Many elderly people frequently fall into a state of prolonged insomnia, difficulty sleeping, and poor-quality sleep, and turn to medications hoping for a better night’s rest. However, many cannot distinguish between sedatives and sleeping pills.
The answer is no
Sharing on this issue, a pharmacist from the Department of Pharmacy, Hospital 19-8 (Hanoi), noted that many patients visiting the hospital often share a common question: “Are sedatives and sleeping pills the same?”
“The answer is no,” the pharmacist confirmed.
According to them, although both belong to the group of central nervous system depressants, their therapeutic purposes, mechanisms, and usage are completely different. Confusing the two and using them for the wrong purpose not only fails to improve the condition but also brings many unforeseen health risks.
Specifically, sedatives calm the mind and reduce stress. Their main purpose is to help relax the mind, soothe anxiety, restlessness, and agitation. The key point is that they help you calm down while still maintaining alertness. They are often used for people under a lot of pressure, overthinking, or having panic attacks.
The inhibitory level of this type of medication can range from mild to moderate. It is usually prescribed by doctors for daytime use.
“Medications with a mechanism that slows brain activity by enhancing the effects of certain inhibitory neurotransmitters. Common active ingredients include Benzodiazepines (such as Diazepam/Valium, Xanax), Barbiturates, or some types of antidepressants.
Common side effects include mild drowsiness, dizziness, and temporary reduced concentration,” the pharmacist analyzed.
As for sleeping pills, the goal is to quickly induce drowsiness, help patients easily fall asleep and maintain deep sleep without waking up in the middle. They are often prescribed short-term for patients with insomnia due to subjective or objective factors.
The inhibitory level of these medications is stronger. The main purpose is to push the nervous system into an unconscious state, mimicking natural sleep. The medication is prescribed for use right before bedtime.
The mechanism directly targets receptors in the brain to regulate the sleep-wake cycle. Common active ingredients of these medications include Zolpidem (Ambien), Eszopiclone (Lunesta), or some specific Benzodiazepines.
Common side effects can include lethargy, fatigue, or prolonged drowsiness into the next morning (hangover effect) due to the drug not being fully eliminated.
Why should they not be abused?
This expert stated that the line between these two groups of drugs is sometimes quite thin. High doses of sedatives can cause sleepiness; conversely, sleeping pills also have calming properties for the nervous system.
Therefore, in medicine, they are often grouped together as “sedative-hypnotics.” Both types of drugs are “double-edged swords” and carry extremely serious potential risks if abused or used long-term.
“Your body will gradually demand higher doses to achieve the initial effect, leading to drug dependence. Additionally, abruptly stopping the drug after long-term use can cause severe withdrawal symptoms, seizures, and even be life-threatening.
The drugs impair cognition and motor coordination (increasing the risk of falls, traffic accidents).<div class="my-
