The term "sleeping pills" applies to a number of different drugs in pill form that help a person fall asleep and stay asleep. These drugs are also known as sedative-hypnotics. Among the wide range of sleeping pills, many require a doctor's prescription, but some can be purchased as over-the-counter drugs at a pharmacy. Over-the-counter preparations generally contain an antihistamine such as the active ingredient in the allergy medication Benadryl.

Prescription sleeping medications are much stronger. They include barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and a number of other compounds. Barbiturates are no longer widely prescribed because of the risk for fatal overdose, especially when these drugs are combined with alcohol or other depressants. Benzodiazepines and other sedative-hypnotics can be short-acting or long-acting. In general, doctors prescribe shorter-acting sleeping pills to help a person relax enough to get to sleep. They prescribe longer-acting sleeping pills to help prevent frequent awakenings during the night. Long-term or inappropriate use can cause tolerance and physical dependence.

See Also

Barbiturates; Benzodiazepines; Sedative and Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs.