Drug interactions are also possible, and much remains unknown about the safety and effectiveness of sleeping aids available without a prescription. There are, however, a few caveats. The longer you take them, the less likely they are to make you drowsy. If you’re struggling with sleep disorders, you may have checked the over-the-counter sleep aid section at your local pharmacy and wondered if something on those shelves could help put an end to tossing around.
If you’re struggling with sleep disorders, you may have checked the over-the-counter sleep aid section at your local pharmacy and wondered if something on those shelves could help put an end to tossing around. They may suggest additional interventions, such as prescription sleep aids or cognitive behavioral therapy, which may help with sleep disorders.
What is the most important over-the-counter medication for insomnia?
Since almost all over-the-counter sleeping aids contain either diphenhydramine hydrochloride or doxylamine succinate, there is always a choice between these two active ingredients. This means that there is really no way to know with certainty whether the pill contains what is on the label. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, antihistamine (usually diphenhydramine hydrochloride or doxylamine succinate) is the most common ingredient in over-the-counter sleep aids. Since its use has a lower hangover effect and is milder than that of doxylamine, it is usually a good first choice in this category of over-the-counter sleeping aids.