Sleep Aids

Over-The-Counter Sleep Aids

Being unable to get a good night’s sleep can be frustrating at first; over time, though, when you can’t sleep it can become a major health concern. The longer you go without a decent night’s sleep, the more your problems will seem to escalate. Your immune system can become compromised, and personal relationships can become strained due to a short temper brought on by sleeplessness. Many people turn to over-the-counter sleep aids for relief.

If you are considering over-the-counter sleep aids, it is important to keep in mind that not all of them are effective. In fact, many over-the-counter sleep aids contain ingredients that can cause very unpleasant side effects. In some cases, a dependency to OTC sleep aids may even develop, which can lead to addiction. There are good over-the-counter sleep aids out there; the trick is finding natural ones that will truly help.

When do you need a sleep aid?

Just because you have a couple of nights without decent sleep doesn’t mean you need a sleep aid. Over-the-counter sleep aids should be reserved for times when lack of sleep has become relatively chronic or problematic. If you notice that your daily life is becoming negatively impacted by a lack of sleep, then over-the-counter sleep aids may be in order.

Waking up feeling exhausted, and dragging yourself through your day can be signs that you are developing a serious sleep problem. If the problems persist and worsen, you should speak with a doctor about them. At the same time, you may need to try out some over-the-counter sleep aids to get you through the problem and in order to get some sleep. Finding the right one can be tricky, but when you find one that works it can make a huge difference.

Are over-the-counter sleep aids effective?

Not all over-the-counter sleep aids are effective or beneficial. Some of them have ingredients that can prompt negative side effects, and others can cause dependency issues. However, there are definitely some natural over-the-counter sleep aids that are highly effective and that do not cause bad side effects. The key is to educate yourself about which ingredients work and which are safe. When you know which over-the-counter sleep aids have the right ingredients, you can make a much more informed decision.

Many people take their time in looking for OTC sleep aids and end up finding natural products that provide amazing benefits for them. You can achieve the same results by being willing to try a few different things. No single over-the-counter sleep aid is guaranteed to work, but there are some excellent products out there.

Over-the-counter sleep aids and addiction

One of the biggest worries that most people have about taking over-the-counter sleep aids is that they will cause dependency issues or even addiction. With addiction, the chances for overdosing are much greater, as are a lot of other serious problems. Although some over-the-counter sleep aids may cause addiction, relatively few of them actually do.

Habit forming OTC sleep aids are unusual, but very possible if you use them for a prolonged time. Many physicians agree that it still always best to stick with natural sleep aids for relief. You body is more likely to rebel again a product that has a lot of harsh chemicals in it. Over-the-counter sleep aids that contain synthetic ingredients may cause addiction or negative side effects; all of that can be avoided by sticking with natural products.

Best over-the-counter sleep aid

So, which over-the-counter sleep aid is right for you? That is not a simple question to answer, unfortunately. There are some things that you can look for, though, to help increase your chances of finding a suitable product. Natural over-the-counter sleep aids are much better than other varieties. Look for over-the-counter sleep aids that contain melatonin or 5HTP, since those two ingredients are generally agreed to be the most effective in treating many different sleep disorders.

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone in the body, and 5HTP is an amino acid that is converted by the body to serotonin. Finding over-the-counter sleep aids that feature these ingredients increases your chances of getting exceptional results from whatever you choose. To help you find the best over the counter sleep aid, read our product reviews.