By the way, doctor: Are sleeping pills addictive?
Q. My primary care doctor tells me that all sleeping pills on the market are addictive. Does this mean you develop a craving for them or simply that you become unable to sleep without taking them? I’m 92 and realize that easy sleep and age aren’t compatible. Please advise.
A. I’d call sleeping pills variably addictive. People don’t crave them the way that, say, a heroin addict craves heroin. But many people do become psychologically dependent — they believe they can’t sleep without them. And it’s not just in their heads, either. If people take sleeping pills for a while and then stop, they often experience a rebound effect, becoming more wakeful and restless and agitated at bedtime than ever before.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
