Take some melatonin when you can't sleep? 4 misunderstandings about insomnia medication, experts from West China University of Political Science and Law urge you to be cautious!

Facing the epidemic, Chengdu people are very stubborn and never give up.

You can tell from one picture 👇

Although this is a joke, the editor who has always insisted on popularizing health knowledge to everyone can't help but say something when seeing this picture:

Don’t take sleeping pills randomly!

Many people turn to sleeping pills to solve their insomnia problem, thinking that the effect is quick and convenient; others regard sleeping pills as a disaster, fearing that they will become "addicted" and have serious side effects.

It seems that people still have many misunderstandings about sleeping pills. Today we invite Dr. Tan Lu from the Sleep Medicine Center of West China Hospital of Sichuan University to give you a good explanation!

Myth 1:

× If you can’t sleep, take some sleeping pills.

Friends who have such wrong ideas have not made a clear distinction between "inability to sleep" and "insomnia".

Most people who can’t sleep do not suffer from insomnia.

Sleeping too much during the day, drinking a few cups of coffee, doing high-intensity exercise before going to bed...all of these may make you toss and turn and have a sleepless night.

There are very detailed and professional medical diagnostic criteria for true insomnia.

In general, if you still have long-term (at least 3 months) sleep disorders such as difficulty falling asleep, being unable to sleep through the night, waking up early, etc. despite having enough sleep time and a good sleeping environment, and your sleep quality has affected your normal daytime life , you may consider the possibility of insomnia.

What you should do at this time is not to take sleeping pills, but to seek help from a professional doctor - receive evaluation and clinical diagnosis.

If drug intervention is really necessary, be sure to choose sleeping pills under the guidance of a doctor.

Myth 2:

× The longer the duration of action of sleeping pills, the better the effect.

Many people have only one requirement for sleep: to ensure enough sleep time - which makes people have to admit that this is a small-minded approach.

As mentioned earlier, insomnia also has different symptoms. Some people can't fall asleep, while others wake up early.

According to these different symptoms, the selection of sleeping pills is very particular! It is not that the longer the effect time, the better the effect, and it is more suitable for you.

The choice of sleeping pills is quite complicated! You need to consider your sleep conditions, living habits, physical condition and other information to make your choice. In simple terms, the basic selection principles are as follows:

▶ For those who have trouble falling asleep

Drugs with rapid onset of action and short half-life can be used, with non-benzodiazepines being the first choice (such as zolpidem, zaleplon, zopiclone and eszopiclone, etc.).

▶ For those who have light sleep and wake up early

Zopiclone and eszopiclone can be used as options, as well as antidepressants and antipsychotics with sedative effects (such as doxepin, trazodone, mirtazapine, quetiapine, mirtazapine, etc.).

In addition, medium-acting benzodiazepines (such as estazolam tablets, alprazolam, lorazepam tablets, etc.) can increase the patient's total sleep time while relieving anxiety and nervousness.

▶ For those who have difficulty falling asleep, shallow sleep and early awakening

Combination medication can be used, with non-benzodiazepines combined with sedative antidepressants and antipsychotics being the first choice.

In addition, you can also choose long-acting sleeping pills (such as diazepam, clonazepam, flurazepam, nitrazepam), but you are likely to experience headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and other discomforts when you wake up the next day after taking the medicine.

The best time to take sleeping pills is generally 30 minutes before bedtime . It is not advisable to take the pills too early or too late, as this will affect the effectiveness of the pills.

Myth 3:

× Sleeping pills are addictive.

Some people worry that long-term use of sleeping pills will lead to "addictiveness", so they stop taking the pills after taking them for a few days and feeling that their sleep has improved... As a result, insomnia recurs.

In fact, you should not worry too much about addiction. You must use the drug correctly under the guidance of a professional doctor. Everyone has different individual differences, and the situation of taking and stopping the drug will also be different.

Generally speaking, it is best not to take sleeping pills continuously for more than 4 weeks .

During the medication period, you can actively improve your living habits, maintain a regular schedule, and exercise appropriately to reduce the dependence caused by long-term use of sleeping pills.

If you feel that the symptoms of insomnia have improved, do not stop taking sleeping pills all at once. You need to gradually reduce the dosage according to the symptoms of insomnia . Otherwise, you may easily experience withdrawal reactions such as insomnia rebound.

In short, whether to take sleeping pills, how to take them, and how to stop taking them, all actions should be decided by your doctor!

Myth 4:

× Melatonin is healthier than sleeping pills.

Most of the melatonin products on the market are actually health supplements.

(However, melatonin receptor agonists such as melatonin sustained-release tablets and ramelteon are also a type of sleeping pill.)

Melatonin is actually a hormone secreted by our body that induces natural sleep . Its secretion is affected by changes in light intensity, allowing us to maintain a certain circadian rhythm.

● Dark conditions increase the secretion of melatonin, which helps the body enter sleep mode;

● When there is sufficient light, the secretion of melatonin will decrease, allowing the body to wake up slowly...

Studies have shown that melatonin has a hypnotic effect and can help people fall asleep, but it may not be effective for problems such as early awakening, poor sleep quality, and short sleep time.

Many people buy melatonin at the drugstore for convenience when they can't sleep, but they don't notice that the use of melatonin may cause side effects such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, drowsiness , and that it is not recommended to drive within 5 hours of taking it .

If taken for a long time, it may also cause a decrease in the body's original melatonin metabolism level and the disappearance of circadian rhythm, resulting in reduced or even disappearance of efficacy.

Therefore, any use of medication must be done under the doctor's advice!