With so many Americans suffering from sleepless nights, it’s easy to see why people are turning to the convenience of over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Some of these medications include "PM" pain relievers, and products designed to relieve cold, flu and allergy symptoms but which also put you to sleep.

OTC medications use older sedative antihistamines that put you to sleep. Since a prescription is not required and an OTC medication requires little time commitment, many people are turning to their local drugstore/grocery store for relief.

OTC medications may not be the answer
Although these OTC medications are convenient and certainly put you to sleep, as with all medicines, they may have side effects. If you have been treating your insomnia for more than 14 days with OTC medications, it is especially important that you speak with your doctor because most of these medications are not recommended for continuous, long-term usage without speaking to your doctor.

Another thing to consider is that although the added bonus of sleep — the "PM" — is often welcome when you are trying to fight the flu, cold and/or pain, if you're just trying to sleep, the additional medicine included in certain OTC medications is not necessary. Why take a pain reliever when you don't have pain? And do you really want to take cold and flu medicine if you don't have a cold or flu?

More options
OTC medications may not be the best choice for everyone. So don't be discouraged if you're not having the sleep success you expected. With the help of your doctor, you can explore other options, including:

1. Prescription sleep aids, such as Lunesta^® (eszopiclone)
2. Sleep therapy (cognitive behavior therapy)
3. Sleep hygiene
4. Combination of the above

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:
Lunesta helps you fall asleep quickly, so take it right before bed. Be sure you have at least eight hours to devote to sleep before becoming active. Until you know how you'll react to Lunesta, you should not drive or operate machinery. Do not take Lunesta with alcohol. Call your doctor right away if after taking Lunesta you walk, drive, eat or engage in other activities while asleep. In rare cases, severe allergic reactions can occur. Most sleep medicines carry some risk of dependency. Do not use sleep medicines for extended periods without first talking to your doctor. Side effects may include unpleasant taste, headache, drowsiness and dizziness. For more information, please see the Lunesta Medication Guide.

The health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a health care provider. The products discussed herein may have different product labeling in different countries. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a health care provider, considering the unique characteristics of the patient. Lunesta is a medicine used to treat Insomnia. Remember that no medicine is for everyone. Only your doctor can prescribe Lunesta for you.