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[X. Z. Kautsch]

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Has insomnia tortured you to the point where you are looking into sleep aids? If so you are definitely not alone, it is estimated that more than 35 million Americans suffer from long term insomnia and require a sleep aids to get the sleep they need to function. Unfortunately in many cases sleep aids actually impair function, and leave the user worse off than before he or she began to use them. Benzodiazepines like Xanax, as well as non-benzodiazepine sleep aids like Ambien carry with them life-disrupting side effects. Before resorting to prescription sleep aids there are lifestyle changes you can try; cut down on coffee and cigarettes, especially before bedtime. Flipping your mattress, adjusting room temperature and trying to drown out noise can all be used in place of sleep aids. If those don't work the next step should be herbal sleep aids which provide relief without side effects, addiction or overdose. Herbal sleep aids are more effective that a lot of people give them credit for. Only after you have tried all of these or determined that the insomnia is caused by a serious physical problem should you consider prescription sleep aids.

Sleeping pills come in many different forms, but the two most common are benzodiazepines (sleeping pills like Ativan and Valium) and sleeping pills like Ambien. While they are usually effective in the treatment of insomnia induced by anxiety, they risks and side effects of prescription sleeping pills can be extreme and far outweigh the benefits. For example, Xanax has been known to cause hallucinations, blurred vision and sometimes even increased anxiety and depression, which exacerbates insomnia. Ambien sleeping pills also quickly induce sleep but still have a wide range of negative side effects. In addition, Ambien can cause an overdose and is suspected in the death of actor Heath Ledger. Because of all of this, prescription sleeping pills are generally not recommended and even doctors won't prescribe them for long periods of time. Herbal supplements and relaxation techniques should be used in place of sleeping pills wherever possible.

Lorazepam has shown moderate effectiveness in controlling anxiety and some effectiveness in the treatment of insomnia. Many people however find that Lorazepam stops working for them after a week or two while conversely another group of people use Lorazepam for long periods of time recreationally. This is because Lorazepam, like most benzodiazepines, produces a very pleasant and euphoric feeling that lends itself to addiction. Also to be taken into account is the fact that one can easily form a dependence on Lorazepam for dealing with anxiety or sleep. These problems will become amplified if one stops taking Lorazepam. Psychiatric science is in its infancy compared to other realms of science, and in the future hopefully there will be much more effective and side effect free drugs than Lorazepam; for now it is best to avoid using prescription anti anxiety drugs if possible and instead look for help in milder forms of treatment such as therapy, introspection as well as natural remedies. St John's Wort and other herbs have been used clinically all over the world and are quite effective in treating anxiety and insomnia. In my opinion, Lorazepam should only be used to correct severe chemical imbalances.

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