Sleeping pills over the counter tv#

So in general, taking other people's medications is a bad idea. And the person who's getting them isn't getting enough to make a difference, so that's not such a great idea. Usually birth control pills, I don't recommend that because then you're missing some so someone's missing out. And that could include Valium-like drugs for anxiety, or it could include sleeping pills. Although it's not uncommon for women who often share their medical problems, meaning they'll discuss it with a girlfriend, and they may have medications that they feel like they've got extras. First of all, it's not a good idea to share your prescription drugs. Jones: Okay, well, let's talk about sharing your prescription drugs. Jones, what's your take on this? She's wondering if this is actually okay by a doctor's point of view.ĭr. She says she's been having trouble sleeping lately and she says that one of her girlfriends gave her a sleeping pill for the same problem. Interviewer: So Tracy has sent us an email.

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Sleeping pills over the counter tv#

Or they might be spending too much time in front of a light-emitting tablet or TV just before bed, which can make it harder to get to sleep, he said.Announcer: Need reliable health and wellness information? Don't listen to the guy in the cube next to you. Those with insomnia undergoing CBT work with a licensed sleep therapist to figure out the habits, patterns and attitudes they’ve developed that might be getting in the way of a good night’s rest, Dasgupta said.įor example, patients might be varying their bedtime and wake time throughout the week, which can throw off the body’s internal clock. Consumers should talk to a health care provider if their sleeplessness persists or if they have any questions.”īoth Dasgupta and Gill recommend cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) as a first-choice treatment for chronic insomnia. “The most important step for consumers to take when using any OTC medicine is to always read and follow the label, and a key take-away for OTC sleep aids is for consumers to note that the label directs use up to two weeks to help relieve occasional. In response to the Consumer Reports story, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, an industry trade group, said in a statement: “For over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, there are two active ingredients (diphenhydramine and doxylamine) that are approved by the FDA to treat occasional sleeplessness, not long-term sleep disorders or insomnia. “Because they’re sold over the counter, there isn’t a physician there to make that statement.” “Being a physician, caring about my patients, if they are going to ask me if one of these medications is addicting, I am going to be honest and say there’s a chance it can be addicting,” he said. Food and Drug Administration allows manufacturers to state that the drugs are non-habit-forming.ĭasgupta agreed that psychological dependence is a concern regarding these sleep aids. “They sometimes don’t realize they’re getting other medications along with the sleep aid.”įor example, Advil PM contains ibuprofen, a pain reliever that can cause gastrointestinal problems and ulcers if overused, he said.ĭasgupta added that Tylenol PM also contains acetaminophen, a pain reliever that can be hard on the liver - especially if taken while also drinking alcohol.Ĭonsumer Reports is concerned that people might become psychologically dependent on these over-the-counter sleep aids, Gill said, even though the U.S.

“It’s scary that people will take these medications for their sleeping effects,” said Dasgupta, an assistant professor with the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, and a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Raj Dasgupta said he’s also concerned that people are taking medicines to induce drowsiness that contain other active ingredients. “That’s the scary part,” she said, since the antihistamine has been available to the public for a very long time. Also, some studies have linked diphenhydramine to an increased risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, Gill said.