Question: Are over-the-counter sleep remedies better than sleeping pills? Should I choose natural supplements?
Dr. Hibberd's answer:
Sleep medications are generally intended for short-term use. Many are habit forming and long-term use of medications for sleep, whether by prescription or not, are poor choices for most of us. Sleep is a very complex period of "brain refreshing" and is required to maintain normal brain function.
Using medications to suppress brain activity can do little to enhance our overall health, so try to focus on periodic use, not regular use, of sleep aids. Many non-prescription remedies rely on the drowsy side effects of various substances to produce "sleep aid," but often interact with other medications.
Non-prescription medications not approved by the Food and Drug Administration are often not tested for safety or effectiveness. I do not believe self-prescription of sleep remedies is harmless, and you would be wise to seek professional guidance here.
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