I share this personal experience because one must be very careful about taking this very attractive drug. It is not only addictive, but also associated with sleepwalking and even more detailed “unconscious” activities. I ate a whole meal one night at a high-altitude home in New Mexico and had no recollection of eating this meal (even though the dirty plate was still in the sink, serving as evidence of my mid-deed at a friend’s home!).
Drugs that operate in a similar manner to Ambien are now available—such as Lunesta. Another set of sleep-inducing drugs contain benzodiazepine. Drugs such as Valium, Xanax and Halcion help us to fall asleep primary because they tend to reduce pain and provide some relief from anxiety and troubling thoughts that leave us thrashing around in bed. Another drug, Trazadone, is similarly intended to treat several different conditions—in this case disrupted sleep and depression.
All of these drugs are only taken when prescribed by a physician and each has its own addictive properties. While usually not as immediately addictive as Ambien, and more helpful in addressing sleep-related issues (such as anxiety and depression), the medications just mentioned must be taken with great care. Trade-offs must be weighed between taking one of these “convenient” medications and finding more “natural” ways to secure a good night of sleep (such as I have been identifying throughout this series of essays).
What about the ratings of our users and experts? They tend to concur with one another. Ambien and Lunesta are rated at the lowest point by experts and not much higher by the users. Trazadone similarly is rated low by both users and experts. It is also rated as “dangerous”—being a source of nightmares for some users. Added to this are matters of cost and accessibility. All of these drugs and other prescription drugs like them are not very accessible (needing a physician’s authorization). Furthermore, they are all very expensive in the long run (even with insurance discounts). This expense is not just financial. It is also psychological.
Over the Counter
There always is another option. Rather than waiting for a doctor to prescribe a drug following our meeting with this professional, we can simply go to our local drug store or supermarket and grab something off the shelf. These medications are usually less expensive than the prescribed drugs (though the costs of prescription drugs are often covered by government or private insurance plans). Unfortunately, we also are not restricted in the use of these drugs. We can take them as often as we want. While over-the-counter drugs are usually less addictive and have fewer side effects than the prescription drugs, they can still take over our life and generate unhealthy side effect.
One of the key differentiating factors when considering the use of an over-the-counter drug concerns their origins in “nature” or in a laboratory. At most drug stores (and even supermarkets) there is a shelf devoted to the “natural” sleep-enhancers. Many of these medications come in pill-form and contain such common ingredients as turmeric, hops, lavender, rosemary, passionflower, St.John’s Wort and Valerian. Stores often also carry sleep-enhancing medications that provide a mixture of several natural ingredients. Many variations of these mixed medications are on full display at organic food stores and stores specializing in health-enhancing and sports-related products. There are also the hemp-based drugs that contain cannabidiol (CBD). These sleep-enhancing and pain-reducing medications come in many forms (cream, lotion, rubs, oil and even gummies). They are becoming increasing available and popular with the approval in many states of cannabis (marihuana) when used for health-related matter.
