Difficulty sleeping may not seem serious to those who don’t deal with it, but people with insomnia, a sleep disorder characterized by struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep, have a lower quality of life. They often don’t have energy to function normally and may suffer from debilitating exhaustion, difficulty concentrating, and irritability.
About half of adults have occasional insomnia, while 10 percent have chronic insomnia, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It’s more common in women and seniors.
Doctors may prescribe sleeping pills as a short-term solution for insomnia related to temporary stress or health problems, such as the flu or pregnancy. In those cases, the source of insomnia resolves itself.
Long-term causes of insomnia, however, such as depression, chronic pain, asthma, arthritis or cancer may need a permanent treatment. Sleeping pills treat insomnia but will not cure the underlying cause and should be taken with caution.
One problem with long-term use is the risk of side effects. Many sleeping pills are available, with varying side effects:
- Barbiturates—Butisol, Luminal, Capacet, Pentothal
- Benzodiazepines—Ativan, Valium, Xanax, Librium
- Non-benzodiazepines—Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata
- Antidepressants—Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa and tricyclics (Pamelor, Elavil, Doxepin)
Barbiturates
Barbiturates were commonly prescribed in the 1960s and 1970s but, because of potential side effects, they are rarely prescribed anymore, according to Drugs.com.
They can quickly become addictive, with emotional and physical dependency happening in as little as a few weeks. Additionally, some side effects are potentially serious signs of overdose:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Speech disturbances
- Staggering
- Unusually slow and shallow breathing
- Coma and death
Benzodiazepines
Most barbiturates have been replaced by benzodiazepines, but serious risks still exist.
“While these drugs may be useful short-term, all benzodiazepines are potentially addictive and can cause problems with memory and attention,” WebMD says. “They are usually not recommended for long-term treatment of sleeping problems.”
Other possible side effects include an increased risk of dementia in people over age 65, physical dependence in as little as one month of use, and life-threatening seizures when someone stops taking the drug cold turkey, according to Medical News Today. They can also be fatal when mixed with opioids, alcohol, or certain antidepressants.
Non-benzodiazepines
Non-benzodiazepines have been associated with less abuse potential and minimal respiratory depression, according to the National Institutes of Health. However, they are not without risks.
Ambien, a common type of non-benzodiazepine, is associated with parasomnia, where people are only semi-conscious but can move around almost as if they were awake.
“People using Ambien have reported doing activities such as driving, walking and eating while half awake and half asleep,” Thomas J. Henry Law says.
These activities have caused both injury and death.
Antidepressants
There is often a connection between insomnia and depression.
“We frequently find insomnia in patients diagnosed with clinical depression,” psychiatry professor Daniel Buysse writes for the National Sleep Foundation. “People with depression often have severe sleep disturbance, and they respond more slowly to treatment than other patients with sleep disorders.”
While some antidepressants have the added benefit of helping people fall asleep, Buysse points out that some antidepressants prevent sleep. Tricyclic anti-depressants are known for having a sedating effect but are potentially more hazardous, with side effects including increased blood pressure and the potential for a fatal overdose.
Another possible side effect of antidepressants is the increase in risk of suicidal thoughts, which is especially common in adolescents and young adults.
If you or a loved one was injured after taking a dangerous sleeping medication, contact the experienced team of drug injury lawyers at Thomas J. Henry Law.
To speak with an attorney or to learn more, visit their website at https://thomasjhenrylaw.com.