Reaching for the first sleep aid you find when insomnia hits? Not all sleeping pills are the same. Each class of sleep aid works a bit differently from the other, and side effects vary.
It's important to ask key questions before choosing your sleep medicine.
- How long does it take for the sleeping pill to take effect?
- How long do the effects last?
- What's the risk of becoming dependent on the sleeping pill, physically or psychologically?
All sleep medicines have the potential for causing dependence. In the large majority of cases, however, this is psychological dependence, not physical.
Talk with your doctor, and use this chart to help you decide which sleeping pill is right for you.
