The National Sleep Foundation estimates that half of all Americans have some degree of insomnia. It’s a familiar problem to many of my patients.
But you don’t have to suffer through sleepless nights and groggy days. In today’s Health Alert, I’ll show you how to get a better night sleep naturally.
Sleeping Pills are Addictive
Many Americans have turned to sleeping aids to combat sleeplessness. But both prescription and over-the-counter medications cause dependency. And some pose serious health risks.
Over-the-counter sleep aids contain antihistamines. Antihistamines may “knock” you out, but they may compromise your immune system. Medications like Nytol, Unisom, Sleep-Eze, and Sominex all contain antihistamines.
Side Effects of Antihistamine Containing Sleep-Aids:
Day-time Drowsiness
Dizziness
Irritability
Weakness
Nausea
Stomach Pain
Dry Mouth
Headache
Constipation
Memory Loss
Prescription drugs are even more dangerous. The most commonly used group of sleeping pills – benzodiazepines – are very addicting. These drugs include Valium, Restoril, Halcion and Prosom. Taking these drugs puts patients on a slippery slope. If you take one of these drugs regularly, you will become addicted. Sleep will become near impossible without the drug.
The newer generation of sleep aids like Ambien and Lunesta claim to have no side effects. Although some of my patients have complained of headaches from taking Ambien. But regardless of their claims, we still don’t know what the side effects might be. Lunesta has only been on the market for about a year.
The FDA Took the Best “Sleeping Pill” Off the Market
The amino acid tryptophan is quite safe and effective as a sleep aid. Tryptophan is found naturally in milk and turkey. It’s the reason these foods have the reputation for making us sleepy.
Some readers may remember buying tryptophan in health food stores in the 1980’s. Unfortunately, the FDA banned this natural supplement in the US.
At one point, there was a contaminated batch. The manufacturer quickly identified and removed the contaminant in the manufacturing process but the FDA continued to enforce the ban. Tryptophan continues to be popular around the world.
A couple of years ago, the FDA, under pressure, once again allowed the use of tryptophan in the US. But they made tryptophan available only by prescription. The problem is, most physicians who could write you that prescription, don’t. Since tryptophan occurs naturally, there is no patent, little profit and no interest from drug companies.
You will probably have to ask your doctor for a prescription. Most pharmacies carry it. I use a starting dose of 250 mg a half hour before bedtime. If that doesn’t produce good quality sleep, I increase the dose to 500 mg. You can enhance its effect by taking it with a glass of warm milk.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD