Prescription sleeping medication like Rozerem seems promising with out the issues of dependence and rebound insomnia. On the other hand, people carry on to look to OTC sleep aids as alternatives. These may perhaps not boast precisely the same effectiveness as prescription sleeping medication and their hangover unwanted side effects are infamous.
Right here are the five actual reasons observed why
otc sleep aid
are nonetheless very well-liked.
1. It is hassle-free. That’s obvious. By far the most well-known ones are the antihistamines that have FDA’s approval for use as OTC sleep aids so you do not must get a doctors’ prescription. It’s a recognized fact now that possessing the occasional or transcient insomnia because of perform or life style situations is typical. OTC sleep aids are recognized to become valuable in such situations. The only dilemma is that some individuals may begin to rely on them out of habit and take them long-term instead.
2. There are less surprises. These antihistamines have been around for a extended time, much longer than the popular prescription sleeping medications like Ambien and Lunesta. Antihistamines are decades old while non-benzodiazepines like Ambien emerged in the 1990s. Hence, the probability of unknown dangerous unwanted side effects is much lower for antihistamine OTC sleep aids.
As it is actually, doctors are usually wary of new sleeping medications which have not stood the test of time. This is one of the 2 major objections from prescribers that any drug company faces when marketing a new medication. Painful lessons were learnt with the withdrawal of drugs like Vioxx, the painkiller and Avandia for diabetes.
It need to be noted on the other hand that supplement OTC sleep aids differ from antihistamines. Supplements do not require FDA approval as over the counter sleep aids and hence, long-term safety have not been documented all along.
3. The lesser evil. The side effects of OTC sleep aids are deemed the lesser evil. Most folks put up with the infamous hangover side effect or have simply adapted how they take the OTC sleep aids e.g. smaller doses or just sleep earlier and longer. Granted these hangovers and other related unwanted side effects can be extreme for some people. Nevertheless, next day drowsiness seems less bizarre than unconsciously sleepwalking on prescription sleeping medications. FDA has recently required that stronger warnings were added to sleeping medications’ labels about these side effects that can be life threatening.
4. Cheaper than a can of coke. An OTC sleep help costs only 30-40 cents compared to Lunesta at $3-$4 a tab. People are happy to resolve their sleeplessness at lower cost and lower risks. Cost is always a major deciding factor if the additional benefits of prescription sleeping medication do not measure up to the price difference.
5. Instant lifestyle. Change is constant and fast for this sleepless 24/7 generation. We want both instant gratification and instant solutions for our stress filled lives. otc sleep aids are readily pocketed along with our Blackberrys and iPods.