Do you have trouble sleeping? If the answer is no, count yourself lucky and read no further. Those who fall asleep easily and sleep soundly throughout the night are truly blessed.
If, on the other hand, you’re in the third of the population who has a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep, you are caught in a terrible double bind. People with chronic insomnia are challenged on two fronts.
First, they rarely wake up feeling refreshed. Second, they are told that their lack of a good night’s sleep might be harming their health.
In recent years, studies have shown the negative health consequences linked to inadequate sleep. Insomniacs could be a hazard on the highways because of poor judgment or slowed reaction times.
They may also be at greater risk for developing diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, impaired immunity, depression and anxiety.
With news like that, people who are tossing and turning can easily become anxious just for fear that insomnia is harming their health. Of course, that makes it even harder fall asleep.
Not surprisingly, television commercials that promise a great night’s sleep are seductive. Take ads for Lunesta. A luna moth flutters in lightly through the bedroom window or rests gently on a woman’s shoulder.
A reassuring voice proclaims, “Lunesta can give you a great night, 7 to 8 hours of restful sleep. But did you know that a Lunesta night can give you a great morning? A morning refreshed, recharged! You might even wake so rested you’ll find a way to make the day special!”
The video is so appealing that it’s hard to pay attention to the warnings: “Until you know how you’ll react to Lunesta you should not drive or operate machinery. Do not take Lunesta with alcohol. Call your doctor right away if after taking Lunesta you walk, drive, eat or engage in other activities while asleep. In rare cases severe allergic reactions can occur. Most sleep medicines carry some risk of dependency. Side effects may include unpleasant taste, headache, drowsiness and dizziness.”
The ad doesn’t mention that Lunesta and other highly advertised sleeping pills are pricey. A single pill can cost over $5. That could make a night’s sleep unaffordable.
Then there are the strange activities while asleep. Lunesta is not the only sleeping pill that may trigger sleepwalking. We have heard from many people that they’ve done odd things after taking Ambien: “I got ready for bed last night, took Ambien and fell asleep. The next morning my dog woke me up to go out.
“I found a doggie bag from a restaurant in the kitchen trash, my car was scratched up, and my front door was wide open. Somehow I drove to a restaurant, ordered food, ate the food, asked for a doggie bag and paid the check (I presume!) while sleeping. I called my doctor to change medications.”
We discuss the pros and cons of Ambien, Lunesta and many non-drug alternatives in our Guide to Getting a Good Night’s Sleep.
