How to Select the Most Effective OTC Sleep Aids
No matter what’s keeping you awake at night, be it stress, jet lag or just random insomnia, an over the counter sleep aid can be a real life saver. If you’ve been staring at the TV trying to get to sleep for hours, you can always just run to a nearby convenience store or all-night pharmacy and get some OTC sleep aids. Before you do that, you should learn more about them so you can choose the right ones.
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It’s important to understand the implications of sleeping aids, and what they should and should not be used for. Basically, they should only be used in isolated situations. For example, if you normally have a good sleeping schedule, but one night find yourself unable to get any sleep.
The trouble with OTC sleep aids is that the more you use them, the more dependent you become on them. After a while, you may not be able to sleep without them. Plus, your body adapts to them so you need to take more to feel the same effect. That’s why you should always see a doctor if you have trouble sleeping for more than a couple days.
The other issue with sleep aids is that they can cause you to feel extra sleepy the next day. You might even find yourself wanting to take a nap the next day, throwing off your schedule even more. So how can you find a sleep aid that’s effective without totally knocking you out?
There are basically two types of OTC sleep aids. There’s the pharmaceutical types, which most people are familiar with, and then there are the somewhat rarer natural and herbal supplements. Most pharmaceutical sleep aids have antihistamines, which help to slow down your nervous system and make you drowsy. They may also cause a number of side effects, such as dry mouth or dizziness. Most of these types of sleep aids are basically one in the same in terms of effectiveness and after-effects.
On the natural and herbal front, the two main types of sleep aids use melatonin (a hormone) valerian root (an herb). It is believed that melatonin regulates the body’s internal clock. Valerian supposedly can make people fall asleep faster and sleep better overall. However, supplements based on either of these have produced mixed results.
Sometimes, these natural supplements don’t seem to have much effect at all. Other times, they work but have similar side effects as pharmaceutical sleep aids.
Unfortunately, this means that there is really no good answer when it comes to over the counter sleeping pills. There is no choice that is going to both provide you with a good night’s sleep and produce no side effects. Your best bet may simply be to test out different brands and different natural compounds to see what works best for you. You may find one that just meshes well with your body chemistry and gives you optimal results. We have identifed two over the counter sleeping aids which in our opinion represent the best option of what’s current;y available on the market.
