Do OTC Sleep Aids Work?

A lot of people suffer from insomnia and insomnia is one of the most frustrating sleep problems that plague people. It should be easy for us to sleep, but people who suffer from insomnia often have problems with it. You may find yourself tired and wanting to sleep, but unable to do so.

If you experience insomnia, one option you can try is to use over the counter sleep aids to help you get to sleep. These OTC sleep aids are usually available at pharmacies and even some convenience stores. While these sleep aids do work well, and can help you get to sleep within a short period of time, they also can have some problems.

One of the biggest issues most people have with sleeping pills, is the prolonged drowsiness. When you wake up the next day, you usually will feel extremely groggy and it's a struggle to get up. You may have a hard time functioning that day, or end up taking a nap at a different time which can mess up your sleep schedule even more.

With sleep aids, there is no known way to avoid these side effects. Some people try to simply beat it with caffeine. While that's not going to cause any serious harm in the short-term, it does send confusing signals to your body. If you have to use OTC sleep aids on a regular basis, it can lead to more negative side effects.

Over the counter sleeping pills are only meant to be used for two or three nights in a row, at the most. If you are having trouble sleeping past for a longer period of time, then you should talk to a doctor. It can be tempting to just keep using the sleep aids because it is easier, but that doesn't mean it is a good idea.

If you continue to take the sleeping aids for longer, you risk developing a dependency on sleeping aids and you also may be ignoring the symptoms of a more serious illness.