Most of these sleeping pills are antihistamines.
Over the counter sleep medicine that works.
Not only can it cause more stress and frustration in those moments but it can also lead to issues in your ability to work and focus the next day.
This is the so called hangover effect.
Look we get it.
Also prescription drugs and over the counter sleep aids may interact with other medications.
Numbers vary but up to a quarter of americans use some sort of sleep aid to help them fall asleep according to the american academy of sleep medicine between 6 and 12 percent of americans use over the counter otc sleep aids specifically.
There is no proof that they work well for insomnia and they can cause some drowsiness the next day.
Otc sleep aids generally contain one of two primary active ingredients.
Luckily there are plenty of over the counter options that can help you take back your full night of rest.
But in my opinion if melatonin works well enough on its own there s no need to add more and more ingredients.
Otc sleep aids can help people fall asleep and stay asleep with a minimum of side effects.
Many americans turn to sleep aids to relieve their insomnia.
Medication interactions are possible as well and much remains unknown about the safety and effectiveness of over the counter sleep aids.
Over the counter sleep aids are more readily available than prescription products and they are generally considered safe for short term use.
In addition some over the counter sleep aids can leave you feeling groggy and unwell the next day.
Active ingredients in these sleep remedies are gentler than those found in prescription strength pills.
Accordingly many people feel safer choosing over the counter sleeping pills instead of going to their physician for medication.
And taking certain prescription sleeping pills can lead to drug abuse or drug dependence so it s important to follow your doctor s advice.
The over the counter stuff can work in a pinch but it s generally not good for long term use says tracey marks md psychiatrist in atlanta and author of master your sleep.
Otc sleep aids vs.
In the doses that are available over the counter antihistamines are relatively safe and they work for a lot of people says pradeep bollu m d a board certified sleep specialist and.
So on balance natrol has been the most reliable over the counter sleep aid for me for some time now and is the one i m most likely to use when i have a bad patch of insomnia.
