At a family gathering, Aunt Li confided in me that she was rightDependence on sleeping pills. "In the dead of night, I dread the long sleepless nights. She said. It is this real problem that makes us mustIt is necessary to face up to the use and misconceptions of sleeping pills.
Sleeping pills, as a major sleep aid in the medical field, have a wide variety of different mechanisms of action. It is mainly divided into two categories: benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepines.
Benzodiazepines: Guardians of the night.
Benzodiazepines, including those such as diazepam and melatonin, promote sleep primarily by enhancing the effects of aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. These drugs can reduce the time it takes to fall asleep and prolong sleep, but long-term use may lead to dependence and drug resistance.
Non-benzodiazepines: selective sleep aidshands
Non-benzodiazepines, such as zolpidem (Ambien) and es** (Lunesta), act more selectively on the receptors in the brain that promote sleep. The advantage of these drugs is that they usually have a lower risk of dependence, while at the same time being effective in shortening the time it takes to fall asleep and improving sleep quality.
The core role of sleeping pills is to modulate chemical signals in the brain to restore or promote the natural sleep process. NopeThe same type of sleeping pills accomplish this through different mechanisms and are designed to provide short-term sleep improvement to insomniacs. However, it is critical to understand that these drugs are not a long-term solution, and that the specifics of their effects dictate the precautions when using them.
In many people's perceptions, sleeping pills seem to be a fast track to sleep problems. However, there is very little knowledge of the correct use of this "sleep aid artifact". Learn the following principles to avoid falling into pitfalls to ensure that sleeping pills become a good sleep friend, not a hidden danger.
Precise use: the best rule for the use of sleeping pills.
Personalization options: Different sleeping pills adapt to different sleep problems. Doctors usually depend on the person's specific symptoms, health status and severity of sleep disturbancesto recommend the most suitable medication. For example, if you have trouble falling asleep, you may be recommended with drugs that act quickly; If it's difficult to maintain sleep, drugs that have a longer duration of action may be chosen.
Dose control: Follow your doctor's instructions and do not adjust your dose on your own. Excessive use may not only lead to dependence, but may also bring adverse effects. At the same time, communicate with the doctor regularly and adjust the medication regimen according to the efficacy.
Timing and frequency of use: Use sleeping pills only when necessary and try to avoid long-term continuous use. Medications are recommended only when lifestyle modifications (e.g., improved sleep hygiene, reduced caffeine intake) are ineffective**.
Feel free to change the dose or frequency: Some people arbitrarily increase the dose or frequency of their medications without a doctor's guidance in the hope of getting better sleep. This practice can easily lead to drug dependence and even serious ***
Long-term dependence: Long-term reliance on sleeping pills for sleep problems may mask deeper health problems. The underlying cause should be explored and non-pharmacological methods such as cognitive-behavioral methods should be tried.
Discontinuation**: Abrupt discontinuation of the use of AnnSleeping pills may cause a temporary deterioration in sleep quality, which is known as "insomnia". The correct way is to gradually reduce the dose under the guidance of a doctor to avoid the ** phenomenon.
Lifestyle modifications: Sleeping pills should be accompanied by lifestyle modifications such as regular exercise, good sleep hygiene, and reducing or avoiding irritants (e.g., caffeine, tobacco).
Professional supervision: Regularly report to your doctor the effects of sleeping pills and your body's reactions, and make adjustments if necessary. If any discomfort occurs, a doctor should be consulted immediately.
Exploration of non-pharmacological **:In addition to medications, consider using non-pharmacological methods, such as psychological, relaxation training, etc., which are highly effective in improving sleep quality in the long term.