taken with alcohol, and it is best to consult your doctor if you plan on taking any kind of sleep aid. Natural sleep aids are still the better route to take – melatonin combined with valerian seems to work quite satisfactorily for me now, most of the time anyway. However, as a reader pointed out, these natural sleep aids are not as regulated as you would imagine, so as in everything, always err on the side of caution and/or moderation when you take them.