Insomniacs ‘risking health by resorting to pills’

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society said eight out of 10 cases of insomnia were caused by underlying health problems, either physical or mental, that should be addressed. Attempting to treat the symptom of sleeplessness without tackling the root cause was potentially dangerous, it warned. Causes of insomnia can include asthma, heart disease, anxiety or depression. A […]

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society said eight out of 10 cases of insomnia were caused by underlying health problems, either physical or mental, that should be addressed.

Attempting to treat the symptom of sleeplessness without tackling the root cause was potentially dangerous, it warned. Causes of insomnia can include asthma, heart disease, anxiety or depression.

A survey of 2,077 adults found 51 per cent of insomniacs had bought over-the-counter sleeping remedies without seeking advice from a doctor or pharmacist beforehand.

Three in 10 said they had taken them for more than a month without advice, and a further 14 per cent for over six months.

Paul Johnson, a community pharmacist, said: “It’s worrying that so many people are over-using sleeping remedies.

“They can be effective for short-term treatment of mild insomnia but should not be taken for long periods without advice because they can hide a serious health problem which could get worse if it remains untreated.

“It’s never a good idea to take any medicine long-term as a result of self-diagnosis, as you can end up treating a symptom rather than addressing the root cause of your problem.”

He said there were a number of simple techniques people could use to get a better night’s sleep, including going to bed and getting up at the same time each day, avoiding caffeine and alcohol in the evenings, and eating heavily late.

According to medical experts writing in The Lancet medical journal insomniacs are at greater risk of depression, heart failure, high blood pressure, diabetes and death but is often not recognised as a serious problem.

Drugs are often not the answer, especially in the long-term, they said.

One study also found that individuals with insomnia are seven times more likely to abuse alcohol or drugs over the next three and a half years compared with those without the condition.

Most individuals with the condition are vulnerable to recurrent episodes and research suggests that nearly 70 per cent of individuals with insomnia continue to experience symptoms a year later, and half still have insomnia up to three years later.