When you have trouble sleeping, don't take sleeping pills carelessly. It could be that the medicine you are taking is a sedative that doesn't necessarily solve the problem, or it can cause dangerous side effects.
Sedatives are generally used to calm patients when they are about to undergo medical procedures, such as surgery, MRI, colonoscopy, or cardiac catheterization. This drug does not automatically relieve pain, but it can make the patient easier to cooperate and feel comfortable during the procedure.
Only for Short Term
Some sedatives in low doses are used as drowsiness stimulants (sedative hypnotics) that can make a person fall asleep. However, this does not mean that all types of sedatives can be used as sleeping pills. Sedatives are generally used to reduce anxiety disorders or excessive stress.
Sedative drugs used as sleeping pills can only be consumed in the short term. Sedative-hypnotic sedatives include benzodiazepines and barbiturates. These two classes of drugs are drugs that are usually given to people with anxiety disorders.
If you have trouble sleeping because of depression or an anxiety disorder, your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant that has a sedative effect. However, this type of drug can not only be directly used to treat sleep disorders, such as insomnia or insomnia.
To avoid the risk of using sedatives as sleeping pills, always consult a doctor. If not according to the doctor's instructions, sleeping pills can cause side effects, which include dry mouth, nausea, headaches, dizziness, constipation, heart palpitations, excessive sleepiness, memory problems, and anxiety disorders. In addition, this drug can also cause sleep disturbances that can be dangerous, for example falling asleep while driving or sleepwalking.
Can Cause Addiction
After being used for a certain period of time, sedative drugs can cause drug dependence. Attempts to stop the use of sedatives in these conditions can cause insomnia, restlessness, seizures, and changes in sleep mood. In addition, psychological dependence can make a person feel helpless without taking sedatives.
Benzodiazepines and barbiturates are two types of sedative drugs that cause dependence. If further problems arise regarding the side effects of sedatives, you will need further treatment from a psychiatrist.
Most of the deaths associated with the use of tranquilizers are caused by overdose of sedative drugs, including sudden unintentional death or suicide. Sedatives should also not be taken together with alcoholic beverages, because there is a risk of overdose, loss of consciousness, coma, and even death.
Especially pregnant women, nursing mothers, and the elderly, should be careful about taking sleeping pills. In the elderly, this drug may increase the risk of falls and injuries at night. The dose given is usually lower. In addition, people with certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, kidney problems, or a history of seizures, should be more wary of taking sedatives.
Use sedatives wisely. Avoid using sedatives as sleeping pills without a doctor's supervision. If you have trouble sleeping that is difficult to treat, you should consult a doctor so that the cause of your insomnia can be determined, and further treatment will be given according to the diagnosis.
