Trouble falling asleep, waking repeatedly or feeling drowsy all day is not always down to stress or an irregular routine; some medicines can disrupt sleep as a side effect. Bangla Tribune's lifestyle desk cites Dr David Neubauer, a sleep specialist at Johns Hopkins Medicine, who says the first thing he asks a patient with a sleep problem is which medicines they take.
The first group is stimulants used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), such as Adderall, Ritalin and Concerta. They keep the brain alert and can delay sleep, and in some people long-acting doses last into the evening. A doctor can help adjust when they are taken.
Second, some cold and decongestant medicines containing pseudoephedrine can briefly raise blood pressure and cause palpitations; the piece suggests asking a doctor or pharmacist whether another medicine or a nasal spray would do. Third, nicotine: withdrawal while quitting smoking can disturb sleep, and nicotine patches, gum and lozenges can too, by raising heart rate and blood pressure.
Fourth, some antidepressants reduce sleep in some people and cause drowsiness in others; reactions to Prozac, Zoloft, Cymbalta and Effexor vary from person to person, and drugs such as Wellbutrin have a stimulant effect. Fifth, diuretics used for high blood pressure, heart failure and some kidney and liver diseases increase urination, and night-time trips to the toilet are a common cause of broken sleep.
The piece warns against stopping any needed medicine or changing its dose without a doctor's advice because of sleep problems; the doctor can change the dose or timing or suggest an alternative. With diuretics, too, fluids should not be cut sharply without medical advice.
It also recommends going to bed and getting up at the same time every day, avoiding caffeinated drinks such as tea and coffee after the afternoon, not drinking alcohol before bed, and keeping the bedroom dark and comfortable.
Photo: Würfel / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Source: Bangla Tribune
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