Medical Treatment Centre

If you rely on medications for a chronic condition or even minor ailments, you may find yourself sleep-deprived or battling daytime drowsiness.

“Certain heart, blood pressure, and asthma drugs, as well as over-the-counter medicines for colds, allergies, and headaches, can interrupt normal sleep patterns,” says James Wellman, MD, medical director of the Sleep Disorders Center of Georgia in Augusta.

In fact, a number of common medications can prevent you from falling asleep or staying asleep; others can make you groggy or sleepy during the day. Chemicals work differently on everyone, so a given medication may not affect you and your best friend the same way, but the following drugs could cause sleep problems for most people

Heart medications. Anti-arrhythmic drugs used to treat heart rhythm problems can cause insomnia and other sleep difficulties. Beta blockers, used for high blood pressure, arrhythmias, and angina, increase the chance of insomnia, awakenings at night, and nightmares. Additionally, some cholesterol-lowering drugs have been linked to poor sleep. “There have been some reports of people on statins, such as Zocor, having insomnia and nightmares,” says Dr. Wellman.

Asthma medications. Theophylline, an asthma medication that is sometimes used to ease inflammation and help clear airways, can cause insomnia, as well as daytime jitters. “The chemicals in this medication are related to caffeine,” explains Wellman. Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, are frequently prescribed for asthma and can cause similar medication side effects.

Depression medications. About 10 to 20 percent of people who take a class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and paroxetine (Paxil), experience sleep problems. “Insomnia is one of the common medication side effects of SSRIs,” says Wellman.

Anti-smoking medications. Nicotine patches used to help people quit smoking work by delivering small doses of nicotine into the bloodstream 24/7, and one common medication side effect is insomnia. Some people using the patches have also reported nightmares.

Medications for colds and allergies. Antihistamines used to treat colds and allergies cause drowsiness in most people. Worse, this medication side effect can be long-lasting. “Antihistamines can continue to cause drowsiness six to eight hours after taking them,” notes Wellman. Decongestants have the opposite effect, causing insomnia. Be aware of cough medicines, too. They often contain alcohol, which can prevent deep REM sleep and cause you to wake frequently throughout the night.

Pain-relief medications. Over-the-counter painkillers sometimes contain caffeine, which can stimulate the brain and drive away sleep. Pain relievers with caffeine include the brands Excedrin, Anacin, and Motrin Complete. “The effects of caffeine can last six to eight hours in some people,” says Wellman. To avoid this medication side effect, scan the label before purchasing a pain reliever to see if it contains caffeine — not all pain relievers do.

Herbal medications. “Natural” medications can still interfere with sleep. “Some people taking St. John’s wort for depression have reported overstimulation and insomnia,” says Sheila Kingsbury, ND, a naturopathic physician and chair of the botanical medicine department at Bastyr University in Seattle. Sam-e (S-adenosylmethionine, a dietary supplement that is sometimes used as an antidepressant, can also cause sleep difficulties, says Dr. Kingsbury. Insomnia is a common side effect of the Chinese herb ginseng as well.

How to Take Your Medicine and Get Some Sleep

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Discuss your sleep problems with your doctor, health care practitioner, or pharmacist. There may be other medications that can treat your ailment or health condition without disrupting sleep. Switching medications or lowering dosages with your doctor’s guidance may help ease insomnia that’s due to medication side effects. Likewise, changing the time of day at which you take your medication may help. Restful sleep is important for feeling well and recovering from health problems, so don’t lose sleep over medication side effects. Changing your medication could be the perfect prescription for a good night’s sleep.