OTC Sleep Aids
How to sleep better is a major problem these days. One of the choices available are OTC sleep aids. Going to the drugstore to purchase OTC (over the counter) Sleep Aids you will find a good number of brands to choose from.
What would be the considered the best sleep aids to help your sleep hygiene depends on you. Most of the OTC Sleep Aids contain antihistamines like doxylamine or antihistamine diphenhydramine as the main ingredient.
Antihistamines are primarily used to treat allergies; they block the release of histamine from the body which in reaction to foreign or allergic substances swelling of the nasal passages occurs making breathing difficult.
OTC sleep aid antihistamines also block the wake enhancing effect of histamine causing the drowsiness. There are several side effects with over the counter sleep aids such as nausea, dizziness, dry mouth and morning hangover.
OTC Sleep Aids also have been known to increase heart rate and cause an irregular heartbeat. It is strongly suggested that if OTC sleep medications are used not to exceed using more than a few nights as continued use may cause a mental dependence.