According to reports from the World Health Organization (WHO), 40% of the world’s population has some form of sleep disorder.. This figure (astronomical as it may be) is not surprising, since difficulty falling asleep depends on factors that are the order of the day these days. Some of the most common are depression, anxiety, constant worries or, failing that, prolonged exposure to agents that distract us at bedtime (such as cell phones and tablets).
As indicated by medical organizations, an adult human being should sleep 7 to 9 hours a day, while an adolescent between 14 and 17 years of age should increase this interval to 8-10 hours if possible. As you can imagine, not everyone achieves these figures on a regular basis: for example, in the United States up to 70 million adults suffer from some form of insomnia.
This is where sleeping pills come into play, a class of psychoactive drugs whose psychoactive drugs whose main function is to induce sleep in the user. sleep of those who take them. Here are the 5 types of sleeping pills (including over-the-counter) and their characteristics. Do not miss it.
How are sleeping pills classified?
First of all, it is necessary to point out that sleeping pills are drugs of the class of hypnoticswith the basic functions of inducing sleep at home or promoting anesthesia in a surgical setting. These drugs are closely related to sedatives, but they do not perform exactly the same function.
A sedative (or anxiolytic) is consumed with the idea of reducing stress, anxiety, hypochondria and alleviating physiological effects derived from these emotional states, among which is involuntary muscle contraction (they are muscle relaxants). Therefore, although many of the drugs that we are going to expose you are also used for depression and anxiety, you should keep in mind that they are not consumed in the same way or with the same purpose.
Based on this premise, we always clarify that these types of opportunities serve as a general guide, but by no means replace a visit to a psychologist or psychiatrist: if you feel signs of insomnia or other emotional disorders, go to the doctor before you are diagnosed with depression or anxiety, see a doctor before you decide on your own treatment.. Having clarified this front, here are the 5 most common types of sleeping pills.
1. Over-the-counter sleeping pills
We rely on the indications of the Mayo Clinic (an American clinical entity) to show you the benefits and drawbacks of OTC sleeping pills. First of all, you should keep in mind that none of them is miraculous and their effect is very limited, since they are sold without prescription.since they are sold over-the-counter. Some of them are shown in the following list:
- Diphenhydramine: an antihistamine, sedative and hypnotic drug. In addition to inducing sleep, it is useful against certain symptoms in allergic patients.
- Doxylamine succinateis used for the treatment of short-term insomnia, although it is also included in the treatment of coughs and mild colds.
- Melatoninis a hormone that is produced naturally in our body from tryptophan. It helps regulate the biological clock, among other things.
- Valerianis the extract of a perennial herbaceous plant. Many argue that it helps to fall asleep.
Many sources claim that natural medicines such as valerian can help you fall asleep, but other research has failed to find reliable correlations, as in certain patients there is no difference between the administration of valerian or a placebo. Is the effect 100% real or does the autosuggestion of the user play an important part? We cannot give you a sure answer, but, clearly, none of these drugs is a substitute for those that follow.
Something similar happens with melatonin. It is argued that it is “possibly effective” in avoiding the effects of jet lag and insomnia, but to say that it works in 100% of cases is not true. The drug is as important as the dosage prescribed for each person and the time of administration, so if the dosage is not controlled by a medical professional and the patient is not specifically monitored, the positive effect may be null.
2. Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines or benzos (alprazolam, lorazepam, diazepam, bromazepam and many others) are generally used for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorders. They are central nervous system (CNS) depressants, as they enhance GABA-mediated inhibition, a neurotransmitter that reduces CNS activity and blocks certain brain signals.
This pharmacological action causes a reduction in the patient’s heart rate and blood pressure, which translates into greater peace of mind and a more relaxed state of mind. and easier to fall asleep, which translates into greater tranquility and sleep.. Unfortunately, their use cannot be prolonged: they cause addiction, tolerance and rebound effect if abused. Therefore, it is not recommended to continue with a treatment for more than 2 weeks and, if this is necessary, the doses should be gradually reduced by 25%.
3. Barbiturates
Barbiturates are another family of central nervous system depressant drugs, which have effects of varying intensity, from relaxation to total anesthesia. Phenobarbital is one of the best known hypnotics in the medical field, as it is used to help people fall asleep and control anxiety, but also to control seizures and to alleviate dependence reactions in people addicted to substances.
In any case, barbiturates are no longer used in general pharmacology.. They sometimes generate side effects that are too powerful, they are highly addictive and an overdose can be potentially lethal. Therefore, these drugs have been replaced in almost all cases by benzodiazepines.
4. Methaqualone
Methaqualone is a drug with sedative and hypnotic activity similar to barbiturates, as it is another of the famous central nervous system depressants. It is one of the best-known insomnia drugs for the elderly, as it reached its peak of use in the 1960s and 1970s, when it was used without much regulation to alleviate insomnia. Nowadays, part of its consumption is done illegally for recreational purposes, since benzodiazepines have completely eclipsed methaqualone..
Its effects are similar to those of other drugs previously described: reduced heart rate, paresthesia (numbness and tingling of feet and hands) and drowsiness. Again, it also carries the typical risks of any CNS depressant drug, since an overdose is very dangerous and generates addiction if consumed on a regular basis.
5. Antidepressants
Insomnia can be either initial (difficulty falling asleep) or maintenance (inability to stay asleep), but in both cases stress, anxiety, intrusive thoughts and inability to manage emotions are often clear triggers. It is therefore not surprising that antidepressants are often used to treat insomnia, along with other effects of antidepressants.along with other effects of anxiety-depressive disorders.
Tricyclic (doxepin and trimipramine) and non-tricyclic (trazodone, mianserin and mirtazapine) sedative-type antidepressants are usually the most commonly prescribed drugs to treat long-term insomnia. In insomnia secondary to a depressive disorder, the patient is prescribed the usual doses in specific doses, while in chronic insomnia the dose is usually reduced and administration before bedtime is recommended.
Summary
As you can see, the world of sleeping pills and their types has a clear top exponent: benzodiazepines take the crown as far as use and effectiveness are concerned.They are the most prescribed to manage short-term nervous conditions. Since their appearance and ramification based on the patient’s requirements, barbiturates, methaqualone and many other drugs have fallen into oblivion. These types of more potent drugs are now only used in specific cases or, failing that, to promote sedation in intravenous surgical settings.
Unfortunately, benzodiazepines generate long-term tolerance and dependence. Therefore, any treatment for insomnia that requires their use should be subject to medical prescription and be monitored by a professional at all times. Their use should never be prolonged (even if interrupted) for more than 8 weeks.