SLEEPING PILLS

Sleeping Pills are the way to go if you regularly have trouble either falling or staying asleep. This is a condition called insomnia make an appointment with your health care provider before ordering from us. Treatment depends on what’s causing your insomnia. Sometimes, an underlying cause, such as a medical condition or a sleep-related disorder, can be found and treated — a much more effective approach than just treating the symptom of insomnia itself.

Behavior changes learned through cognitive behavioral therapy are generally the best treatment for ongoing insomnia. Sleeping on a regular schedule, exercising regularly, avoiding caffeine later in the day, avoiding daytime naps and keeping stress in check also are likely to help. But there are times when the addition of prescription sleeping pills may help you get some much-needed rest.

All prescription sedatives have risks, especially for people with certain medical conditions, including liver or kidney disease, and for older adults. Always talk with your health care provider before trying a new treatment for insomnia.

Here’s information on some of the most common types of prescription sleeping pills used today.

Types of prescription sleeping pills

Prescription sleeping pills may help you fall asleep easier or stay asleep longer — or both. The risks and benefits of various prescription sleeping pills can differ. To find the right prescription medicine to help you sleep, your health care provider generally should:

• Ask questions to get a clear picture of your sleep patterns
• Order tests to rule out any underlying conditions that may be causing difficulty sleeping
• Discuss options for taking prescription sleeping medicine, including how often and when to take it and in what form, such as pills, oral spray or dissolving tablets
• Prescribe a sleeping pill for a limited period of time to determine the benefits and side effects for you
• Have you try a different prescription sleeping pill if the first medicine you take doesn’t work after the full prescribed course
• Help you determine whether there is a generic version, which is typically less expensive than brand-name medicine

Insurance companies may have restrictions on which sleeping pills are covered. And they may require that you try other approaches first to try to manage your insomnia.