Sleep deprivation and use of sleep sedatives:
Not having enough sleep is becoming a growing concern these days which can lead to lethargy or make a person cranky after some time. At this stage it becomes very important to address the issue and use or buy sleeping pills or start different therapies which help to induce sleep. However it should be kept in mind that the decision to start sleeping pills should not be quick. A person should consult a doctor first who will look into the reason behind sleeplessness and make the correct diagnosis.
Sleep sedatives types:
There are many different types of sleep medicines which are often referred as tranquilizers and hypnotics and also sometimes known as sedatives. There is a long list of drugs which are not approved by the FDA to cure insomnia but still they are used for this purpose. These are known as over the counter sedatives and include drugs like antihistamines like Benadryl, Tylenol etc. and also include melatonin etc. Apart from over the counter sleeping pills, people may also use antidepressants which cause sedation and hence help a person to fall asleep. For many decades, benzodiazepines are used to deal with insomnia but nowadays the use of GABA medicines is becoming the new norm. The GABA medications carry less risks or side effects as compared to benzodiazepines. Some examples of GABA pills include Ambien and Lunesta.
Why are pills cut in half?
The cutting of pills is a common way to split the pill or medicine but generally, it is not a good practice to do so. There can be different reasons for splitting the medicine or pills. Like all other medicines, sleeping pills UK are also cut to get the right dosage. There can be various reasons behind slicing of pills which can be classified to two broad categories including physical reasons and economic reasons. It is really very important or crucial to consult a doctor first and ask him whether the dose can be diced or divided in half or not. Some people are of the view that it is dangerous to half the pills. Some other reasons behind splitting pills include a nonstandard dose, if a person finds it difficult to swallow the whole pill, saving cost etc.
How to know if a pill can be divided in half?
There are different types of medicine specifically the pills which contain a score line which means that such kind of pill or tablet can be split into half. This line leads to the clean-cutting or proper division of the pill. Moreover guidance regarding the dose splitting is provided in the label inside the box. Some OTC sleeping pills can also be diced in half.
Risks with cutting pills in half:
There can be serious health consequences or outcomes if a dose is not properly split. A person should use a pill splitter or a knife to divide the pill.
Pills which should never be split:
No score line means that the pill should not be split at all. There are many types of medicines which fall in this category and include:
- Tiny or small tablets
- Extended release tablets
- Asymmetrical tablets
- Bead filled tablets or such tablets which contain liquid
Mechanism of action of sleeping pills:
Sleeping Pills work on the brain mainly to slow the activity of nervous system. When these pills work on the brain, they promote drowsiness or lead to sedation. Moreover they work in a way that the muscles are stretched and relaxed. These medicines are designed to initiate sleep and also help to maintain sleep. Every category or type of sleeping pill works in a different way to promote sleep. For example, the GABA agonists target the GABA receptors which are present in the brain and hence cause sleepiness. Whereas the orexin receptor agonists block the orexin which is a type of neurotransmitter in the brain. This inhibition leads to sleepiness in turn. Moreover the melatonin agonists activate the melatonin receptors and induce sleep in sleep deprived individuals. The examples of such category include Rozerem. The examples of orexin receptor agonists include Dayvigo while the examples of GABA agonists include Lunesta and Sonata.
Purchasing sleeping pills:
As the sleeping pills cause sedation and drowsiness, they are classified as controlled substances and therefore require a prescription for purchase. Due to many purchase restrictions, people prefer to buy sleeping pills UK from alternate resources which do not require the availability of prescription. These sources can be either underground means to purchase the product or can be the online drug sellers. A much prudent decision will be to buy from online sources because not only they offer good quality products but also make the delivery of drugs faster or quicker normally within 24 hours. In case of buying from underground sellers, there are many risks involved in such purchases which include low quality of drugs and other time of legal issues.