sleeping tablets

[tali122]

are over the counter sleeping tablets better than prescription ones? , i ask this as prescription ones are geared far more towards depression

[Amara]

when you say "over the counter" are you referring to things like Kalms - natural sleep enhancers? these are fine to take short term. It is never a great idea to take sleeping tablets if you can possibly avoid them.

[kazza12345]

how do you know prescription sleeping tablets are geared towards depression?
there are lots of different slepping pill that work in very different ways

[muppeteer]

i think over the counter pills are like a high dose of antihistamine. the list of possible side effects is horrendous (includes deleloping a hairy tongue!). also i think ive read there are different levels of sleep you can get into & when you take sleeping pills you dont go into the deeper levels which is when your body recharges, so you are not refreshed the next day. i think they do more harm than good.

[muppeteer]

some tips for natrual sleep
-try camomile tea or warm milk 30 mins before (gives you time to go for a wee so you dont need to get up in night!)
-use lavender bath oil or candle
-dont eat for an hour before bed
-gentle excersise few hours before
-wind down time before bed, so switch off tv & computer & read book instead
-keep sleep area organised & tidy
-if you have a busy mind then write your thoughts or make to do list for next day as it helps you let go.
........good night!

[nursecarla]

i am not a fan of sleeping pills as muppeteer says they make you feel as if you have slept 5mins when you wake up x x x

[tali122]

i asked because over counter ones seem to have more herbal ingredients and make no mention of depression , wheras the ones my gp gives(amitriptyline, citalopram) mainly refer to symptoms of depression- i am NOT depressed!

[kazza12345]

of those two that you mention (amitrip and citalopram) as far as i am aware, citalopram is an anti depressant, not a sleeping tablet. Amitriptylene has a varied use including sleep, depression and pain but usually in differing quantity depending on what it's being used for. There are many tablets which can be prescribed for sleeping disorders including many that dont have an anti depressive side eefct profile. I am really surprised you were prescribed citaloprm if not depressed. Incidentally, you can look up the side effects, action, contents and class of any uk prescribed drug at http://www.bnf.org. Dont read too much, or you would never take anything!. This site confirms that citaloprm is used for depressive disorders, not for sleeping problems (although, of course, the 2 often go hand in hand)