Are Over-The-Counter Sleep Aids Safe?

The Doctors are joined by sleep medicine specialist Dr. Raj Dasgupta to discuss over-the-counter sleep aids. Are they safe?

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The Doctors is an Emmy award-winning daytime talk show hosted by ER physician Dr. Travis Stork, plastic surgeon Dr. Andrew Ordon, OB-GYN Dr. Jennifer Ashton, urologist Dr. Jennifer Berman and family medicine physician and sexologist Dr. Rachael Ross.

The Doctors helps you understand the latest health headlines, such as the ice bucket challenge for ALS and the Ebola outbreak; delivers exclusive interviews with celebrities dealing with health issues, such as Teen Mom star Farrah Abraham, reality stars Honey Boo Boo and Mama June and activist Chaz Bono; brings you debates about health and safety claims from agricultural company Monsanto and celebrities such as Jenny McCarthy; and shows you the latest gross viral videos and explains how you can avoid an emergency situation. The Doctors also features the News in 2:00 digest of the latest celebrity health news and The Doctors’ Prescription for simple steps to get active, combat stress, eat better and live healthier.

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[aliciacanales]

SO basically, like all other media interviews, I dont have a mf answer.

[bennettfowler]

It’s annoying how they made this whole topic a joke. Some people such as me suffer from insomnia I’ve been awake for 3 days before and it’s seriously no joke

[kuhataparunks]

He didn't answer the question directly... He just worked around it... Dang

[scratchy]

That was the most uninformative video I have ever watched. I learned absolutely nothing. They were all talking in circles.

[meryemk]

The fact that i'm watching this at 7am cause i couldn't sleep is somehow ridiculous

[abyss]

These doctors talking about insomnia like they know what it is, try not being able to sleep for more than one day

[thespizz]

the audience applauded him for taking a sleeping pill ffs

[alexdrouker]

Sleep aids also help alcoholics or drug addicts who are trying to quit. It sure helped me

[lordkered]

"are you struggling to breath in your sleep?" "Why not just piss all night instead?" That joke went down like a led baloon. The audience is like WTF... (cough)

[nemo]

I'm an 84 year old man who sleeps well. I stay up until 2 or 3 AM but go to sleep listening to my wife's iPod with the timer set for an hour. That's enough time to play two stories from Old Time Radio stories. We like Nero Wolfe, Box 13, Yours Truly - Johnny Dollar, etc. I think it works in the same way as when parents talk to their little kids or read them a story while putting them to bed at night or sing them a lullaby.

[OFFICIAL_VIDEO_AWARDS]

Here's how a conversation with a doctor in Australia goes down about sleep aids.

Patient: Hi doc, I work shift work and I just can't get to sleep. Its two days now and I'm awake for 20 hours a day.

Doctor: Have you tried diet and exercise?

Patient: Yes.

Doctor: (Starts printing 50 pages) here is some stretching guides, nutritional information and 20 pages on putting phones away before bed.

Patient: I dont use social media mate.

Doctor: Let's get you on some anti depressants which over time will fix everything.

[celinejohnston]

These doctors have their own meds, for any ailments, doctors can write their own prescriptions. I wish I was a doctor.

[bebo]

I take sleep aid but not because of Insomnia. It's because I'm a truck driver and need to go to sleep at all different times of the day and night, so I need them in order to not become tired while driving.

[EliteUrbanLegend]

Many comments are pointing out the fact that the question in the title was not answered and they are right. Doctors and even specialists are not trained to know how drugs work. Thats the job of pharmacists. If they had invited a pharmacist on the show it would have been a much more informative segment. But pharmacists are not held in high regard amongst healthcare professionals even though they are specialists in medicine.

[jamaalharmon]

Good I just started using sleeping aid to help me get my sleep rhythm back on track. I'm a big 6'4 270 lb guy. I decided to try melatonin, store brand zzzz liquid stuff, and valerian. Seems like the most effective combo for me has been both the liquid zzzz and 10 mg of melatonin. I started to yawn an hour later even while being on the computer getting stimulated by the electrical devices. I don't know what caused my sleep to shift but I hope to get back on track. I also sip on chamomile tea.

[BIGBamBam]

I take 5-6 sleep aid with a fat blunt and sleep 8 hours-10 hours

[roby]

Man I can't sleep without my pills it's soo bad I get sick when I don't take it i might be addicted

[HexoseMonophosphateCunt]

"key to happiness is a good nights sleep" actually studies have shown that lack of sleep increases dopamine levels in the body. We all have been there when we study the whole night and in the morning we feel sleepy but also bit happier.

[Khalidsvt]

stay awake 24 hours then sleep its better then sleeping pills

[bmanrandom]

I'll tell what rough, is rebound insomnia from Ambien shortage after taking it for 5 years. I've gone 3 weeks without sleep other then passing out an hour every other day. At different times of the day. Lost my job over it.