Good day, all ladies.

Thank you for this opportunity to speak to you all regarding the use of sedatives and sleeping tablets.

Is it dangerous to use sedatives and sleeping drugs?

Sedative-hypnotic drugs are psycho-active drug. This means that it has an effect on the central nervous system and brain activity, which may be the result of changes in behaviour and mood.

It may at first seem as if though it is helping you cope with whatever midlife crisis you are faced with, whether it be a divorce, a rebellious teenager’s behaviour and mood at home, or month end coming and you are worried about how you are going to manage to pay all the bills. You may feel as if the only thing going to help with your insomnia is sedatives and sleeping tablets.

The truth is, they are going you improve your sleeping patterns, but at the same time they have such a high dependence potential if used chronically and many side effects that may end up being fatal. Therefore, it is so important to not use sedative-hypnotics for longer than 2 weeks. Sedative-hypnotics are used for treatment of anxiety, induce calmness, sedation or sleep. Some of the commonly found sedative-hypnotics under the benzodiazepine class, include alprazolam sold under the name “Xanax”, zolpidem as “Stilnox”, diazepam as “Valium” or lorazepam as “Ativan”. All these drugs have a calming effect, decreases anxiety and induces sleep. They also have central nervous system suppressing effects. Sedative-Hypnotics are therefore sleeping drugs. Other sleeping tablets include doxylamine succinate sold under the name “Somnil”, which may be bought over the counter for sleeping difficulties.

Suppose you have been prescribed Xanax for anxiety, and you still feel that you have trouble sleeping, so you go to the local pharmacy and get Somnil for your insomnia. Both of these drugs will have additive central nervous system depressant effects. This may result in a decreased breathing rate, which may slow down too much leading to an oxygen shortage and eventually a coma or death. They also decrease your heart rate; may induce seizures and you may lose consciousness. Some people may experience allergic reactions to the drugs and my present with symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pains, nausea and swelling.

If you were to involve alcohol with the use of sleeping tablets, it may have severe central nervous system suppressive effects. The total effects may cause respiratory and cardiovascular suppression and may lead to death.

Common side effects that may be seen with sedative-hypnotics include, but are not limited to: Constipation or diarrhoea, change in appetite, dry mouth or throat, dizziness, next day sleepiness, headache, heartburn, cognitive impairments, weakness, gastric pain and heartburn.

Sedative-hypnotic drugs combine with alcohol are also used these days as “date rape”. Commonly used drugs are flunitrazepam sold as “Rophynol”, and it causes muscle relaxation, amnesia and can incapacitate victims and prevents them from resisting sexual assault. Rophynol is very similar to Valium, but 10 times more potent. Some of the common names for the “date rape” drug is “rophies”, “roofies” or “rope”.

After 2 weeks of use, a person may become dependent on the sedative-hypnotic. This means that you may find it impossible or very difficult to sleep without taking a pill. Also, abrupt discontinuation of the drug may lead to withdrawal syndrome, which may be characterized by central nervous system stimulation, anxiety, tremors, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, depression, muscle cramps, delirium, hallucinations, and convulsions. It may even result in death.

Withdrawal syndrome can be treated by replacing the drug with a longer acting or slow release drug, like diazepam, with the tradename of "Valium". Thereafter, gradually decrease the dosage after 2 weeks. Clonidine, known as "Catapres" or propranolol, known as "Inderal" may be given to decrease sympathetic activity like cramps, nausea, vomiting, increased heart rate, sweating and hyperthermia (fever).

It is also important to know that if you are a chronic drinker and have developed a dependency for sleeping pills, not to abruptly discontinue the use of alcohol and sleeping pills at the same time. Deciding to stop both at the same time, instead of gradually decreasing the dose, may also cause withdrawal syndrome and can even be fatal.

In an acute overdose of sedative-hypnotics, treatment involves supportive treatment like oxygen, and a dose of flumazenil sold as "Romazicon". Romazicon reverses the effects of the sedative-hypnotic.

Thank you for your time. I hope that this has been a valuable message to you.