In 2004, I was treating a patient who had spilled boiling water on herself. What was unusual, however, was that she was asleep when she did it. She had taken a sleeping pill, Ambien, and risen at 2am to start cooking some rice in her sleep. I’ve also had several patients learn that they had been shopping in their sleep only when Amazon packages started arriving at their door.
These are examples of what are called Complex Sleep Behaviors caused by sleeping pills.
Serious Side Effects From Sleeping Pills
There are many different sleeping medications, and all can be dangerous. Ambien is just one of the most popular.
Indeed, we are learning that taking drugs for sleep increases your risk of accidents, falls, constipation, car crashes, addiction and more. Recent evidence also shows that taking sedatives routinely can nearly double your risk of developing dementia.
Sleeping pills can also interact with other drugs that you take and should not be combined with alcohol or pain pills.
Studies have even shown that people who have a prescription for both sleeping pills and certain pain pills are 4 times more likely to suffer an accidental overdose. When such an overdose occurs, your breathing slows down and can suddenly stop—all while you’re asleep and unaware of what’s happening.
Over-The-Counter Sleep Aids Still Pose Risks
You should not assume that over-the-counter sleep aids are safer. They can also cause serious problems, just like prescription drugs.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy As An Alternative To Ambien
As the evidence mounts against prolonged use of these drugs, experts no longer recommend medications as first-line therapy for the treatment of insomnia. And as of 2019, the FDA has placed a “black box warning” on drugs like Ambien, Sonata and Lunesta—the most severe warning the FDA can issue.
The good news is that there is a safe and effective alternative to sleep medication called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTI). This is a way of training your brain to sleep properly, using techniques and concepts like stimulus control therapy, sleep hygiene, biofeedback, relaxation training, and more. This does require more effort than just swallowing a pill at bedtime, but the reward is not suffering a broken hip from a fall, developing dementia or hurting yourself and others in a motor vehicle accident.
Specific resources can be found at the Sleep Foundation website. There are also smartphone apps such as Sleepio and Somryst. I also recommend the book, “Say Good Night to Insomnia,” by Harvard professor Gregg Jacobs Ph.D.
If you have been taking sedatives regularly, do not stop without talking to your health care provider first. Stopping suddenly can result in dangerous withdrawal symptoms, including seizures.
Get Better Sleep Today
If you want to get better quality sleep safely, you should discuss your options with your health care provider. Underlying health conditions like Restless Leg Syndrome and others should be ruled out because they are treated in a different way. You can discuss the best way to start learning CBTI.
Helpful Links
To request a new patient appointment with Dr. Raine, click here.
To learn more about Behavioral Health Services at Sarasota Memorial, click here.