Tablets, sprays, herbal teas… should you be wary of over-the-counter sleep aids ?

Over-the-counter sleep aids are not safe. Unsplash illustration. – Roberto Sorin

Sleep aids are not without dangers, even when they are available over the counter. The ideal is to always seek approval from a doctor, even for products available without a prescription. Furthermore, a healthy lifestyle (diet, physical activity and management of emotions) is the first factor in quality sleep.

Over-the-counter sleeping pills pose very real risks. They are often taken lightly by consumers who sometimes overdose. 

Most of the time, sleeping pills containing a melatonin level lower than 1.9 mg or antihistamines (diverted). On this subject, sleep specialist Vincent Attalin reminds us, "it's dangerous. The best melatonin is that which is secreted naturally". 

Inadequate consumption

As for real sleeping pills, very low doses, beware of marketing scams: they are accessible because they do not cause sudden and deep sleep, compared to their low dosage. Long-term intake also increases the risk of liver, kidney or respiratory failure, alerting 60 million consumers.

Consumers will tend to exceed doses. This exposes the elderly to falls. For working people, the risks of road accidents when an inappropriate quantity was consumed the day before increases.

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