{"id":12174,"date":"2017-01-03T10:00:08","date_gmt":"2017-01-03T16:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/?p=12174"},"modified":"2017-01-03T01:17:11","modified_gmt":"2017-01-03T07:17:11","slug":"consumer-reports-says-widespread-misuse-of-common-otc-sleep-drugs-may-pose-serious-health-risks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/2017\/01\/03\/consumer-reports-says-widespread-misuse-of-common-otc-sleep-drugs-may-pose-serious-health-risks\/","title":{"rendered":"Consumer Reports says Widespread Misuse of Common OTC Sleep Drugs May Pose Serious Health Risks"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ConsumerYonkers, NY<\/strong> – Too many people with insomnia routinely rely on over-the-counter sleep medications on a daily basis, finds Consumer Reports.<\/p>\n

Given how many people develop a habit of taking these drugs, CR takes a closer look at the claim \u201cnon\u2013habit forming,\u201d found on packaging for these widely available medications, and notes that dependency can be psychological in nature and not necessarily physical.<\/p>\n

\"Misuse<\/a>

Misuse of Common OTC Sleep Drugs possibly linked to increased risk of dementia<\/p><\/div>\n

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In a nationally representative survey by Consumer Reports, nearly one in five (18%) respondents who said they took an OTC sleep aid within the past year, took it on a daily basis. An extraordinary forty-one percent of people who have taken OTC sleep aids in the past year said they used these medications for a year or longer. <\/p>\n

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\u201cMore people turn to over-the-counter sleep drugs than prescription meds for help with their insomnia. But given these survey findings, we can see consumers are taking them for far too long, which can be risky,\u201d says Lisa Gill, deputy content editor of Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs, a public education project that reviews more than 650 medications for common health conditions.<\/p>\n

Facts about the risks<\/h3>\n

One of the more serious concerns associated with the long-term use of first generation antihistamines, including diphenhydramine, is an increased risk of the possibility of dementia, including Alzheimer\u2019s disease. \u201cOur new report shows that for people with chronic insomnia, working with a cognitive behavioral therapist is a much better and safer first step than medication,\u201d says Gill.<\/p>\n

Diphenhydramine, found in many night-time sleep aids, may cause complications such as constipation, confusion, dizziness and next-day drowsiness and put consumers at increased risk for impaired balance, coordination and driving performance the day after the drug is used. Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs suggests if you must take an OTC insomnia medication, do so for only a few days at a time at the lowest recommended dose. And never take extra pills or mix the medication with other sleep drugs. If your insomnia doesn\u2019t go away after two weeks, it\u2019s time to see a doctor.<\/p>\n

For consumers struggling with chronic insomnia, CR Best Buy Drugs recommends cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) instead of sleeping pills as a first choice treatment. And for those who opt for a sleep aid, CR recommends several steps consumers can take to be safe. The report is part of a broader sleep package with advice on shopping for mattresses and pillows, featured in the February 2017 issue of Consumer Reports and online at CR.org.<\/p>\n

Consumers with sleep troubles \u2013 which can be easily aggravated during the holidays \u2013 might think the easy solution is to reach for one of those sleep drugs available over-the-counter such as Advil PM, Nytol, Simply Sleep, Sominex, Tylenol PM, Unisom SleepMinis, or perhaps the popular ZzzQuil, from the makers of Nyquil.<\/p>\n

Of concern is the drug diphenhydramine, a remedy long used to treat seasonal allergies that can create a psychological dependency, even though the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows manufacturers to claim lawfully that OTC drugs are non-habit forming. The claim \u201cnon-habit forming\u201d has been allowed since before the 1962 passage of legislation requiring drugs to be evaluated for safety, quality, and effectiveness before being marketed. At the time of their approval as OTC sleep aids, there wasn\u2019t enough evidence to show the drugs caused dependence, so the term remains even now on packages of OTC sleep meds.<\/p>\n

Based on a review of medical evidence, for those whose chronic insomnia is not so easily fixed, Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs recommends the following:<\/p>\n