But your health care provider should watch you carefully to make sure that the drug is helping and not causing bad side effects. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl Allergy, Nytol, Sominex, Gravol, generic)Ĭonsider these drugs if the sleep problems are affecting your quality of life and nothing else has helped.Avoid these over-the-counter sleep drugs: Side effects of some drugs can be especially bothersome for seniors: next-day drowsiness, confusion, constipation, dry mouth, and difficulty urinating.

Over-the-counter drugs may not be a good choice. Instead, modern psychiatrists tend to prescribe benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), and clonazepam (Klonopin) for. Sometimes medications under the class antipsychotics or antidepressants are prescribed primarily for sleep including: Kinds of sleeping pills (sedative-hypnotics).Īll of these pills have risks, especially for older adults: Sleep problems can be caused by depression or anxiety, pain, restless leg syndrome, and many other conditions.Įven if an exam does not turn up an underlying cause, you should try other solutions before you try drugs (tips for better sleep are found below). There are also concerns they may be as addictive as other sedatives. Studies suggest they have as much or more risk than the older sleep drugs. “Z” drugs include Zolpidem (Ambien and generic) and Zopiclone (Imovane and generic). These are common causes of hospitalization and death in older people. More than double the risk of falls and hip fractures.The drugs can cause confusion and memory problems as well as changes in balance that: Seniors are likely to be more sensitive to the drugs’ effects than younger adults.Īnd these drugs may stay in their bodies longer. Sleeping pills can have serious, or even deadly side effects.Īll sedative-hypnotic drugs have special risks for older adults.

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