It is one constituent of the total health and wellness, but many people suffer from sleep disorders that have a major impact on the quality of their sleep. Over-the-counter sleep medicine, prescription sleep medication in Pakistan, and many sleeping pills are now being used to help those facing such issues. This article discusses some of the best sleeping pills, which are available in the markets of Pakistan, their usages, possible side effects, and alternative methods used for improving the quality of sleep.
Understanding the nature of sleep disorders
As the discussion continues on the various medicines, it is important to understand what these disorders are and how they affect humans. Some of the most common sleep disorders include;
- Insomnia: Lack of sleep, failure to remain asleep or wake up
too early to stay awake. It can be acute as well as chronic.
- Sleep Apnea: It is the repetition of stoppage of breathing
for a period of time occurring during sleep. Usually, the quality of sleep is
lousy and presents itself frequently in the form of feeling sleepy during the
day time. In general, care comes from a physician.
- Restless Legs Syndrome: The patient gets fidgety, and wants
to cross or shake the legs when they are at rest.
- Narcolepsy: Through this neurologic disorder, the brain
cannot be able to control the cycle of sleep and wakefulness. These patients
mainly spend most of the day sleeping.
- This involves stress, anxiety, many underlying conditions, and some lifestyle characteristic-related conditions. Beside this, behavioral therapy, and lifestyle change, lots of other patients require the use of medications above that.
Species of Sleeping Pills
Any sleeping pill can be referred to as belonging to two
different classes:
1. Prescription Drugs
These refer to drugs prescribed by medical officers. Because they are so stronger in strength than the prescription medicines ones, they come virtually in:
- Benzodiazepines: These sleep pills put to sleep but when
taken for long they will lead to addition and central nervous sleeping pills.
- Non-benzodiazepine sleeping pills: Z-drugs are also known by
the above names. The outcome of use is safer with relatively less side effects
when compared to benzodiazepines.
- Antidepressants: There are some antipsychotics that are used for the treatment of insomnia off-label
2. Over the Counter Drugs
Over the counter means it can be bought without
prescription. They tend to be not that potent. Such drugs include;
- Antihistamines: The following are the allergy drugs which
have the side effect of making people dizzy.
- Herbal supplements: As for vitamins, these frequently contain some of the most widely used natural sleep aids such as melatonin or valerian root.
Top Prescription Sleep Pills in Pakistan
1. Zolpidem (Ambien)
- Onset: This is mainly prescribed in the treatment of
insomnia when the patient cannot sleep.
- Dose: Most commonly prescribed at a dose of 5-10 mg taken
just before bed time
- Side Effects: Common side effects are dizziness, nausea, headache, and dependency with long-term use. Some consumers develop abnormal behaviors such as sleepwalking.
2. Eszopiclone (Lunesta)
- Use: Good for falling asleep, but also good for staying
asleep and for the user who wakes at night.
- Dosage: Generally given at bedtime in doses ranging from 1-3
mg.
- Side Effects: Taste of bitter is accompanied by headache, dizziness, and drowsiness the next day.
3. Temazepam (Restoril)
- Usage: It is mainly used for short periods in the management
of insomnia
- Dosage: Mostly given within the dose of 15-30 mg, before
sleep time
- Side Effects: Drowsiness, confusion, and dependence are serious side effects
4. Diazepam (Valium)
- Usage: It is basically an anti-anxiety drug but can be
prescribed to encourage sleep due to its property of inducing sleep.
- Dosage: Mainly prescribed with a dose of 5-10 mg, at night.
- Side Effects: Sedation, drowsiness, and possibility of addiction are the serious adverse effects, especially on chronic administration.
5. Triazolam (Halcion)
- Usage: Orally taken for the short term to reduce insomnia in
the patient who could not have night sleep?
- Dosage: This medication is taken orally with dosage of 0.25
– 0.5mg at night.
- Adverse effects: The user can be relieved of his or her memory, get dizzy and even develop headache.
View More: 12 Foods to Avoid Before Sleeping
Best OTC sleeping pills in Pakistan
1. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- Use: It is antihistaminic, but because it displeases the
system that induces sleep, it is useful in sleep hurry up.
- Dosage: 25-50 mg at night time
- Side effects: It often results in dryness of the mouth, light headedness, impaired vision and morning drowsiness.
2. Doxylamine (Unisom)
- Use: Another antihistaminic that can be effective for sleep
induction.
- Dosage: Usually given as an at-night dose of 25 mg
- Side Effects: Drowsiness, dry mouth and dizziness can be encountered.
3. Melatonin
- Use: Melatonin supplements can help regulate sleep cycle
because it is a hormone that controls the sleep wake cycle; useful for anyone
whose shift patterns or experiences jet lag.
- Dosage: Usually dosed in amounts of 1-5 mg, 30 to 60 minutes
before sleeping.
- Side Effects: Drowsiness, headache, and potential interaction with other drugs.
4. Valerian Root
- Use: That natural food supplement which is used to improve
sleep quality and also the time it takes to get to sleep.
- Dosage: It is usually taken in doses of between 300 and 600
mg at night.
- Side Effects: Dizziness, nausea, and somnolence are observed within day time.
Sleeping Pills
1. Doctor Consultation
This is really important to take advice from a doctor before
giving him any sleeping pill, and more so when the patient has some medical
condition that he is under other forms of medication. They will be able to
assess what would best suit his case.
2. For Limited Use
Most prescription sleeping pills are best prescribed for
short-term use, and long-term dependency leads to tolerance and requires higher
dosages to have a comparable effect and even the development of dependency,
wherein without it, sleeping is difficult.
3. Lifestyle Changes
An excellent combination of healthy sleep hygiene practices
can also largely impact the effectiveness of sleepings pills. These can
include:
- A consistent sleep schedule: Waking and sleeping at roughly
the same time each day resets the body clock.
- Ideally, your sleeping environment should be restorative: A
cool quiet, dark bedroom improves sleep
- Ideally, Avoid caffeine and electronics at night. Allow one
to have as little or no caffeine exposure as is possible until afternoons.
Avoid electronics an hour before bed time. Lifestyle sleep alternatives to
medications
If you wish to abstain from drugs, other therapies can be used to improve the quality of sleep:
1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
CBT-I is a no pill treatment aimed at altering some of the
thoughts and practices, which disrupt sleep. CBT-I has been considered to be
very useful especially in a situation of chronic insomnia.
2. Relaxation Techniques
There are many relaxation techniques we can practice thereby
preparing to sleep including meditation, deep breathing exercises and
progressive muscle relaxation.
3. Physical Activity
Good quality sleep can be achieved through regular exercise.
At least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week, and vigorous
exercise close to bedtime should be avoided.
4. Herbal Remedies and Supplements
Other herbal sleeping pills are tea from flowers of
chamomile and passionflower, which also induce a state of relaxation and
improve sleeping.
Conclusion
All things said sleeping pills can prove pretty useful in sleep disorder treatments, but these must be taken responsibly under medical supervision. If prescribed or even purchased over the counter, effects and side effects become an important consideration in ensuring their safe and proper use. In addition to this, some lifestyle changes and alternative therapies can also prove to greatly improve your quality of sleep for long-term health benefits.
Always seek professional advice for suitable practice to individual needs, but still to practice both medications and lifestyle changes, one can gain a better quality of sleep and, in the long term, good health.
Please book an appointment with the best Internal Medicine in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and all major cities of Pakistan through InstaCare, or call our helpline at 03171777509 to find a verified doctor for your disease.