Sleeping pill, benzodiazepines, Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Valium, Restoril, call them what you want. Fact is, these sleeping aids are bad – extremely bad. Even if you have insomnia (or suspect as such, due to your symptoms. Yes, as sedatives, they enable you to fall asleep easier. However, the sedation is so excessive that they contribute to brain fog, attention difficulties, dangerous driving and workplace injuries. While I covered that in this article here, here are three more reasons why sleeping pills, sleeping aids and sleeping tablets are bad.

Sleeping pill = excessive fatigue

Benzodiazepines can sedate you so severely that you can barely function the next day – clinical research notes 80% of users experience symptoms such as excessive fatigue and memory loss.

Particularly for those using long lasting benzodiazepines like Valium, the evidence indicates the following day fatigue, or the ‘benzo hangover’ can be 4 times worse than other forms of Benzodiazepines.

Further, these effects are worse the longer you take the drug. Evidence shows this sleeping pill can accumulate in your muscle fibres, exacerbating exhaustion. And although not recommended, 40% of users take benzodiazepines long term.

… and sleeping aid fatigue is made worse with alcohol

Research shows the following day fatigue caused by sleeping pills can increase by upwards of 30% if you consume alcohol at the same time.

…plus, sleeping pills are addictive

To cause an addiction, there must be a withdrawal effect – and this is exactly the case for sleeping pills like benzodiazepines – which clinical research notes 40% of users experience.

Withdrawal effects include insomnia – one study found withdrawing users spend 34% more time awake through the night.

Second, those taking sleeping pills often experience anxiety and depression – even after a few weeks of use, as noted in this clinical study.

Needless to say, benzodiazepines are not the solution when it comes to sleeping better.

The thing is that the reason you take a sleeping pill is to sleep well, so you can live well. You want to be energetic, enthusiastic, vibrant and vivacious. My private clients have told me: ‘you feel like a zombie’ – and that’s reflected in the studies above. Alas – while sleeping pills may help you sleep, they do not give you the quality of life you seek which comes with proper sleep.

So – there has to be another solution.

With that in mind, reach out to me via my contact form and let’s find YOUR solution.

Just like my private sleep coaching clients, you too can be sleeping pill free, and back to your old self again – naturally.