How sleeping pills can really put you to sleep

With the increase in people suffering from stress, the incidence of insomnia has also increased. People find it difficult to sleep and so they resort to sleeping pills. Sleeping pills are available in almost every medical store these days.

Many people depend on these pills. When asked, countless people say they cannot imagine sleeping without sleeping pills. They don’t just need them; they are addicted to them! The wide use of sleeping pills has given rise to several controversies too. The burning question is – how sleeping pills really put you to sleep?

A lot has been said and written about it. People have difference of opinions. Some approve the use of sleeping pills, while some are very vocal against it. The sleeping pill market in America is huge. It’s a $5 billion industry, which means that Americans have accepted these pills and consider them healthy. However, the controversies cannot be neglected. Every once in a while, a controversy regarding the use or production of sleeping pills is brought forward. This increases the need to address this issue and know it in a better way.

A study that was backed by the National Institutes of Health shed light on the effectiveness of these pills, and their effect on human health. Several sleeping pills were tested to understand how they actually put a person to sleep, and to draw a conclusion regarding the use of them.

The results were surprising as people who took sleeping drugs only slept for an average of 13 minutes earlier than they normally did. The results raised several questions regarding the authenticity and use of these sleeping pills.

Psychologists say the effect has more to do with the general condition of a person than the substances present in the medicine. Again, there is a difference of opinion in this regard. Many doctors strictly forbid their patients from resorting to sleeping pills for a good night’s sleep. It is believed that one should have control over his or her mind and should not need a drug to go to sleep.

Despite all this, there is an increase in the prescription for such drugs. The year 2006 saw a 30% increase from the previous year. People often tend to neglect the disadvantages of sleeping pills, which include facial swelling, headaches, addiction, dizziness and allergies. Another drawback of resorting to these pills is the possibility of developing sleeping disorders, such as sleep eating and sleep walking. It’s a huge problem that needs attention from all sectors.

Research says that sleeping pills act as tranquilizers and numb your brain, taking you into a different state of mind. Some even compare them to illegal drugs and demand a ban on them. However, going by the trend, a ban looks highly unlikely and unjustified to some.

Benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepines aid sleep by enhancing gamma-aminobutyric acid-benzodiazepine receptor complex. However, an overdose of sleeping pills can lead to severe problems and even death as the body loses control and chemical complexion occurs.

Sleeping pills are fine as long as one takes them in a limited amount, that too when highly needed. Doctor’s approval is mandatory as an overdose could cause severe damage or even death.