June 18, 2011. Paul Hixon
Sleep is something that every person needs. But a lot of people do not get enough of it.
Because of this, people use different forms of sleeping aids to help them fall asleep fast. One of which is the sleeping pill. There are varieties that are not safe, but there are those that have proven to be safe. Here is a list of the safer forms of non-prescription pills that can be bought over the counter.
The most popular among the non-prescription sleeping drugs is melatonin. It is a hormone that comes from the pineal gland of the brain. It helps in the maintenance of the body’s sleep cycle, otherwise known as circadian rhythm. Melatonin is one of the herbal varieties of sleeping pills. For this reason, it has no known major side effects. It is prescribed for both children and adults. Despite its relatively safe advantage, care should be taken in buying this pill. Do not choose the ones obtained from animals. It has some minor side effects like dizziness, bloating and drowsiness. These symptoms counteract the effect of the drug. Before taking any melatonin, consult with a doctor.
Valerian is another plant-based sleeping pill. The plant contained in this pill has the ability to increase the supply of gamma amino butyric acid in the body. This effect cannot be fully explained yet; but it has been proven to be very beneficial. Valerian is not as strong as other medications and this is its main advantage. Unlike other sleep inducing pills, valerian works by quickly relaxing the body to sleep. Its known side effects are nausea, dizziness and headaches. It can cause more serious side effects like paralysis. Use this drug with care.
Chamomile is one of the relaxing and sleep-inducing substances known to many. It is produced as oil, body wash and even tea. All these have the same goal of relaxing the body. Sleeping pills have been innovated to contain chamomile as the main ingredient. The main advantage of this type of sleeping pill is its lack of side effects.
Finally, Sleep MD is one of the popular varieties of all non-prescription sleeping pills. This is made from a drug-free formula produced to help patients get peaceful sleep. As of the moment, no major side effects have been reported relating to this drug.
If you are looking for ways to fall asleep, talk to your doctor about whether taking non-prescription sleep aids is right for you.
Updated June 18, 2011. Published March 21, 2011. Paul Hixon
