Sleeping pill
Sleeping pill
A Sleeping pill (pronunciation: /ˈsliːpɪŋ pɪl/) is a type of medication designed to help individuals who have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep on their own.
Etymology
The term "sleeping pill" is derived from the English words "sleep," which means a condition of body and mind which typically recurs for several hours every night, in which the nervous system is inactive, the eyes closed, the postural muscles relaxed, and consciousness practically suspended, and "pill," which is a small round mass of solid medicine for swallowing whole.
Types of Sleeping Pills
There are several types of sleeping pills, which are also called hypnotics. Some of the major types include:
- Benzodiazepines: These are older sleep medications that can be habit-forming. They include Xanax, Ativan, and Valium.
- Nonbenzodiazepines: These newer medications have a different chemical structure but work in a similar way. They include Ambien, Lunesta, and Sonata.
- Melatonin receptor agonists: These target the same receptors in the brain as melatonin, a hormone that plays a role in your sleep-wake cycle. Ramelteon (Rozerem) is one example.
- Antidepressants: Some antidepressant medications, such as trazodone, can be used as sleeping pills.
Side Effects
Sleeping pills can have side effects, such as causing daytime grogginess and making you feel unwell. They can also cause dependence, meaning you may need to keep taking them to sleep, and withdrawal, meaning you may have trouble sleeping without them.
Related Terms
- Insomnia: A sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty falling and/or staying asleep.
- Sedative: A substance that induces sedation by reducing irritability or excitement.
- Hypnotic: A drug that induces sleep.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sleeping pill
- Wikipedia's article - Sleeping pill
This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski