Considering a Sleep Aid? Talk to your Doctor First

Many over-the-counter products claim to help with sleep, but they aren’t a long-term cure for sleep woes.

By: Dr. Grace Guerrier, internal medicine doctor at Geisinger’s Berwick clinic.

When you don’t get enough rest, it can make for a rough next day. If you’re feeling sleep deprived, It may be tempting to enlist the help of a sleep aid. But, by talking to your doctor and making a few lifestyle changes, you can focus on getting the best Zzz’s possible.

Know the sleep aid lineup

Over-the-counter sleep aids or supplements are marketed as tools to help with the occasional sleepless night. They’re available over-the-counter at most stores and online or by prescription.

They work in a few different ways. Some use ingredients that help you feel relaxed and sleepy. Others affect the part of your brain responsible for keeping you alert.

Sleep supplements come in a few different forms, including:

Capsules
Tablets
Gummies
Liquid
Tea

Some claim to deliver the best night’s rest you’ve ever had. What they don’t tell you, though, is that they aren’t approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration or the American Academy of Sleep Medicine to treat sleeplessness. That means if you’re struggling with rest, a sleep supplement may not be the best choice.

Available options

Browse your local drug store and you’re likely to find a multitude of options claiming to deliver a great night’s sleep.

Popular varieties include:

Diphenhydramine. Commonly used as an anti-itch and allergy medicine, diphenhydramine is also used as a sleep aid. It makes you feel relaxed and drowsy.

Doxylamine succinate. This sleep aid works with neurotransmitters in your brain to cause sleepiness.

Melatonin. This hormone regulates your sleep-wake cycle. At appropriate doses, melatonin can help you fall asleep a little faster. If your circadian rhythm is disturbed, like from jet lag, melatonin can help you get back to a normal schedule.

But watch out for side effects

Sleep aids have the potential to cause side effects, including:

Rebound insomnia. It may sound counterintuitive, but using a sleep aid may make it harder for you to sleep in the future.
Drug interactions. Sleep aids and other medications you’re taking can interact with each other. Another consideration? Potential food and drug interactions.
Next-day fatigue. Using sleep aids can lead to next-day grogginess or a “hangover” effect.
Increased tolerance. Your tolerance to sleep supplements changes over time. That means the longer you take them, the less effective they become.

Looking for better rest? Start with a conversation.

Instead of buying a sleep supplement, talk to your healthcare provider. They may refer you to a sleep medicine specialist who might suggest a sleep study or other tests to determine if you have a sleep disorder. Or they may offer suggestions to help you sleep better, like: