3 Reasons You Should Reconsider Taking Sleeping Pills - AARP

Research shows that both these newer drugs and the older benzodiazepines can impair mental and physical function in older adults, leading to an increased risk for falls and confusion. "And then of course, combined with other medications — especially anything for pain, mood, anxiety — could possibly put you at a higher risk of suppressing your breathing and respiratory depression," Garling-Nañez adds.

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It's not just prescription medicines that demand caution. Over-the-counter options come with a list of unpleasant and potentially dangerous side effects, too. For example, diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in many over-the-counter sleep aids like Advil PM, Tylenol PM and ZZZQuil, has been linked to an increased risk for cognitive decline and confusion in older adults, as well as urinary retention, constipation and next-day grogginess, which can interfere with driving ability, Satriale points out. More than 6,000 fatal crashes each year involve a drowsy driver, according to the CDC.

Melatonin's Popularity

A 2022 study published in the journal JAMA tracked a fivefold increase in melatonin use among U.S. adults over the past few decades. An increasing number of Americans are also taking more than the recommended amount of the supplement, the researchers found.

Supplements deserve a similar level of scrutiny. For example, valerian root, an herbal supplement often marketed to improve sleep, can cause dizziness, dry mouth and mental dullness. Garling-Nañez warns that this product may also be mixed in with other sleep supplements, such as melatonin, which comes with its own list of possible side effects. So it's always a good idea to have a pharmacist go through ingredients with you before purchasing an over-the-counter product, Garling-Nañez says.

2. You may be masking underlying health issues

Taking something to help you sleep may be a quick fix, but it could be causing you to overlook an underlying health condition that's behind your insomnia.

Take, for example, anxiety. "When you're lying there and your mind's turning over and over and you can't shut your brain off to go to bed, that can sometimes be a form of anxiety," Garling-Nañez says.

It's not uncommon for a condition known as restless leg syndrome to keep older adults up at night, Satriale says. "And this is a condition that is easily treatable and something [patients] should discuss with their physicians, if present," he adds.