Using sleeping pills in Nigeria is more common than you know, especially with the level of stress every member of the work force goes through every day. It is almost impossible to get a good sleep without the aid of a medication – a bad thing if you ask me – since you are always apprehensive of what the next day on the road and at work holds in store.
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Insomnia is a serious medical condition that the authorities of every organization should look into as it significantly reduces the productivity of the work force. It causes a reduction in the level of concentration, which ca lead to costly mistakes, especially if you are dealing with numbers. It becomes worse if you have to drive or handle heavy machinery.
In this article, we will take a look at some of the sleeping pills in Nigeria, that can help you relax and get good rest at the end of your working days. Some of these pills are available over the counter and it will be better if you consult your doctors before you use them. Others are only available through a doctor’s prescription.
Why Use Sleeping Pills?
Times are hard, and there is a never-ending cycle to the monotony of waking and going off to work. At the end of the day, we get back home, exhausted and ready to sleep. However, we either find that we keep tossing on the bed or we wake a short while after sleeping, never to find that sleep again. This condition is medically known as Insomnia.
Insomnia is a sleep disorder where the affected individuals have difficulty sleeping or remaining asleep. It can occur as a result of stress or other medical conditions, such as depression, or some medication you are on (secondary insomnia). It can also be independent of any medical condition or medication (primary insomnia).
Life events that affects you psychologically can be one of the reasons you’re suffering from insomnia, or it could be things like the temperature, light, or sound that keep rousing you or keeping you from sleep. Regardless of the cause of your insomnia, it can have a debilitating effect on you, as it can affect your emotional, psychological, and physical well-being.
Sleeping pills are one of the ways to help treat this sleeping disorder, and help you regain your normal emotional, physical, and psychological self. They are usually prescribed for a short-term use while the underlying cause of your insomnia is addressed.
Generally, over-the-counter sleeping pills are available and effective, but it is advisable to consult a doctor before you use them because their efficacy can reduce after some time, making you dependent on them to get a good sleep.
How Do Sleeping Pills Work?
Sleeping pills work by affecting the GABA receptors in the brain. The GABA receptors are responsible for alertness and relaxation in humans. Therefore, sleeping pills make the GABA receptors more relaxed, thereby, inducing drowsiness, and eventually, sleep.
Some sleeping pills are specifically designed to cause drowsiness, while others do so as a side effect. Some of them are classified as controlled substances due to their propensity for dependence, such as benzodiazepines – Xanax bars. Others contain fewer addictive substances but are still not advisable for more than 6 months use.
Top Sleeping Pills in Nigeria
In Nigeria, you can have access to some sleeping pills and aids, even some that are strictly on prescription, due to the poor drug regulation system. For the safety of individuals suffering from lack of sleep, it is better to consult your doctor and treat the underlying cause of insomnia, than depend on a medication to help you sleep.
Here are some of the top sleeping pills in Nigeria.
Kalms Night Sleeping Tablets
Kalm Night sleeping tablet is an over-the-counter sedative that uses herbal medicine to address sleeping disorder. it uses valerian roots, suitable for use in adults and elderly to induce sleep. It is advised to use this medication as written in the leaflet (4 tablets), one hour before bedtime.
Sominex – A Night-time Sleep Aid
Sominex is a medication used to treat allergies such as cold, cough, watery eyes, and runny nose. It is an antihistamine that induces drowsiness in order to address the reactions that come with the allergies it treats.
It is commonly used as a sleeping aid, even by people who do not have any allergic reaction, but have trouble falling asleep.
Nytol Original
This medication is one of the fast-acting sleeping aids out there. It contains 25 mg of diphenhydramine and begins its drowsy effect in about 20 minutes. It is a temporary sleeplessness fix and is recommended to take only 2 tablets, some minutes before going to bed.
However, it is possible that its effect may last into the following day, causing drowsiness and sluggishness during work hours.
Cenpain Night Sleep Capsule
Cenpain night is a medication used to help individuals suffering from different kinds of pain, sleep at night. It gives them a temporary respite from the pain, and induce drowsiness, so they can sleep.
It contains paracetamol and diphenhydramine.
Nytol One-A-Night Tablet
This medication bears resemblance to Nytol Original. The difference between them is in the dosage. It contains double the concentration of diphenhydramine in the Original version.
In essence, it is recommended to take only one tablet per night.
Advil PM Caplets
Advil PM doesn’t just work as a sleeping aid; it also helps to manage pain. It is effective for adults and elderlies that have pain from their joints as a result of over work or arthritis. It contains diphenhydramine and Ibuprofen.
It is recommended for use against occasional sleeplessness, as a continuous use may lead to dependence.
Ramelteon
Ramelteon is a medication used in treating insomnia. It is an effective medication that begins to take effect about 30 minutes after use. Its action mimics the natural substance, melatonin, that controls the sleep-wake cycle of the body.
It is advisable to only use this medication when you have enough time for sleep, as its effect can last for up to 8 hours.
Zolpidem
This is a sedative-hypnotic that forces humans to sleep when they have difficulty doing so. It is an effective and short-term medication used to treat insomnia and its use can come with some serious side effects.
It is a long-acting tablet that is to be taken orally. Its use is restricted to once a day, and it can cause side effects such as engaging in activities you have no memory of after you are fully awake. It is a prescription drug.
Diazepam
This is a more serious medication compared to the others that have been highlighted above. It is a benzodiazepine, that is used to treat the withdrawal symptoms of alcohol-dependence, seizures, and anxiety. It can easily be abused, so it is a controlled substance.
It is commonly available under the name, Valium.
Alprazolam
Alprazolam is also a benzodiazepine, used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. It is commonly and informally referred to as Xanax. It also helps in treating other medical conditions, such as tinnitus and insomnia.
It is a controlled substance and will not be sold in any pharmacy except with a doctor’s prescription.
Conclusion
Insomnia is a serious medical condition that can easily be swept under the rug due to the availability of over the counter sleeping aids. It is better to visit a doctor and treat the underlying cause of insomnia that has been repeating itself for months.
The pills included in the list above are for knowledge purpose only. Do not use any medication, including sleeping aids without your doctors’ consent. We will not be responsible for any repercussion that comes with indiscriminate use of drugs.