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Side Effects of Sleep Medication

Updated November 8, 2023

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Table of Contents

What Are the Side Effects of Sleep Medication?
Are the Side Effects of Sleeping Pills Dangerous?
What Should I Do if I Experience Side Effects?
Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Sleep Aids and Side Effects

Key Takeaways

Side effects of sleeping pills vary by medication and different people respond differently to them.
The most common side effects of sleep medications include drowsiness, difficulty with movement, and impaired focus the next day.
Consult a doctor right away if you develop severe side effects, like sleepwalking, allergic reactions, or dependence on the medication.

Many people take sleeping pills to relieve short-term stress, jet lag, or another temporary issue that’s interfering with their sleep at night. But, are sleeping pills safe?

Prescription sleeping medication can be habit-forming and many side effects are undesirable. Even over-the-counter medications can have side effects. Therefore, it’s important to understand how they work and what side effects you can expect.

Is Your Troubled Sleep a Health Risk?

A variety of issues can cause problems sleeping. Answer three questions to understand if it’s a concern you should worry about.

Snore loudly?

Tired during the day?

Wake up short of breath?

What Are the Side Effects of Sleep Medication?

Potential side effects vary by medication Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , but you may experience one or more of the following when taking sleeping pills:

Burning or tingling sensation in the hands, arms, feet, or legs
Constipation or diarrhea
Dizziness, lightheadedness, or impaired balance
Drowsiness during the day
Dry mouth or throat
Gas, heartburn, stomach pain, nausea, or change in appetite
Headache

Mental impairment the following day
Difficulty paying attention or remembering things
Uncontrollable shaking
Weird dreams or nightmares
Weakness

The “hangover” effect is Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source one of the most common side effects of sleep medications like benzodiazepines, sedative hypnotics and zopiclone . This term refers to side effects like drowsiness, difficulty with balance or motor coordination, and impaired focus or memory. For example, sleeping pills can impact your driving the morning after you take them.

Are the Side Effects of Sleeping Pills Dangerous?

Any of the above side effects can be dangerous, and some side effects should cause immediate concern. These include parasomnias, allergic reactions, and dependence or abuse of the medication.

The most common parasomnias associated with sleep aids Trusted Source U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. View Source are sleep walking, sleep talking, sleep eating, and sleep driving. It can even increase vivid dreams/nightmares and night terrors. These behaviors can be more common with increased dosage, so it’s important to only take the medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

As with any medication, you could also have an allergic reaction to sleeping pills. If you are having an allergic reaction Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , you may notice one or more of the following side effects. Stop taking the medication and see a doctor immediately.

Blurred vision
Chest pain or shortness of breath
Difficulty breathing or swallowing
Itching, rash, or Hives
Irregular or pounding heartbeat
Sensation of your throat closing up
Swelling up of your eyes, lips, face, tongue, or throat
Vomiting

Dependence

While most sleeping pills are designed just for short-term use (a number of weeks or less), some people may continue to use them on a longer-term basis. With longer-term use, you increase your risk of developing a tolerance Trusted Source Medline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. View Source . When this happens, some people end up increasing their dosage or abusing the sleeping pill, which results in more problematic side effects. Many times, a sleeping pill could be a band-aid over another underlying issue causing insomnia.

What Should I Do if I Experience Side Effects?

If you notice severe or dangerous side effects, consult your doctor immediately.

If you notice more mild side effects, you should still speak to your doctor as soon as possible. They may be able to suggest a lower dose, a different medication, or a plan for slowly weaning off the medication.

Know that rebound insomnia can occur when you stop using prescription sleep aids, especially if you stop cold-turkey. It can also happen as you’re gradually lowering your dosage. Rebound insomnia can feel even more frustrating than your original insomnia, as you may experience vivid dreams, nightmares, and anxiety. If you experience this, talk to your doctor. They may suggest lowering your dose more gradually or placing you on a different medication.

“There are many layers to understanding the causes of insomnia, and taking a sleeping pill is many times not the cure all. Sometimes, taking a sleeping pill may in fact worsen insomnia long term. It is important for your doctor to obtain a full history before they consider a sleep medication.”

Dr. Lulu Guo, Sleep Physician

Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Sleep Aids and Side Effects

If you are considering taking sleep medication, always consult your doctor and explain your situation in detail. Tell them what kind of sleep issues you’ve been having, when they started, and how frequently you experience them. This information can help them prescribe an appropriate treatment plan to relieve your sleep issues.

Regarding medication side effects, consider asking your doctor these questions:

What types of sleep medication would be safe for me?
How often should I take this medication, and at what time of day?
How should I take the medication? Should I drink water or eat food at the same time, or before?
Are there any activities I should avoid after taking the medication, such as driving?
How long should I take this medication?
What side effects can I expect from this medication?
What side effects should I be concerned about, or cause me to stop taking the medication?

If you’re consistently having trouble falling or staying asleep, talk to your doctor. Behavior and lifestyle changes, in addition to cognitive behavioral therapy, can help. If an underlying issue is behind insomnia, be it a health condition or a sleep disorder, treating that can resolve or improve your insomnia.

Medical Disclaimer: The content on this page should not be taken as medical advice or used as a recommendation for any specific treatment or medication. Always consult your doctor before taking a new medication or changing your current treatment.

Written By

Danielle Pacheco, Staff Writer

Danielle is originally from Vancouver, BC, where she has spent many hours staring at her ceiling trying to fall asleep. Danielle studied the science of sleep with a degree in psychology at the University of British Columbia

Medically Reviewed by

Dr. Lulu Guo, Sleep Medicine Physician

Dr. Lulu Guo is a graduate of the prestigious Medical Scholars program at Michigan State University and was admitted into medical school at the age of seventeen after completing undergraduate studies in two years. She is double board-certified in Family and Sleep Medicine.

Learn more about our Editorial Team

References
6 Sources

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