Expert: Karel Sleis Date: 8/9/2005 Subject: Over the counter sleep aids
Question hello my name is Manny, I completely stopped using alcohol almost 3 months ago as I had started drinking every day to get to sleep, and became fearful for my health and well being. Ever since I stopped the alcohol, I have been having to use an over the counter sleep aid called UNISOM (active ingredient: Doxylamine succinate 25mg) I usually use twice the recomended dose, but it really works great, I wake up rested and feeling ok. My question is: how safe is it for me to be using this on a continuous regular basis? how long can I keep this up for?, and what are the dangers if I use it permanently or too long?
any and all help is greatly appreciated,
Thanks
Manny
Answer Unisom and tylenol sleep all have the same ingredients.However when taken for a long period of time,tolerance occurs which you will find the need to take more and more.It can be highly addicted.Most sleep center only suggest using these no more than 5 days.If you wer to stop it,you would find yourself hit head on with a severe bout of insomnia,restlessness and anxiety.Therefore it would be wise to cut the dose down and gradually decrease say every 5 days until you are off it.Although it works fine now,it wont after a while.Each individual is different.Also these drugs like others can have damage to your kidney and liver so its important to get periodic liver function tests at least every 3 to 6 months.I would suggest you try the following if you do decide to stop it.Stay away from coke,pepsi,caramel colored drinks, chocolate, and exercise, and caffeine at least 3 hours before bedtime.If you find your unable to sleep you should after 20 minutes get out of bed and do something boring like reading a book.If you find your nodding off immediately go back into the bed.You have to retrain th brain in thinking the bedroom is for sleep only.Regardless of how much or little sleep you get,go to bed and awaken each time every day.Also the old cliche warm milk before bed.Milk when heated contains an amino acid tryptophan which induces sleep.This will take at least 6to 8 weeks to regulate your sleep cycle back after you cojme off the unisom.Should your insomnia persist then you can ask your physician,but I fear he will only order something stronger.You can go to a sleep center for an evaluation.Also should you find after you are coming off the unisom you have such severe anxiety,you may have to go to the e/r for a shot of ativan which conteracts the side effects.Or what you can do is tell your physician you are coming off the unisom and would like at least 10 mg. tablets of ativan,so if the anxiety gets too bad you can take an ativan which will help you come off the unison easier.However only take it when the anxiety is unbearable and only for the ten pills.As we dont want to have to wean you off the ativan.Try calming ,sooth music,sleep in a dark room try a sleep mask to cover your eyes,for me a cold compress over my forehead and eyes help relax me or one wven behind the neck.You can purchase a couple of the reuseable ice bags,pop in the freezer and use them at night.Hope some of these tips help.Feel free to email again.Good luck,karel
