Q. I have had trouble sleeping for years and have taken prescription drugs like amitriptyline, temazepam, zolpidem and alprazolam. I worry that long-term use of such medicines might have a bad effect on my health. Going off alprazolam was a nightmare I’m not anxious to repeat. What do you think about over-the-counter sleep aids?
A. There is growing concern that many of the prescription sleeping pills you mention might indeed have negative consequences. According to a study in BMJ Open (Feb. 27, 2012), people who took the kinds of sleeping pills you have used were at greater risk of developing heartburn or even dying. There was also an association with cancer.
Stopping any of these drugs suddenly can result in rebound insomnia and symptoms such as irritability, headache, dizziness, nausea and disorientation.
We are sending you our Guide to Getting a Good Night’s Sleep for more information on sleep aids and non-drug alternatives.
Many nighttime OTC drugs contain diphenhydramine (Benadryl). These include Advil PM, Sominex and Tylenol PM. Side effects can include dry mouth, dizziness and next-day grogginess (Human Psychopharmacology, July, 2012).
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