Is it harmful to regularly use sleeping pills for insomnia, such as hydroxyzine and benzodiazepines?

Doctor's Answers 1

Hydroxyzine belongs to a class of medications called antihistamines. It is thought to work by affecting certain natural substances (acetylcholine, serotonin) in your body or by acting directly on certain parts of the brain.

Common side effects

  • Dizziness
  • Drowsiness
  • Fatigue
  • Dry mouth
  • Urinary retention
  • Blurred vision
  • Confusion
  • Irritability
  • Headaches

Anticholinergics (a group that encompasses medications for allergies and colds, depression, high blood pressure, and incontinence) have been found to be associated with an increased risk of dementia in people who used them for longer than a few months. The effect increased with the dose of the drug and the duration of use. Anticholinergics may have troubling side effects—confusion, clouded thinking, and memory lapses—that can lead to falls, fractures, and auto accidents.

Benzodiazepine

Benzodiazepine drugs are habit-forming and can lead to dependence. Long-term use also can lead to tolerance, which means that lower doses will become ineffective and patients will need higher doses. These drugs are abused to get 'high' due to their effects on the brain.

Common side effects

  • Lightheadedness
  • Drowsiness
  • Confusion
  • Sedation
  • Memory impairment
  • Improper body balance
  • Increase or decrease in appetite
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Constipation
  • Weight gain
  • Dry mouth
  • Reduced libido
  • Fatigue

Serious side effects

  • Respiratory depression
  • Dependence and abuse
  • Withdrawal symptoms
  • Jaundice
  • Seizures
  • Suicide
  • Slow heart rate
  • Severe low blood pressure
  • Fainting
  • Akathisia (a movement disorder)
  • Increased heart rate

Similar Questions

Can I become dependant on or addicted to sleeping pills for insomnia?

Worldwide, sleeping pills are among the most commonly prescribed medications. While hypnotic agents may be helpful if used once in a while, taken too often, they may also lead to dependence. Ultimately, sleeping pills are meant for short-term use. The keyword here is intermittent use. If a person were to take a sleeping pill on a nightly basis for two to three weeks, then the person is likely to have problems with dependence. Doctors prescribe them for cases of severe insomnia and not necessarily on a strict dosage schedule.

Photo of Dr Beng Yeong Ng

Answered By

Dr Beng Yeong Ng

Psychiatrist

What are the long term side effects of using oral hydroxyzine to treat chronic insomnia?

Hydroxyzine is used to treat itching caused by allergies. It is an antihistamine and works by blocking a certain natural substance (histamine) that your body makes during an allergic reaction. Hydroxyzine is used for the short-term treatment of nervousness and tension that may occur with certain mental/mood disorders (e. g. , anxiety, dementia). It is also used to help manage withdrawal symptoms (e. g. , anxiety, agitation) in alcoholics. Other uses include helping to decrease anxiety and nausea before/after surgery or during childbirth or helping certain narcotic pain relievers (e. g.

Photo of Dr Beng Yeong Ng

Answered By

Dr Beng Yeong Ng

Psychiatrist

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