Sleeping Pills Without Prescription

Sleeping medications that do not require a prescription.

Some people may need some sleeping pills without a prescription, from time to time, to help them fall asleep. Some examples of sleeping medications available in drugstores and sold over the counter include Nytol and Sominex, which contain diphenhydramine, a type of antihistamine.

Using an over-the-counter medication on the market from time to time is fine. Still, sleep medicine works best with a short-term treatment combined with an appropriate lifestyle and changes in behavior. Most sleeping medications over the counter can be safely used for 7 to 10 days, as long as you read and follow all instructions on the label.

Talk to your doctor before taking sleep medications if you have the following contraindications:

  • If you are or could be pregnant or if you are breastfeeding your baby.
  • If you take other medications (prescription or not) to help you sleep or treat other health problems.

When taking sleeping pills for a short time, side effects may include the following symptoms:

  • Confusion.
  • Loss of memory.
  • Dizziness
  • Over time, the use of sleeping pills may present:
    • For the person to hide the valid reason for the lack of sleep and become a medical problem.
    • With prolonged medication use, the person feels less alert the next day.
    • It can cause other health problems, such as anxiety, depression, blurred vision, loss of appetite, and nausea.
    • It can lead to serious medical problems if you swallow them with alcohol or other drugs.

The continuous use of these drugs makes it a habit and can lead to dependency. When this occurs, sleep problems may worsen when you stop taking the medication. There are other ways to improve sleep without going to drugs found in pharmacies or drugstores.

Talk to your GP about the lifestyle you lead and the changes in behavior you can try to make to help you sleep and thus have a better quality of life.