UAE experts warn against excessive use of sleeping pills

Rania Al Ghazzawi, Staff Reporter

The National Rehabilitation Centre in Abu Dhabi warned of the danger of excessive use of sleeping pills and sedative drugs and their use for a long time, as total dependence on this type of drug is dangerous and causes addiction.

Its health complications are dangerous for vital body systems, and may even be fatal.

The centre stressed that these drugs must be used in a regulated manner, for limited times, in order to control the symptoms of some health problems, such as insomnia, anxiety and tension disorders.

Taking them for long periods may cause dangerous complications of the heart and circulatory system, which may result in death.

The photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

According to a study conducted in the US, the use of some types of sleeping pills can cause long-term damage to the esophagus, while another Japanese study warned against addiction to the use of sedatives and hypnotics, which may contribute to seizures, heart attacks and dangerous complications in the body.

The centre stated that there are warning signs that patients who take these drugs must pay attention to, such as that the patient begins to request an increase in doses from the doctor to the amount determined for his condition, and of course the doctor will adhere to the specified amount for the case, knowing the danger of these drugs in the long term.

The photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

It is only administered with an approved prescription, as it comes under controlled medicines, and the patient begins to search for another source, to obtain pain medicines from another doctor, or resort to suspicious websites to buy them. This stage is called drug tolerance, which is the beginning of addiction.

The patient who suffers from insomnia or anxiety or the like, must discuss the available treatment options and drug alternatives with his physician.

The centre pointed to alternative methods, the most important of which is avoiding the lights of electronic devices in the bedroom, turning off the lights when sleeping, avoiding stimulants and products containing caffeine, avoiding fatty meals at night, adjusting the body's biological clock, by allocating a certain time to sleep, in addition to exercising and visiting a doctor.

In the event if the problem of insomnia persists, it is advised to seek medical assistance immediately.