Cutting Back Sleeping Pills May Bring Insomnia Relief

Published in the journal Sleep Medicine, the findings would impact an estimated 9 million Americas who depend on prescription sleeping pills for their snooze. This new approach would also reduce side effects and cut prescription costs by 50%, while helping people maximize their potential in falling asleep and staying asleep.

“The clinical effects of sleeping pills cannot be relied on to last forever, and long-term use increases risk of psychological dependence and side effects including daytime drowsiness, nausea, and muscle pain,” said senior study author Dr. Michael Perlis.

A total of 74 adults with chronic insomnia were treated with 10 mg of the common sleeping medication zolpidem (Ambien) for 4 weeks. Those who responded to the drug were then randomly placed into 3 dosing groups: a dosage of 10 or 5 mg nightly, 10 mg 3 to 5 days a week, or with half of their pills containing 10 mg of the drug and the other half a placebo.

Overall, the research team found maintaining the benefits of falling asleep and staying asleep, can be done with less medication, with the group taking 10 mg 3 to 5 days a week experiencing the worse results. More medical symptoms, poor sleep and greater severity of insomnia was reported by the participants in their group.

As other research has identified a link between dementia and sleeping pill use, approaching medication with caution is wise choice to protect your health.

Ask your doctor about both short-term and long-term effects of any medications you are prescribed, and don’t be afraid to give cognitive behavioral therapy a try. The drug-free treatment for insomnia has been shown to have positive, long-term effects for the restorative rest we all need to be our best.