Many elderly and young people also suffer from insomnia that disturb the day and night, and makes them prey to depression and many diseases. In an attempt to get rid of this problem, they resort to herbs and sometimes they go to a pharmacy to obtain medicines that help them sleep without having to see a doctor, and perhaps if they are narrowed, they resort to a doctor to prescribe medications that help them sleep. But is the use of these drugs safe in the long run? Does these medications really cause dementia?
A number of studies – according to the American Washington Post – indicate a link between the risk of dementia and sleeping medications, whether it is a prescription or without a prescription.
On the other hand, studies indicate that insomnia and drowsiness during the day can lead to dementia, and lack of sleep in itself is related to harmful health effects, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and memory problems, which makes it difficult for patients to decide on what they must Do it.
“The two options are the best of them, and it is up to the patient to determine: What do I appreciate more? Good sleep at night, or prevent something like the occurrence of dementia?” Says Joshua Nizhnik, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Department of Aging Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of North Carolina in the United States.
On the other hand, Dr. Philip Slun, a professor of family medicine and aging at North Carolina University, explained, “There are many other reasons for not eating sleep pills. They are linked to many behavioral problems, not to mention the way out while driving.”
Sleeping medications
The most used sleep medications include a category known as benzodiazepines, which are taken to relieve anxiety and stimulate sleep, and are only available with prescription. These medications work by slowing the central nervous system, causing drowsiness and relaxation.
People who want to avoid prescribed medications, or who suffer from allergies, depend on available medications without prescription that are called anti -choline. Anti -choline causes drowsiness and prevents the acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter and plays a role in memory, learning, attention and excitement.
Some research indicates that the new generations of these drugs lead to a much lower anesthesia and may pose a lower danger for this reason, but they are not free of risk, says experts.
Ecele Collen’s brain cells are used to send messages, and anti -choline drugs reduce the transmission of these messages between brain cells, Sloan says that Alzheimer’s disease “is associated with low accents levels, may be better to reduce their use as much as possible.”
“People believe that sleep aid that does not need a safe and good prescription, but it may have the same amount of cognitive dangers such as some prescribed medications,” says Amit Shah, consultant and assistant professor in the community of community medicine in Mayolink in Scottzel, Arizona, in the United States. He explains that there are many medications that people use to sleep that have not been designed to sleep and can be dangerous.
Anti -choline can cause confusion, loss of memory and deterioration in mental functions, especially among adults over the age of 65. “Anything that has a negative effect on the brain can be linked to dementia if used in sufficient quantities over time. It is psychologically influencing, associated with sedatives, and then the cognitive function can be weakened if taken regularly.”
The lack of sleep is not a better alternative
Treitayo says or. Ouji-Shaidi, a assistant professor in neuroscience and specialized in sleep medicine at the “US Davis” health center, is trying first to find the causes of insomnia in her patients to see if other methods will succeed. She says medications are the last resort “because they are tampering with brain chemistry.”
She adds that “the question is: Are you better without sleep?” If the answer is no, it will prescribe medications, but it urges its patients to take a vacation from the medications to discourage them, so she says, “Give your brain an opportunity to reset it. This can be for the weekend, or a month, but we certainly recommend every 3 or 4 months a few days comfort”.
Can patients stop sleeping medications completely?
According to Shah, yes it is possible. It agrees that it is important to exclude other causes of insomnia as well as understanding the nature of sleep, especially as people get older. “People do not realize that sleep changes with age,” he says.
For some people, cognitive behavioral therapy by teaching patients may help how to manage negative ideas that keep them wake up better. Shah is trying to use slow reduction of doses every two days for 18 weeks to help patients who already depend on sleep drugs, and says, “It succeeds if patients are excited.”
If you are a regular use of drugs, do not stop taking them suddenly, as experts say, to avoid withdrawal and relapse symptoms.