$Unique_ID{BRK02482}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{What Is the Correct Use Of Medicines?}
$Subject{sleeper sleep night bed sleeping pills prescription medication
medications medicine medicines prescriptions pharmaceutical pharmaceuticals
drug drugs lifestyle lifestyles}
$Volume{R-23}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1992,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


 What Is the Correct Use Of Medicines?


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QUESTION:  I have never been a good sleeper, and usually find it difficult to
drop off to sleep at night.  I am also an early riser, so I probably don't get
more than 5 to 6 hours of sleep a night.  It is even worse when we travel, I
just can't drop off in a strange bed.  I took a real tongue lashing from my
husband when I asked him to get me a few sleeping pills from his doctor to
help during an upcoming vacation.  What did I do that was so terrible?  Can
you please help me by writing about the use of sleeping pills?

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ANSWER:  From my point of view, the worst thing you did was to ask for a
prescription medication from a doctor who had not evaluated your problem, not
the fact that you felt the need for this medication.  Medications are never to
be taken lightly, they must be used in very specific ways to deal with a
particular situation or problem.  Since sleep problems are merely an
indication of something wrong, you can't cure them by simply taking a pill,
you must discover the cause and change that.
     Many people, and your husband sounds like one of them, have a great fear
of taking medications, including sedatives, without strong justification.  And
I am in their corner.  However, I also understand your situation.  Falling
asleep in strange surroundings is a common complaint of many travelers.
However, that is a short term problem, a few days at the most, and that is
probably one of the few situations for which a sleeping pill may be used with
some reason.  Sleep medication used for a short time, in the smallest possible
dosage, is understandable.  And that is about all the help sleeping pills can
offer, for they lose their effectiveness when used regularly over just a few
weeks or months.  Over the counter preparations are all antihistamines, and
can help make you drowsy enough to fall asleep, although sometimes they leave
a bit of a hangover the next day.  They too, lose their effectiveness after a
few night's use.  I think you can get back on the track with your husband by
consulting your doctor, outlining your problem and your need, and then
obtaining your own prescription for just the right amount of the right sleep
medication to help this situation.  A friendly tip:  the activity, relaxation,
and change of pace that comes with vacation often does away with the need for
the pills.  And that's what vacations are for.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.