People will frequently request to take them longer than they’re intended to be used for, and when they do that, it’s quite possible for them to become addicted to them. As a result, it’s very common for people to head to their corner drug store, supermarket or big box store to check out the over the counter sleeping solutions that are waiting for them there on the shelves.

As you can probably guess, there are several different options for you if you’re in need of over the counter sleep aids, and most states don’t have any laws about who can purchase them. Some of the most common brand names are;

• Benadryl (actually intended for allergies)
• Sominex
• Sleepinal
• Tylenol PM (a pain relieving sleep aid)
• Advil PM (a pain relieving sleep aid)
• Nytol
• NyQuil (actually intended for use when you have a cold)
• Motrin (intended for pain relief)
• ZzzQuil (manufactured by NyQuil)

At first, these medications can seem like a godsend. They work extremely well, and they offer you the opportunity to fall asleep and stay asleep until morning. However, it is possible to abuse them, and even become addicted to them. If and when that occurs, it may be necessary to get professional help from a sleep aid addiction treatment center in order to stop using them without severe repercussions.

What is Sleep Aid Abuse?

Each year, people spend more than $100 million in over the counter sleep aids. That seems like a lot of money just to get a good night’s rest. However, many of the people who use them do not use them as they were intended to be used. Instead, they will use them every single night, and in increasing dosages.

The FDA has very specific warnings about the chronic use of sleep aids. They have indicated that anyone who uses them for more than two weeks consecutively runs the risk of becoming addicted to them. According to sleep aid packaging labels, they should only be used sparingly and occasionally, so using them any more often than that is indicative of sleep aid abuse. You can become addicted to sleep aids without even knowing it, and even if the addiction is purely psychological, it can be very difficult to stop taking them once that occurs.

Can You Go Through Sleep Aid Withdrawal?

Most people don’t like the idea of becoming addicted to any type of medication, and once they’ve realized that they’re addicted to them, they’ll stop them immediately. Sleep aid withdrawal is a very real concern once you’re addicted to these powerful and dangerous medications, and just because they’re available over the counter, that doesn’t mean they won’t cause any ill effects when you stop taking them.

Some of the most common sleep aid withdrawal symptoms might include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Sudden onset of constipation
• A skin rash
• An increase in your appetite
• Weight gain
• Symptoms of anorexia
• Blurry vision

As you can see, sleep aids are not nearly as harmless as they seem to be. Even though they’re available on store shelves, great care should still be taken before starting an over the counter sleep aid regimen.

Withdrawal symptoms are a typical part of giving up any addiction. However, if you opt to go to sleep aid addiction treatment, you can successful minimize their severity, and even eliminate some of them altogether.