What are the alternatives to sleeping pills?

Every year, come September, the European Sleep Research Society holds its annual conference. It attracts experts from around the world, all of whom want to catch up with the latest research into one of the least well understood things we all do. Despite the best efforts of top brains in the scientific world, we still do not know why we sleep nor what processes take place during sleep to benefit us. There are many theories about the need to dream as a form of memory processing, of sleep as a means of topping up the immune system to keep us safe from diseases, and so on. But there is only one thing everyone can agree on. Disrupt sleep and we all walk around like zombies. Keep up the disruption and the function of both mind and body starts to break down. Yet even at this point, there can be disagreement. Some people enjoy untroubled and successful lives on four or five hours of sleep every night. Others seem to need not less than nine hours a night to remain functional. In part, the ability to adapt to less sleep seems to be partly genetic and partly learned. In some, the need for sleep reduces as they age. The conclusion is clear. There is no right or wrong length of time to sleep. As you grow up and develop habit patterns, you will settle on a routine that works for you and your lifestyle. You should ignore advice setting precise sleep targets, e.g. everyone needs an average of eight hours a night. If you are fit and well, you are sleeping enough.

If you are not fit and well, and the cause is disruption to your usual sleep patterns, then action should be taken. But before you reach for the sleeping pills, take a moment to think. What is disrupting your sleep? If your sleeping environment has changed so there is more light or noise, you should buy heavier curtains to keep out the light and soundproof the room. If you are uncomfortable because of changes in temperature, change the bedding and do something about heating or the air-conditioning. These simple steps may restore sleep without you having to do anything else. But if the causes are physical, e.g. you have developed a disease or disorder causing pain and this keeps you awake, you should investigate treatment for that problem and take painkillers rather than rely on sleeping pills. Similarly, if you are stressed and depressed, treatment to relieve the stress and reduce the depression should be the first step.

None of this removes the need for a drug like ambien. It is the market leader for a good reason. It is a highly effective and safe treatment for insomnia. But it is not a drug you should take over the long term. If at all possible, you should try to recapture the old habits of sleep without becoming dependent on pills. The best modern research confirms cognitive behavioral therapy achieves the best outcomes, but health plans often do not pay for it and it can be too expensive for private sessions. So, to recover balance in your life, buy ambien and use it for a short period, changing your sleeping arrangements to maximise the chances of sleep the natural way.