When you are unable to get the required amount of sleep, it can be a pain. Lack of sleep has an impact on the mind; you become exhausted, you lack concentration, your memory starts to deteriorate, you get more headaches, and many more problems seem to surface. Without the right amount of sleep, you won’t have the necessary energy to give the day your all.
This is why one-third of adults rely on sleeping aids to help them get a good night's rest. Sleeping aids make the user drowsy, causing them to fall asleep faster and sleep longer. This helps people who are sleep-deprived, have trouble thinking, or suffer from other consequences that a lack of sleep brings.
However, sleep medications are typically not meant for long-term use. Research has shown that long-term use of some sleep aids is associated with an increased risk of dementia. A brain chemical for memory and learning is blocked by anticholinergic medications, like Benadryl and Dramamine.
These pills are safe to use, but taking them frequently could increase your risk of developing dementia. But this doesn’t mean you should stop taking your medication altogether. Keep in mind that before stopping any prescribed medication, you should always check with your doctor.
What is Dementia?
Dementia is the inability to think clearly, remember things, or make decisions. When your nerve cells have been damaged or lost, this typically results in dementia. Dementia can also occur when a chemical in the brain called acetylcholine is blocked, which is caused by sleeping pills.
Despite the fact that dementia mostly affects older adults, it is not a normal aspect of aging. Dementia can affect people differently, making an impact on either their memory, attention, communication, reasoning, or all of the above. There can also be psychological changes such as depression, paranoia, personality changes, hallucinations, and more.
There are many types of dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common. This disease is brought on by specific brain changes, which make it difficult to recall recent events and, later in the illness, more distant memories. Other types of dementia include mixed dementia, frontotemporal dementia, lewy body dementia, and vascular dementia.
How Some Prescription Sleep Aids Can Increase Your Risk of Dementia
When taken for longer than a few months, some prescription sleeping pills, such as benzodiazepines and anticholinergics, are associated with a risk of dementia. This is due to the fact that these medications affect how neurotransmitters function. This causes confusion and lapses in your memory.
According to studies, people who use these drugs for an extended period of time are more likely to develop dementia than those who do not. Acetylcholine will be blocked, for example, if anticholinergic medications are taken for an extended period of time.
Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter essential for the nervous system. This neurotransmitter functions in the brain's learning, memory, and attention processes. This is also essential for the body's ability to control its muscles and stimulate the autonomic nerves that control our digestive and cardiovascular systems.
Benzodiazepines have a reputation for reducing anxiety and promoting sleep. It accomplishes this by making another neurotransmitter, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), more effective. GABA slows the activity of brain neurons and becomes more effective with benzodiazepines.
However, due to benzodiazepines' anterograde amnesia properties, benzodiazepines affect both short-term and long-term memory performance. This is why their sleep aids increase the risk of dementia.
Sleep Aids Associated With an Increased Risk of Dementia
There are many types of sleep aids that include both anticholinergics and benzodiazepines. Here are some of them that you should keep an eye out for when looking for sleep aids:
Anticholinergics
- Benadryl
- Dramamine
- Excedrin PM
- Nytol
- Sominex
- Aleve PM
- Tylenol PM
- Unisom
Benzodiazepines
- Ativan
- Librium
- Valium
- Xanax
- Restoril
- Halcion
When used for extended periods, these sleeping aids have been found to increase the risk of dementia.
Why Older Individuals Are at Greater Risk
Getting older is a natural process of life. We experience many physical and mental changes throughout this process, as well as changes in how we process medication. In general, older adults metabolize drugs more slowly, which causes drug levels in the blood to stay higher for a longer time.
As we get older, we also put on more weight, which impacts how drugs are absorbed. Drugs may be stored in body fat for days after a person stops taking them as a result.
Additionally, older adults frequently take more prescription and over-the-counter medications due to medical conditions. However, each of these medications has the ability to either weaken or strengthen the others, which can be harmful.
Alternative Sleep Aids to Discuss With Your Doctor
If you feel that the side effects of anticholinergic and benzodiazepine drugs are too great of a risk, there are alternatives for you to consider. But, to avoid unintended side effects or drug interactions that could harm your health, you should only alter your medicine with your doctor's approval.
There are some sleeping medicines available that don’t include benzodiazepines and anticholinergics. Eszopiclone, lemborexant, and other medications fall within this category. However, we would like to focus on natural sleep aids, which have fewer side effects.
Natural sleep aids are over-the-counter supplements designed to make falling asleep and staying asleep much easier. These supplements typically come from plants, food-based vitamins or minerals, or supplemental amounts of what our body produces to maintain proper body function. This includes the following:
- Melatonin
- Lavender
- Valerian
- German Chamomile
- Passionflower
- Magnesium
- Glycine
Be sure to consider all the factors before taking any over-the-counter supplements. This includes your age, any existing medical issues, the causes of your insomnia or sleep problems, and any additional medications that you may be taking.
Conclusion
Sleep is such an essential aspect of life, which we should spend one-third of our days doing. Sleep deprivation causes headaches, reduced attention span, worsened memory, stress, lack of energy, and much more. This is why so many people depend on sleeping aids to get them through the day.
But there is evidence to suggest that long-term use of sleeping pills may cause dementia. Though this is not set in stone, it is advisable to avoid prolonged usage of sleeping pills by either taking them temporarily or by taking natural sleep aids instead. With natural sleep aids, you won’t have to worry about all the side effects that come with sleeping pills.
If you are an older adult, you are at a greater risk of experiencing the side effects of sleeping pills. Older adults have a slower metabolism than when they were younger, which causes them to absorb drugs at a much slower rate. This is why older adults should be extra cautious when going down this route.
Take the required actions mentioned in the FAQ below to make sure you have a good night’s rest. You can learn more sleeping tips like this by checking out other sleeping articles. Before you know it, you’ll be sleeping like a baby, regardless of whether you decide to stick with your standard sleeping aids, choose natural sleeping aids, or do anything else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do All Sleeping Pills Cause Memory Loss?
Many sleep aid medications cause memory loss as a side effect. This side effect is common with benzodiazepine medications like Xanax, Valium, and Ativan. The same is true of anticholinergic medications.
But not all sleeping pills have this effect. To find out more and to determine which sleeping pill is best for you, talk to your healthcare provider.
Are There Any Sleeping Pills You Can Take Long-Term?
Some sleeping pills have undergone testing for up to six months and are thought to be safer. These medications, which include Sonata, Ambien, and Lunesta, are non-benzodiazepines. These medications still have a number of harmful side effects, despite the fact that they aren't as bad as the earlier ones.
Is It Harmful To Take Sleeping Pills Every Night?
Yes, we advise that you don’t take sleeping pills every night due to their harmful effects, which you may experience down the line. You should only rely on sleeping aids for short-term purposes. There isn't much research on the safety of using sleep aids for longer than a few weeks. However, some studies have shown that regularly using sleep medications can have severe side effects.
Some people develop a tolerance to sleep medications, which means they must gradually increase their doses to feel the effects. Sleeping pills can become addictive, and stopping them abruptly could result in withdrawal symptoms like insomnia, anxiety, or rage.
Is It OK To Take Sleeping Pills Occasionally?
Yes, to avoid any of the side effects we mentioned earlier, it is best to only take sleeping pills temporarily. However, as previously mentioned, consult your healthcare provider before changing your medication or dosage.
Why are Sleeping Aids only for Short-Term Use?
Due to the high-risk effects they may have on your mind and body, sleeping aids should only be used for a brief period of time. Many sleeping pills contain benzodiazepines and anticholinergics, which are linked to an increased risk of dementia. To avoid this, only take sleeping aids for short-term use.
What To Do Before Taking a Sleeping Aid?
No matter what kind of sleep aid you use, it's critical to adhere to the required safety precautions. First and foremost, you should know the dosage. Even if you still have trouble falling asleep, only take the recommended dosage as instructed. Ask your doctor for advice if you believe you need a larger dosage.
It's also important to practice better sleep hygiene. When using sleep medications, everyone should concentrate on good sleep hygiene. Distractions such as TVs, electronics, and others should be removed or turned off in the bedroom.
For maximum comfort, make sure your bedroom is relaxing, quiet, and at your preferred temperature. Also, don't consume heavy meals, caffeine, or alcohol before bed. This will ensure you get at least seven to eight hours of rest.
Is Dementia a Part of the Aging Process?
No, many older adults live their entire lives without developing dementia. Some aging-related changes, like forgetting someone's name or losing track of a belonging, may appear identical but it is nothing to worry yourself about. As long as their memories, language, and overall experiences are the same, they are absolutely fine.
What are the Signs of Dementia?
There are several signs that may help you better understand whether you or a loved one has dementia. You should consult a doctor if you notice that a loved one is losing old memories, struggling to finish tasks on their own, or forgetting a close family member's name.
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