Many people all over the world suffer from a variety of different sleeping disorders.  The problems people face range from mild to very serious.  Even mild cases can be very annoying though.  We're unable to function in our day time life if we aren't well rested.  Our work, family and personal lives can be ruined due to the fact we are so fatigued during the day.  Due to the fact that many people have trouble sleeping, there are a ton of different sleep aid medications on the market.  If you've ever been up late at night, chances are you've seen numerous commercial advertising the latest and greatest new sleep medication.  In this article, we'll look at two different types of sleeping aid medicines.

Before we get into this though, I think it's important that a few disclaimers of sorts are mentioned.  First off, I'm not a doctor!  If you have a trouble establishing a regular sleep pattern, I suggest you so a lot of research before considering medication.  There are a lot of wonderful resources online that can assist you with this.  Read some user reviews about different brand names and make an informed decision.  If your sleeping problems are serious, you should obviously see a doctor as soon as possible.

When Should We Use Sleep Aid Medications?

Now obviously anyone considering a sleep aid is doing so because they're not happy with the rest they're getting at night. That said, it's generally accepted that sleep aids should only be used for temporary relief. This means that if you consistently experience problems sleeping at night, you need to see a doctor. If, however, you figure that the insomnia you're experiencing is only temporary, a sleeping pill can help. There a few common causes of temporary insomnia. One is travel. If you've ever been on a long-haul flight across multiple time zones, you know hard it can be to fall asleep. Upon returning from a trip, many people have to go back to work. Staying up all night just isn't an option so it makes sense to get some medicinal help in this situation. Another common cause of insomnia is related to injury. Men and women who suffer through some kind of accident often have trouble sleeping afterwards. This could be due to pain, mental trauma or a combination of both. You need rest in order to recover from said injuries so using some kind of sleep aid medication is probably a good idea.

Two Different Types Of Sleeping Aids

There are basically two different kinds of medicine that people use to help with sleep. The first one we'll discuss is known as an OTC sleep aid medication. OTC(over the counter) type meds can be purchased by anyone without a prescription. These products are basically a blend of an antihistamine and a sedative. They are engineered to help with temporary insomnia and generally do a pretty good job of inducing sleep in the short term. Common brand names of OTC sleeping aids that you'd recognize include Nytol, Sominex and Unisom. These products are essentially the same in that they help you get to sleep and then prevent you from waking up too soon. I reiterate, though, that these medicines are meant for temporary sleeping help. Most people using this type medication notice a tolerance setting in after 3 or 4 days of consecutive use. This because OTC meds aren't designed for daily use. If your doctor has recommended more regular use, chances are you should be looking at prescription sleep aid medications.

Prescription sleep aids are meant for people with more serious sleeping disorders. Products like Lunesta, Prosom and Dalmane are quite well known. These products, unlike the OTC sleep aids discussed above, are not antihistamines. Prescription sleep aids are usually called sedative hypnotics and are known for their strength. They work by slowing down the nervous system, relaxing the brain and body. This, naturally, makes it a lot easier to get to sleep. There are two types of prescription sleep aids available. One is meant to help you get to sleep while another is meant to help you stay asleep. Depending on your particular situation, a doctor will prescribe either one or the other. The use of medicine like this is quite controversial. It's not uncommon at all for patients to develop dependencies while using drugs like these. If your not careful, you may have a very difficult time sleeping when your prescription runs out. This is why it is imperative that you work with your doctor when considering sleeping medicine of any kind.

What are your experience with sleeping medications? Let me know! Thanks!