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Combining an opioid with sleeping pills can be dangerous. The combination increases the sedative effects of the pills and can lead to slowed breathing or unresponsiveness. It can even cause you to stop breathing. Take sleeping pills strictly as prescribed by your health care provider. Some prescription sleeping pills are for short-term use only.
Everyone benefits from a good night's sleep. If you continue to have trouble sleeping, talk to your health care provider. In addition to lifestyle changes, your provider might recommend behavior therapy. This type of therapy may help you learn new sleep habits and ways to make your sleeping environment more conducive to sleep.
Prescription sleeping pills can have side effects, such as causing daytime grogginess and creating a higher risk of falling. They also can be habit-forming. If your doctor prescribes a medicine to help you sleep, ask for more information, including possible side effects and how long you can take it. Sleep aids available without a prescription
It's unlikely you'll become dependent on zolpidem (Ambien). Ambien and similar sleep medications can be effective, and they're much less likely to be habit-forming than some other drugs sometimes prescribed for sleep problems — for example, benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan) or temazepam (Restoril).
For treatment of insomnia (trouble sleeping): For oral dosage form (capsules): Adults—7.5 milligrams (mg) once a day at bedtime. Take only 1 dose a night as needed. Zolpidem capsule is only available in a 7.5 mg strength. Use another zolpidem immediate-release product for 5 mg or 10 mg dosage. Children—Use is not recommended.
It's common for people to try sleeping pills available without a prescription before seeking help for insomnia. Some prescription sleep medicines can be an effective short-term treatment. For example, they can provide relief right away when you're very stressed or grieving. Some newer sleep medicines are approved for longer use.
Melatonin is generally safe for short-term use. Unlike with many sleep medications, with melatonin you are unlikely to become dependent on it, have less response to it after repeated use or experience a hangover effect.
Eszopiclone is used to treat insomnia (trouble sleeping). It belongs to the group of medicines called central nervous system (CNS) depressants, which slow down the nervous system. Eszopiclone helps you get to sleep faster and sleep throughout the night.
However, evidence suggests that melatonin supplements promote sleep and are safe for short-term use. Melatonin can be used to treat delayed sleep phase and circadian rhythm sleep disorders in the blind and provide some insomnia relief. Treat melatonin as you would any sleeping pill and use it under your doctor's supervision.
Also, cognitive behavioral therapy — for instance, replacing worries about not sleeping with positive thoughts — may be more effective and safer than medications or herbal supplements for dealing with insomnia. Or there may be important underlying causes, such as sleep apnea or periodic limb movement disorder, which require evaluation.