are otc sleeping pills dangerous?
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Over-the-counter sleep aids may prompt side effects, too. For example, diphenhydramine, a antihistamine commonly used in drug store sleep aids, can cause dizziness, memory problems, and prolonged drowsiness that lingers into the following day. Who's at greater risk for side effects?
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A nonprescription, or over-the-counter (OTC) medicine, is one that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found to be safe and effective for direct consumer use based on the label instructions and warnings. FDA requires a wider margin of safety for OTC medicines than for prescription drugs.
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Melatonin is generally safe for short-term use. Unlike with many sleep medications, with melatonin you are unlikely to become dependent, have a diminished response after repeated use (habituation), or experience a hangover effect. The most common melatonin side effects include: Headache.
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Patients should be aware of the dangers associated with mixing stimulants and OTC cold medicines that contain decongestants, as combining these substances may cause blood pressure to become dangerously high or lead to irregular heart rhythms.
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Is it Safe to Take Sleeping Pills During Pregnancy? Sleeping pills are not recommended for longer durational use for anyone. But if a pregnant woman is suffering from insomnia then antihistamines, diphenhydramine and doxylamine are considered to be safe. These drugs are found in Benadryl and can induce sleep.
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When you take prescription sleeping pills over a long period of time, your body grows accustomed to the drug, and you need higher and higher doses to get the same sleep-inducing effect. But, if you take a high enough dose, this could lead to depressed breathing while you sleep, which can cause death.
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Although Ambien is classified as a sedative, this drug can give the user a rush of energy and euphoria when it is abused at high doses. However, misusing this drug can result in extreme drowsiness, confusion, and clumsiness, all of which increase the risk of falls, fractures, and other accidental injuries.
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Because trazodone isn't regulated as strictly as other sleep medications, it has some potential for abuse by people seeking a high. The drug has been anecdotally linked to hallucinations in high doses, but the risks of overdose and severe side effects make this a very dangerous recreational drug.
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The components of this medicine might harm your unborn baby. Do not use this medicine during pregnancy. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant or planning to have a baby.
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Make sure you can have an uninterrupted sleep of at least eight hours. Don't take a second dose in the same night. The effects of zopiclone can last into the next day, making you feel sleepy or dizzy, or have difficulty concentrating. Don't drive or operate machines if affected.
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What are the risks of Ambien Use? These drugs slow normal brain function, which may result in slurred speech, shallow breathing, sluggishness, fatigue, disorientation and lack of coordination or dilated pupils.
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2﻿ The pills are available over the counter (OTC). That means you don't need a prescription to buy them. But just because the product is available without a prescription, doesn't mean you should take it without first talking to your doctor. Some people should avoid orlistat, even at the lower dose.
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Unisom's package describes it as a non-habit-forming alternative to prescription sleep aids. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) generally recognizes Unisom as safe and effective. But the medicine is intended to treat temporary sleeplessness.
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Question: Is it safe to take melatonin when taking prescription sedatives or sleep aids like lorazepam (Ativan) or zolpidem (Ambien)? Answer: Melatonin may increase side effects of sedative or sleep medication, although significant adverse events have not been reported in short-term studies.
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Baker has done sleep studies with women taking combined oral contraceptives (a.k.a. a combo of oestrogen and progestin, synthetic progesterone) and observed that, compared to a control group, women on the pill had less deep, slow-wave sleep.
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All prescription sleeping pills have risks, especially for people with certain medical conditions, including liver or kidney disease. Always talk with your doctor before trying a new treatment for insomnia.
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Side effects of zopiclone include headaches, dizziness and drowsiness. Many users report sleepwalking or performing other tasks whilst asleep, including driving and other activities which are extremely dangerous whilst intoxicated.