Many Misuse OTC Sleep Aids: Survey

Many Misuse OTC Sleep Aids: Survey

By Dennis Thompson
HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Dec. 29, 2016 (HealthDay Information) -- Folks battling insomnia typically flip to non-prescription sleep treatments which may be habit-forming and are solely supposed for short-term use, based on a brand new Shopper Experiences survey.

The survey discovered that 18 p.c of people that mentioned they'd taken such over-the-counter medicine prior to now yr did so each day. And 41 p.c mentioned they'd taken them for a yr or longer.

"We have been shocked to see so many individuals taking so many over-the-counter sleep aids, and doing a lot longer than they have been presupposed to," mentioned Lisa Gill, deputy content material editor of Shopper Experiences Finest Purchase Medicine.

The medicine in query embody Advil PM and Tylenol PM -- ache relievers or chilly formulation that comprise sleep aids -- in addition to straight sleep treatments like Nytol, Merely Sleep, Sominex, Unisom SleepMinis and ZzzQuil, based on the survey.

The energetic sleep help in all these medicine is diphenhydramine, a decades-old antihistamine supposed for short-term use, Gill mentioned.

"It is actually meant to deal with allergy symptoms, however a aspect impact is drowsiness," Gill mentioned.

Such common use may put individuals susceptible to unwanted side effects from both diphenhydramine or different substances additionally contained within the over-the-counter medicine, she mentioned.

"The directions are fairly clear" concerning diphenhydramine, Gill mentioned. "You do not wish to take it for longer than two weeks at a time. There's an entire host of causes for that."

Medicines containing diphenhydramine could cause constipation, dizziness, daytime drowsiness or confusion, placing an individual in danger for accidents, Gill mentioned.

Additionally, some research have linked diphenhydramine to an elevated threat of growing dementia or Alzheimer's illness, Gill mentioned. "That is the scary half," she mentioned, for the reason that antihistamine has been out there to the general public for a really very long time.

Sleep knowledgeable Dr. Raj Dasgupta mentioned he is additionally involved that individuals are taking medicines to induce drowsiness that comprise different energetic substances.

"It is scary that folks will take these drugs for his or her sleeping results," mentioned Dasgupta, an assistant professor with the College of Southern California Keck College of Drugs, and a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Drugs. "They generally do not realize they're getting different drugs together with the sleep help."

For instance, Advil PM comprises ibuprofen, a ache reliever that may trigger gastrointestinal issues and ulcers if overused, he mentioned.

Dasgupta added that Tylenol PM additionally comprises acetaminophen, a ache reliever that may be arduous on the liver -- particularly if taken whereas additionally consuming alcohol.

Shopper Experiences is worried that folks may change into psychologically depending on these over-the-counter sleep aids, Gill mentioned, regardless that the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration permits producers to state that the medicine are non-habit-forming.

Dasgupta agreed that psychological dependence is a priority concerning these sleep aids.

"Being a doctor, caring about my sufferers, if they're going to ask me if certainly one of these drugs is addicting, I'm going to be trustworthy and say there's an opportunity it may be addicting," he mentioned. "As a result of they're bought over-the-counter, there is not a doctor there to make that assertion."

In response to the Shopper Experiences story, the Shopper Healthcare Merchandise Affiliation, an business commerce group, mentioned in a press release: "For over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, there are two energetic substances (diphenhydramine and doxylamine) which can be authorised by the FDA to deal with occasional sleeplessness, not long-term sleep problems or insomnia.

"An important step for shoppers to take when utilizing any OTC medication is to at all times learn and comply with the label, and a key take-away for OTC sleep aids is for shoppers to notice that the label directs use as much as two weeks to assist relieve occasional [sleeplessness]. Customers ought to discuss to a well being care supplier if their sleeplessness persists or if they've any questions."

Each Dasgupta and Gill suggest cognitive conduct remedy (CBT) as a first-choice remedy for persistent insomnia.

These with insomnia present process CBT work with a licensed sleep therapist to determine the habits, patterns and attitudes they've developed that could be getting in the best way of a very good night time's relaxation, Dasgupta mentioned.

For instance, sufferers could be various their bedtime and wake time all through the week, which might throw off the physique's inside clock. Or they could be spending an excessive amount of time in entrance of a light-emitting pill or TV simply earlier than mattress, which might make it tougher to get to sleep, he mentioned.

Copyright © 2016 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

SOURCES: Lisa Gill, deputy content material editor, Shopper Experiences Finest Purchase Medicine; Raj Dasgupta, M.D., assistant professor, Keck College of Drugs, College of Southern California, Los Angeles, and a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Drugs; Dec. 28, 2016 assertion, Shopper Healthcare Merchandise Affiliation