No.
Non-prescription sleeping pills do little more than a sugar-pill, are addictive, and do not provide true rest. The next day, you may not be as alert as you should be while driving or working. If you are elderly there is an increased risk of falls after taking sleeping pills--even the next day.
In 2008 there was over $600 million spent in the US on over-the-counter sleep aids. Much more was spent on prescription sleeping pills. Even the prescription drugs do little good. In 2007, an analysis of sleeping pill studies financed by the National Institutes of Health found that sleeping pills like Ambien, Lunesta, and Sonata reduced the average time to go to sleep by just under 13 minutes compared with placebos. Thirteen minutes is hardly worth the liver damage that these pills produce.
There are much better natural and free alternatives.
Sleep is important for health
People who sleep poorly have a tendecy toward heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes. They are 12% more likely to die early. We should sleep between six and nine hours per night, depending on our age and activity level. One-third of US adults claim to be somewhat sleep-deprived. If there are 100 million people drifting through their days partially exhausted, then our national health cost would probably be lower if these people would learn how to sleep rather than simply popping a pill.
How to tell if you're getting enought sleep? If you don't wake up in the morning energized and alert, either the length or the quality of your sleep needs some help. Check out the other articles on LesTout to find something that works for you.
Please note: The information here is not to be followed as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with your physician or primary health practitioner for information regarding your own personal health and necessary treatments.
