Indiscriminate use of sleeping pills worries experts; see effects

Alert

One of the most famous, Zolpidem has become popular on the internet, increasing the risk of use without medical advice

Whether due to a hectic routine or health conditions, currently, 7 in 10 Brazilians have a sleep disorder, such as insomnia and apnea. The study is from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) and reveals the importance of the topic, especially at a time when the use of sleeping medications has become popular, in many cases, without professional guidance.

This indiscriminate use of drugs has worried experts, especially due to the fact that it has a series of associated risks. Among them, it is possible to mention chemical dependency, damage to cognitive functions and even risks to mental health.

“Self-medication has often been seen as a solution, an immediate relief for sleep disorders, but we must be aware that this can generate some risks for our body. Among them, there are also outbreaks, hallucinations and even weight gain”, says the supervisor of pharmaceutical services at the Santo Remédio chain, Bruna Barros.

According to research by the Institute of Research and Postgraduate Studies for the Pharmaceutical Market (ICTQ), 89% of Brazilians self-medicate, a number considered negative and which has grown 13 percentage points since 2014, when the survey began.

Folk remedy

One of the sleep medications that has been most popular on the internet is Zolpidem. A quick search for the hashtag #Zolpidem on Tik Tok, a social network popular among young people, returns videos that have more than 213 million views.

“Zolpidem is a medication indicated for those who have difficulty staying asleep, for those who wake up often during the night. However, like any medication, it also has some reactions, so the ideal is to try to understand how it works, for how long your doctor prescribed it for you and always report what you are feeling since the beginning of the treatment”, advises the pharmacist.

Other medicines

The problem of the indiscriminate use of drugs is even worse when people use drugs that are not indicated to treat sleep disorders, but have drowsiness as side effects, such as antiallergic drugs and muscle relaxants.

“Choosing to take medications that can make a person feel sleepy without the guidance of a qualified professional is not a safe choice, as it can cause several unwanted reactions. Depending on the medication being used, the person can even trigger cardiac arrest or have their sleep completely unregulated, making the condition worse”, warns Bruna Barros.

What to do?

According to the Ministry of Health (MS), sleep disorders are characterized by difficulty sleeping without interruptions, accompanied by fatigue, concentration problems and changes in mood. In these cases, the main advice is to seek a doctor who can investigate the causes and recommend appropriate treatment.

“The best choice will always be to look for a qualified professional to guide and accompany the person who cannot sleep. We know that sleep is completely essential for human well-being and it is important that quality rest is present. It is important to remember that this patient can count on a pharmacist to advise on the use of medications, from more accessible options to times and dosage”, she says.

*With information from consultancy.

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