Over the Counter Sleep Aids

A good night of sleep can make all the difference to your productivity, your activity level, and your overall outlook on life. Sometimes, though, a deep, restful sleep can be very elusive, and many people look for relief via over the counter (OTC) sleep aids that do not require a prescription. These can be used for occasional sleepless nights, but should be used with caution as they can have side effects such as next-day grogginess that may impact other areas of your life.

Most over the counter sleeping pills or treatments contain an antihistamine. A side effect of antihistamines is drowsiness. However, they do clear your airway, ensuring you can breathe easily overnight. This contributes to a deep, restful sleep.

People currently taking prescription anti-depressants should consult a physician before taking any sleep aid, even an OTC sleep aid, as the medication in the sleeping treatment may interfere with the anti-depressant. Over the counter sleep aids are not recommended for women who are breast feeding, and should only be used under a doctor’s supervision for those with an enlarged prostate, glaucoma, or heart conditions. Because of the next-day drowsiness that may occur as a side effect, those whose employment or activities involve driving, operating heavy machinery, or being alert for long periods of time should only try an over the counter sleep aid for the first time when they have the opportunity to rest the next day. This way they can accurately gauge any residual effects the medication has on them.

Over the counter sleep aids are marketed under the brands Sominex, Tylenol PM, Compoz, Unisom, Equate, and others. Herbal remedies include tinctures and formulations based on valerian root, melatonin, passionflower, chamomile, and the common hop plant. The active ingredients in non-herbal OTC sleep aids may be diphenhydramine hydrochloride or doxylamine succinate, or a combination of the two. Both of these drugs depress your nervous system and the neurotransmitters that make it run at a normal pace, thus making you drowsy. The herbal remedies are based on centuries-old uses of plants and herbs, but not enough research has been done yet to accurately show what specific aspects of each plant cause the drowsiness.

OTC sleep aids come in standard pill form and also gel capsules. Keep in mind that should you want a lower dose than the standard one a gel tablet cannot be split, whereas a standard pill can be cut in half. This may be useful if you need sleeping assistance for a shorter period of time, say, for a cross-country flight or to help reduce the effects of jet lag.

Sleep aids do lose their effectiveness if used on a continuous basis. This applies to both prescription sleep aids and OTC sleep aids. Doctors often recommend using non-medical remedies first, like sleeping on a regular schedule, avoiding caffeine (especially within a few hours of bedtime), not watching television in the bedroom, exercising regularly and avoiding daytime naps. When none of those work, an over the counter sleep aid when used occasionally may help you to get a good night of sleep.