There are many people who suffer from insomnia and insomnia is one of the most frustrating things that plague people. It should be easy to sleep, and usually nothing comes more naturally than sleep does. Yet sometimes, you find yourself tired and wanting to sleep, but unable to.

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 the use of sleep aids, there is no known way to avoid these side effects. You may try to have as much caffeine as possible and while that's not going to cause any serious harm right away for you, it does send confusing signals to your body. If you have to use OTC sleep aids on a regular basis, it can lead to other 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.

Not only do you risk developing a dependency on sleep aids if you continue, but you also may be ignoring the symptoms of a more serious illness. So, if you need to sleep for a night or two, don't hesitate to use sleep aids - but beyond that, be careful.