Senior Health Connection
Of Pills and Pillows
Are Sleep Aids the Answer to Those Restless Nights?
If you’re having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at night, you’ve probably wondered whether taking an over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription sleep aid may help. With so many types available, it may seem as if some of them could do the trick, and taking a pill is a quick, easy thing to do if you’re already exhausted and short on time.“Remember to use sleep aids prudently and with a doctor’s OK, especially if you take other medications,” says Matt Johnson, Director of ChelseaCare Pharmacy. “Negative drug interactions could be serious, so it’s a good idea to talk to a pharmacist about all the drugs you’re taking before you pick up a sleep aid.”
OTC Sleep Aids — Most contain antihistamines, which are usually used to reduce congestion, sneezing, and coughing associated with allergies. A side effect of antihistamines is drowsiness, which makes them useful if you need help getting to sleep. On the downside, they may give you a groggy feeling the next morning. Antihistamines should be avoided in people with heart disease and in older people. Older people in general may become confused with antihistamines and older men can develop problems urinating.
Prescription sleep medications — Since the 1970s, most sleep aids work by interacting with a brain chemical that encourages sleep. These drugs may include Halcion, Prosom, and Restoril. Newer prescription sleep medications have fewer side effects but the same effect on the brain. Ambien, Sonata, and Lunesta are being prescribed more frequently to treat insomnia. Rozerem (ramelteon) helps your brain detect melatonin, which encourages drowsiness and sleep.
Dietary supplements — Valerian root, an herbal supplement, and melatonin supplements have recently been touted as “natural” sleep aids, but few studies have been conducted to determine their effectiveness or possible side effects. Melatonin, which is the most widely used supplement, is secreted by the brain in response to darkness, resulting in a lowered body temperature and drowsiness. Initial reports show melatonin is best used for jet lag or shift work.
If you are taking a prescription or OTC sleep aid, don’t take more than the recommended dose, don’t drink alcohol while taking them, and don’t combine different kinds. Pregnant women should avoid sleep aids.
Sound Sleep Is Not Just for the Young
CCH Can Help You with Sleep Apnea — Whatever Your Age
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by interrupted breathing during sleep. If untreated, people with sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during sleep, sometimes hundreds of times.“People with sleep apnea awaken many times during the night, making deep sleep difficult,” says Jim Weintraub, MD, a neurologist and sleep medicine physician at Chelsea Community Hospital. “Typically, they do not remember waking up, but often feel tired the next day. Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to hypertension, a stroke, or heart problems, including heart failure.”
Are You at Risk?
While sleep apnea can affect a person at any age, common risk factors include:- Being overweight
- Being age 40 or older
- Being male
- Having a family history of sleep apnea
How Can CCH Help You?
First, talk to your primary care physician. He or she can help identify common causes of poor sleep. Once you reach age 60, you sleep less in one session than you did while younger because your body is less able to maintain sleep for a relatively lengthy period. In particular, deep sleep suffers.Sleep problems in the aging population often are made worse by factors such as illness and pain; stress over illness or loss of a loved one; depression; certain medications; eating too close to bedtime; and consumption of alcohol and caffeine.
If you need a sleep study, your primary care physician will refer you. At the CCH Sleep Lab, sleep specialists will monitor you while you sleep (see related article on page 4). This thorough evaluation allows the sleep specialists at Chelsea to work with your physician to develop a treatment plan to help you sleep.
Don’t assume sleep apnea is related to your age. If you have concerns about your sleep, talk to your doctor.
