9 Myths About Sleeping Pills – Debunked!

Insomnia and various other sleep disorders have become quite prevalent nowadays. A night of good sleep boosts immune function and is necessary for overall well-being. Ensuring sound sleep is crucial for your overall health, or it adversely impacts your quality of life. That is why insomniacs, or those suffering from other sleep disorders, opt for quick solutions, like sleeping pills, to remedy their sleep problems.

Even though sleeping pills are known as a quick fix to poor sleep, a plethora of myths and misconceptions surround them. Due to this, those who could use them are dubious whether they should buy them or not.

Today, we are going to debunk nine common myths about sleeping pills so that if you are contemplating the idea of starting sleeping pills, you can make an informed decision.

Myth 1: Sleeping Pills Are for Insomniacs Only

Although sleeping pills are synonymous with insomnia treatment, many people take sleep aids who are not diagnosed with insomnia. So, sleeping pills are not meant for insomniacs only but provide short-term solutions for other issues as well.

Myth 2: Sleeping Pills Give Natural Sleep

Another common myth about sleeping pills is that they help stimulate natural sleep. That is not true. Even though prescription sleep medications induce drowsiness by manipulating the brain, the sleep you get is not what the body naturally gets during the sleep cycles. As a result, a person feels groggy and does not feel fully rested when he gets up after a sleep achieved by a sleeping pill.

Myth 3: Sleeping Pills Make You Sleep for Longer

There have been studies that show that sleep medications assist in deep and long sleep. However, those who take sleeping pills are not successfully getting the additional sleep they thought they would. Usually, users sleep 15-20 minutes longer every night when they are taking sleeping pills than on regular nights without the pill.

 Myth 4: Sleeping Pills Cure Underlying Issues

Sleeping aids can give temporary relief from symptoms of insomnia. However, they are not for treating the underlying issues. If you are suffering from poor sleep or other sleep problems due to anxiety, stress, or any other medical condition, you must get yourself checked and get appropriate treatment.

Myth 5: Since a Doctor prescribed them, they are a Must

This is another common myth with sleeping medication. Mostly, a doctor prescribes sleeping pills to a patient to ease their sleep issues. But you require an insomnia diagnosis from a specialist first. And they will devise a suitable treatment plan for you and see which prescription sleeping medication would get you the most benefit and relief.

Myth 6: Sleeping Pills are the Only Remedy to Sleep Problems

Those suffering from sleep conditions assume that only hypnotics and other prescription sleep medicines can help them relieve their sleep problems. They buy sleeping tablets, which their doctor prescribes them.

However, this is a short-term solution. Many sufferers are not seeking natural remedies for sleep problems and solutions for natural sleep. They should consult a specialist who can address the root causes like sleep hygiene, diet, lifestyle, and stress management to improve overall sleep quality.

Myth 7: Sleeping Medications are not Habit Forming

Even though many sleeping pills claim to be non-habit-forming, this is not entirely true. Regular usage of sleeping pills, particularly those with sedative-hypnotic compounds, gradually causes dependence and tolerance. An abrupt stop to taking them leads to withdrawal symptoms in addition to disrupted sleep patterns.

Myth 8: Sleeping Pills are Always Safe

How safe sleeping pills are depends on different factors like the health conditions of the user, pill type, dosage, etc. When it comes to sleeping medications, regardless of prescription or over-the-counter, they do have side effects as well as potential interactions with other medicines.

Never take sleeping aids without a doctor’s consultation. He can guide you about the effectiveness and safety of using these drugs as per your situation.

Myth 9: Snoring is Harmless

About 50% of people snore, and even though most view it as an annoying habit, there could be underlying reasons behind snoring. Snoring can be a sign of obesity and sleep apnea. People associate sleeping pills with all sleep problems, whereas snoring is not something that sleeping pills can solve completely.

Sleep aids are to help you with sleep but don’t treat the root cause of these issues. In fact, health professionals advise against taking sedatives or sleeping medications if you snore as they relax the throat muscles, which leads to troubled breathing.

Wrapping Up

Since a large majority of people suffer from sleep issues, numerous misconceptions are circulating regarding sleep aids. Sleeping pills are not effective for all. Even regular users may find that they stop working after a few weeks as the body gets accustomed to the drug. You may need to increase your dose over time to get results.

While sleeping pills might seem the easiest solution to resolve your sleep woes, debunking these common myths would help people understand their potential risks and limitations. Use sleeping pills only under a healthcare professional’s guidance and care. See that you use them for the short term only and try out other strategies to boost sleep quality.