Is It Safe to Take Sleeping Pills Every Night?
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Medically reviewed by Valerie Cacho, MD
Among the many treatments for sleep problems, insomnia medications are one of them. There are over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription sleeping pills, which may be recommended with other treatments like keeping a consistent sleeping schedule or sleep therapies.
Sleeping pills may come with side effects such as excessive drowsiness, problems with concentration, and sometimes allergic reactions. They are also not the best choice for long-term use. Here's what you need to know about the best sleep aids and how to get better sleep overall.
Types
Taking sleeping pills may help with sleeping problems. You can buy OTC sleeping pills or get a prescription for sleeping pulls from a healthcare provider. The purpose of these short-term medications is to improve sleep in general but also reduce how long it takes until you fall asleep.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Sleeping Pills
Many of the OTC sleeping pills available are or contain antihistamines. Antihistamines are medications that help treat allergies. While they can result in drowsiness for long periods, they are not long-term options because their effectiveness wears off over time.
Prescription Sleeping Pills
You might be prescribed hypnotics, or sedatives, to help you fall asleep if you have insomnia. You may also hear the terms "benzodiazepines" or "Z-drugs" when a provider refers to a prescription sleeping pill. The goal of taking these types of pills is to keep you from staying awake longer as you attempt to go to sleep.
Side Effects of Sleeping Pills
Just as with any medication, there can be side effects of sleeping pills. They can include:
Allergic reactions
Balance issues
Daytime drowsiness—a common side effect
Problems thinking clearly
Strange nocturnal behaviors such as walking, driving, or eating while asleep
Of note: Allergic reactions and nocturnal behaviors are rare, serious side effects. See a healthcare provider if you experience these effects.
Considerations
Avoid alcohol use at the same time as sleeping pill use. Combining the two can lead to excessive drowsiness, increasing the risk of injuries and memory issues. Drinking alcohol and using sleeping pills together can also result in death, as both slow your breathing.
In some cases, a healthcare provider may need to prescribe sleeping medications for children as a supplement to behavioral or habit changes related to sleep. With that in mind, work with a pediatrician to determine how sleeping pills fit into the treatment plan.
Talk to the pediatrician if any adjustments to the medication are necessary. It's best to consult with the pediatrician for those adjustments, as overdoses can be deadly for children.
Talk to your OB-GYN before taking sleeping pills if you are pregnant. Research has shown that there is a link between sleeping pill use—specifically with benzodiazepines—and birth-related outcomes. These outcomes were ones such as increased preterm birth risks and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions.
What Happens If You Take Sleeping Pills Every Day?
People can rely on sleeping pills to get the sleep they need. That dependency can occur when they take the pills every day—for even a few days. OTC sleeping pills don't have an addictive quality, so a person will not become dependent upon them to fall asleep.
Researchers have studied the long-term use of sleeping pills. One study looked at people taking hypnotics or anxiolytics—anti-anxiety medications— consistently for three years. The researchers found that those medications increased their mortality in a dose-dependent manner. Based on those results, the researchers suggested limiting use to two to four weeks.
Another study investigated a group of people taking sleeping pills over two years. Those people, especially those taking benzodiazepines, also had increased mortality.
Can You Overdose on Sleeping Pills?
You can overdose on certain types of sleeping pills—namely benzodiazepines. Taking extremely high doses of these medications may lead to very slow, shallow breathing and stupor. Stupor is a condition where it takes a lot of effort to wake a person and the wakefulness is only temporary.
How To Take Sleeping Pills Safety
Here are some ways to take prescription sleeping medications safely:
Read the package insert that comes with your sleeping pills.
Follow the directions on your prescription medication, and don't take more than your prescription.
Never drink alcohol near the time you're planning on taking a sleeping pill.
Never drive or operate machinery after taking a sleeping pill.
Only take a sleeping pill when you can devote at least seven to eight hours to a full night's sleep.
Try to take your first dose of the sleeping pill on a night when you don't have to be anywhere the next day.
Work With a Healthcare Provider
Always talk with a healthcare provider before taking a sleeping pill. They'll want to monitor how you feel and react if one is prescribed or recommended for you. The provider might suggest starting at a lower dose and trying the medications in the short term to get information about those effects.
The provider will need to know what other medications you're taking and your health conditions, including high blood pressure or liver problems. This ensures that the sleeping pills won't have an interaction with the medications you're already taking.
Tips for Better Sleep
Getting healthy sleep is vital for your overall health. When you're asleep, your body and brain recover from the day's activities. In children, sleep plays an additional role in proper growth and development. The following tips can help support sleep quantity and quality:
Avoid napping: Naps can throw off your sleep schedule.
Consider trying sleep therapies: Ultraviolet (UV) light therapy can regulate your melatonin, orofacial therapy can help if you have sleep apnea, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can reset your views on sleep and help you relax.
Discuss your over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications with a healthcare provider: Something you're taking could interfere with your sleep.
Eat your meals on a consistent schedule: Avoid eating late in the day.
Ensure your bedroom encourages sleep: Keep the room cool, quiet, and dark. Keep the television and your phone off.
Find ways to relax and calm yourself before bedtime: Try reading, deep breathing, taking a bath, or listening to relaxing music.
Get regular physical activity during the day: Make sure your exercise is five to six hours before bedtime.
Keep your sleep schedule the same daily: Go to bed and wake up around the same time, even on weekends.
Limit your fluid intake close to bedtime: You're less likely to get up to use the bathroom than if you drink a lot of water before sleeping.
No caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol close to bedtime: Alcohol might make you sleepy. But you may sleep lighter than normal, making you frequently wake up in the middle of the night.
When To Contact a Healthcare Provider
Talk with a healthcare provider about using prescription sleep medication if you've tried all the different ways to encourage sleep without sleeping pills and still have trouble. You'll want to seek medical attention if you are taking sleeping pills and have:
Addiction, dependency, and signs of either or both when taking the medications
Confusion
Difficulties with focus, performance, or driving
Euphoria—excess joy
Increased nervousness
More falls or problems with thinking and memory—especially if you are an older adult
Morning drowsiness
Contact a healthcare provider immediately if you have sleep medication problems as well. You'll want to see them if you're taking sleeping pills longer than one month and still have trouble falling asleep, for example.
A Quick Review
Getting a good night's sleep is vital to your overall health; sometimes, a sleeping pill may be necessary to help you get that sleep. Sleeping pills are available over the counter and as prescriptions but come with side effects and special considerations for their use.
Discuss with a healthcare provider if a sleeping pill will help you get some rest for problems with sleep. You can also try sleep hygiene practices like keeping your bedroom dark and cool and not eating or drinking before bed as alternatives to sleeping pills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which sleeping pills work immediately?
Hypnotics can work quickly since their goal is to help you fall asleep faster.
Do sleeping pills give you real sleep?
No—sleeping pills only make you sleepy and help you fall asleep. You can still feel tired or groggy the next day after sleeping pill use.
What is the safest sleeping pill to take every night?
OTC sleeping pills will not make you dependent on them, so they can be the safest option. Keep in mind, however, that it's not a good idea to take sleeping pills every night, and consult a healthcare provider before use.
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