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Sleep Drugs Are Wildly Popular Despite Barely Working

Americans spend nearly $5 billion a year for sleep medications that are only marginally effective.

An analysis of sleeping pill studies financed by the National Institutes of Health found that newer sleeping pills like Ambien, Lunesta, and Sonata reduced the average time to go to sleep by just under 13 minutes compared with fake pills.

Meanwhile, people who took the sleeping pills increased their total sleep time by just over 11 minutes compared with those who took fake pills.

As for older sleeping medications like Halcion and Restoril, people who took the drugs fell asleep 10 minutes faster and slept 32 minutes longer than those taking a placebo.

Yet, the participants believed they had slept longer, about 52 extra minutes with the older drugs and 32 minutes with the newer drugs.

People may believe they sleep longer than they really do when they take sleeping pills because of a condition called anterograde amnesia, which causes trouble with forming memories. When people wake up after taking sleeping pills, they may, in fact, simply forget that they had been unable to sleep.

The pills, though questionable in their effectiveness, are extremely popular even though they can cost up to $4 per pill. They’ve also been linked to a number of serious, though relatively uncommon, side effects, such as sleepwalking, sleep-eating, and traveler’s amnesia.

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Dr. Mercola''s Comments Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Sleeping pills are, indeed, wildly popular. In 2006, nearly 50 million prescriptions for these drugs were filled in the United States -- a 30 percent increase from 2005.

Is it worth nearly $5 billion (the amount Americans spend on sleeping pills) to sleep for 11 minutes longer a night? Apparently many Americans think so, although if you take these pills your mind can be so wiped out that you can’t even remember how long you slept.

There are even reports of people sleepwalking after taking sleeping pills who believe that they had had a good night’s sleep.

Folks, sleep is crucial to your health, but resorting to sleeping medications to fall asleep is risky business.

Although the drug companies would have you believe that taking a drug to sleep will have you drifting off to a peaceful world full of glowing butterflies and talking beavers, there are serious, not to mention bizarre, risks involved.

The sleep medication Ambien, for instance, is known to cause people to eat while they’re asleep. And they’re not just sneaking down to grab a piece of fruit. The sleep eating can include bizarre foods such as buttered cigarettes, salt sandwiches, and raw bacon.

It can also cause you to gain weight; one woman gained over 100 pounds while on Ambien -- and others have cut themselves while trying to chop up food in their sleep.

Sleeping pills, and again Ambien in particular, are also known to increase your risk of getting into a traffic accident while you’re driving. Ambien actually ranks among the top 10 drugs found in the bloodstreams of impaired drivers, according to some state toxicology labs.

Yet many of you have likely taken drugs for sleeping, believing that they’re safe and that they’ll have you waking up feeling refreshed. The drug companies spent $600 million in 2006 on advertising geared to get you to believe just that. Of course, the ads are misleading as these pills don’t give you a good night’s sleep, nor are they safe.

These pills are also notorious for being addictive, which means that once you want to stop taking them, you’ll likely suffer withdrawal symptoms that could be worse than your initial insomnia. Why put yourself through that when other safe natural options exist?

How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep, Without Taking a Pill

I do understand that the driving force behind many people’s willingness to take sleeping pills has to do with the torment of not being able to sleep. Insomnia is mentally draining, even maddening, and it will wreak havoc on your health.

Fortunately, there are good options out there, so please don’t resort to taking a drug to sleep.

When you follow the advice in Take Control of Your Health your likelihood of insomnia will dramatically decline. Some of the most important tips for a restful night of slumber include:
It’s also important to tend to your emotional needs, as, ironically, many people have trouble sleeping simply because they’re worried about falling asleep. The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is an energy psychology tool that can help you to relieve this and other sleep-related emotional challenges.

Finally, if you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, please be sure to read my 33 Secrets to a Good Night’s Sleep. These tips are among the best out there to help you get the rest you need.


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Comment on This Article Community Comments (35)
 
 
Posted On Oct 25, 2007
The more drugs I refuse to take, the better off I am. What a concept.

 
Bridestein
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 12/2006
Bridestein  
Replied

Russ Bianchi
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 9/2006
Russ Bianchi  
 
Posted On Oct 25, 2007
Like wow, concepts are like, ideas...

And ideas, can actually catch on...

Oh man, this is too heavy dudes, it's like this whole Vital Votes thing could imrpove health for everyone who reads it wherever they are...

It's like super revolutionary, only without the guns, body counts, or drugs...

Hey man, maybe they will make it into a movie...


Russ Bianchi
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 9/2006
Russ Bianchi  
 
Posted On Oct 31, 2007
The TV campaign for the brand in this post is getting even creepier with Abe Lincoln the beaver and deep sea diver with new ads...bottom line, do not use this product, the warning label states several potentially DEATH INDUCING side effects!!!!

 
 
 
Posted On Oct 25, 2007
When I first started as a nurse I saw the side effects of sleeping pills and I vowed to my self that I would never take them.  There are natural options to help improve your sleep and none of them involve pills.  EFT, relaxation before bedtime, sleeping in a dark room etc.

Mary

 
mmc88121
Moderator User Moderator User, Joined On 11/2006
mmc88121  
 
 
 
Posted On Oct 25, 2007
I hate sleeping pills.  I have had them a couple of times in my life.  Those commercials that make it look like you are so refreshed and ready to run a marathon..... that is such a pack of lies.  You feel stoned the next day.  I don't see how people can even drive the next day.

 
samurai
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 4/2007
samurai  
Replied

Katee Roux
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 7/2007
Katee Roux  
 
Posted On Oct 26, 2007
It's an iffy legal situation.  If a police officer determined they were not able to drive safely, they would get a DUI.  Most folks don't realize that if a drug has a warning on it, whether OTC or prescription, they are legally responsible to be sure they are not under the influence.  I've had people say, "But it's OTC, it must be safe!"  Or, "But a doctor prescribed it!"  This does not make any difference if it is determined that you are under the influence while driving.  Most people don't understand the significance or the dangers of the warnings on their meds.

Here in CA, at least, MADD has a very strong lobby.  Most people who are DUI for alcohol are at least aware that they shouldn't have been driving, tho they may deny that it influenced them.  Most people do not know the same consequences result from DUI for meds of any kind.

 
 
 
Posted On Oct 26, 2007
When I occasionally have trouble falling asleep I just take two CherryFlex soft gels (from Dr. Mercola's store). It's amazing because I start getting sleepy right away. I don't know if that's just a placebo effect, heh, but I had read that cherries have melatonin in them, which makes you sleepy.

 
cyan
Apprentice User Apprentice User, Joined On 6/2006
cyan  
 
 
 
Posted On Oct 28, 2007
Sleep medications run the risk of overuse, abuse and adding toxins to your body. I have been recommending Formula 303 , and all natural relaxant and insomnia aid for years. The patient feedback is 100% positive. Its natural formula is made from 2 herbal remedies and magnesium.

Of course one of the best sleep remedies, is to lower your carbs/sugar, avoid caffeine, do numerous stress reduction techniques, and exercise.
Oh, and don't watch the news before you go to bed.

Best in Health,

Dr Dave

 
Dr. David Spitz
Apprentice User Apprentice User, Joined On 12/2006
Dr. David Spitz  
Replied

BeyondOrganic
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2006
BeyondOrganic  
 
Posted On Oct 28, 2007
Hey Dr. Dave,

Noticed you're a chiropractor.  What do think about the "Posture Pump"?  My chiropractor recommended it for me, but I ended up getting two bad sore spots on my head.  Figured I was probably using it incorrectly and decided to stop using it for now.


Dr. David Spitz
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 12/2006
Dr. David Spitz  
 
Posted On Nov 15, 2007

Beyond Organic: I like the posture pump. Follow the directions carefully. You may have to put a soft cloth under your forehead to avoid a sore. Talk with the chiropractor that sold it to you. If you bought it online, maybe you can bring it to your DC to have them show you exactly how to use it. You really shouldn't be getting a sore.

Don't use the posture pump as your only treatment. There is nothing better than an adjustment from a qualified chiropractor.

Dr Dave


 
 
 
 
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