The following tips help to reduce the risks of sleep-inducing drugs or sedatives.
- Always keep to the doctor's advice. Do not
use more or longer than prescribed.
- Use a sleep-inducing drug at most once or
twice a week.
- Do not combine with alcohol or other illegal
drugs.
- If you are no longer to stop taking a
sleep-inducing drug or sedative, ask a doctor for help.
- If you suddenly take less or stop, you may
develop symptoms such as insomnia and anxiety. These complaints are
similar to the complaints for which you started taking the medicine. For
many people this is the 'proof' that they need the medicine. Stop
gradually and with a schedule from the doctor. You then have less chance
of such complaints.
- Also try some rules that help you to sleep
more easily in a natural way. Go to sleep at the same time and get up at
the same time every day. Do not eat too late or too much. Avoid alcohol,
coffee and cola, especially in the evening. Only use your bedroom for
sleeping, not for reading or watching TV. Daily physical exercise in the
morning or early afternoon helps, but avoid great efforts in the evening.