2001-09-14
CBS

(CBS) . Ambien is the most widely prescribed sleeping medication in the United States. Research has shown that it works best in people who have trouble falling asleep and tend to awaken frequently throughout the night. Sonata is best for people who have trouble falling asleep.

Trazadone is an anti-depressant medication that has a side effect of making some people sleepy. This drug is used in lower doses than to treat depression. The benefit is that Trazadone tends not to be addictive, unlike some sleeping aids.

Valerian and Melatonin are dietary supplements. Valerian is an herbal remedy that is best for people with occasional sleeplessness caused by stress. It is not recommended for chronic insomniacs. A recent study out of Europe found that Valerian helps people fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.

Melatonin, which made a huge splash a few years ago was once touted as "nature's sleeping pill." But recent studies have suggested it is not very effective.

But before taking either of these supplements, you need to tell your doctor. Herbal remedies can have adverse reactions with prescription drugs.

Are there any long-term risks of taking sleeping pills? I’ve read about something called rebound insomnia.

Many people are very worried about becoming addicted to sleeping pills, says Metzl. But recent studies suggest most people with insomnia don't abuse sleeping aids. Also, for most people, four weeks is the recommended time limit for taking sleeping pills, which cuts back on the risk of becoming addicted. However, people who take large doses of medications increase their risk of rebound insomnia. This is when a person stops taking their prescription and experiences worse insomnia than they had before. The trick is to try and not take these every night--just when needed. (CBS Saturday Early Show)

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