SLEEP AND SOPORIFIC AGENTS

According to the UK National Health Service (NHS), up to a third of adults experience problems associated with sleep at some time during their lives. Insomnia, the medical term for sleeplessness, for example, is a sleep disorder in which people have trouble falling asleep, or staying asleep as long as desired. It can occur independently or be caused by an underlying condition such as chronic pain, heart failure, certain medications, and substances such as caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. Help is at hand at the pharmacy!

PTA: Good morning, yes I do. How may I help you?

I have been having problems falling asleep the last two or three weeks or so. A friend of mine suggested going to a doctor to get a prescription for one of those Z-drugs. After reading about them and benzodiazepines on the internet, I decided I’d come to you first. I hadn’t realized that there were so many different types, and the side-effects!
Yes, well both types of drugs have side-effects, which is why they need to be taken under medical supervision, and not taken long-term. Especially the so-called Z-drugs may lead to dependency and when you try to come off them on your own, they can cause considerable withdrawal symptoms.

Are there any herbal remedies that you can recommend?
There are quite a few herbal remedies available, but one that I can recommend is this combination product with valerian root and hop strobile.

Aren’t hops used in brewing?
Certainly, and in combination with valerian they have been proven to be effective against anxiety and sleeping problems. There was a study a few years ago by the Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products that affirmed the effectiveness of the combination.

Do you know how they work?
Both of them help by increasing levels of GABA, that’s gamma-aminobutyric acid, a neurotransmitter that lowers anxiety and promotes relaxation.

Wow, sounds good!
Just one more thing, if there is no improvement in your symptoms after two weeks, it is important that you go to a doctor or specialist, as this medication should not be taken over a longer period.

Thank you, I’ll do that. Bye!
Goodbye. Have a nice day!

You too, thank you.

You can find this article on page 80 in DIE PTA IN DER APOTHEKE 10/2021.

Catherine Croghan, Lecturer in English and native speaker