Can you tell me the names of the prescription sleeping meds?… by davegespr
My stupid doctor knows only one med; Stilnox.
Do you know other prescription sleeping meds?
And I already know that there is Diphenhydramine (Benedryl).
Best Answer:
People with insomnia often turn first to sleeping pills for a quick fix to help them fall asleep and stay asleep. Sleep medications may seem to help the problem at first, but they do not cure insomnia and often lose effectiveness over the long term. In addition, sleeping pills have side-effects and can be addictive.
Sleeping pills (or sleep medications) fall into two categories:
Over-the-counter (OTC) sleep medications
Prescription sleeping pills
What are the benefits and risks of over-the-counter sleep medications?
You can walk into a drugstore and choose from an array of sleep aids, offered without prescription. The main ingredient of over-the-counter sleeping pills is an antihistamine. Antihistamines are generally taken for allergies, but also make you feel very sleepy. Common over-the-counter sleep medications are Sleep-Eze, Sominex, Nytol, and Unison; they contain antihistamines such as:
diphenhydramine hydrochloride,
diphenhydramine citrate, or
doxylamine succinate.
In general, over-the-counter sleep medications are not a good choice because they:
Are not intended for long-term use.
Interfere with mental alertness during the day, so you should avoid driving and other similar tasks. You may also be at risk for falling.
Reduce the quality of your sleep by reducing time you spend in deep sleep.
Use over-the-counter sleep medications only for transient or short-term insomnia and in conjunction with changes to your sleeping habits. Be sure to pay attention to your body