Sleep disorders from medication ?

Taking medication can also affect our sleeping habits and even lead to sleep disorders. We explain here which medications can make us sleep worse.

Table of contents

1. Health & Sleep Disorders
2. Medications as a cause of sleep disorders
3. 5 medications that disrupt sleep
4. Sleep well despite medication and side effects
5. Conclusion

1. Medications & Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders are widespread and can have a variety of causes. If you have trouble sleeping, you should not only question your sleeping habits, but also take a look at your medication list. As people get older, in particular, many cannot avoid taking important medications on a regular basis. It is not uncommon for side effects such as headaches, stomach pain, heartburn or inner restlessness to occur, which have a negative impact on your night's sleep.

However, some medicines can also be directly responsible for making it harder for us to fall asleep or waking up at nightSleep disorders can be a side effect, particularly with medications that affect the central nervous system or hormone metabolism.

2. Medications as a cause of sleep disorders

Medicines help our body to fight diseases and relieve pain, inflammation or other discomforts. However, they interfere with a wide range of biological processes, which can also cause sleep patterns to become noticeably unbalanced. Certain medicines affect the natural sleep cycle. In some cases, it is unfortunately unavoidable that sleep disorders will arise. However, sleep is often only temporarily impaired until the body adjusts to the medicine.

3. Medications that disturb sleep

The effects of antidepressants, high blood pressure and heart medication, cholesterol-lowering drugs, but also painkillers or cough medicines containing caffeine or medicines for asthma and rheumatism, as well as many other drugs, can lead to us no longer being able to get restful sleep. We will show you 5 common medications that can cause sleep disorders.

blood pressure lowering drugs (antihypertensives)

Beta blockers or beta receptor blockers are used to treat high blood pressure or heart failure. They slow the pulse rate and lower blood pressure, thereby the heart is relieved by inhibiting the effects of the stress hormone adrenaline and the neurotransmitter noradrenaline.

These two substances are also involved in the production of sleep hormone melatonin involved! Taking beta-blockers also impairs melatonin synthesis and often leads to problems falling asleep and staying asleep because the body lacks melatonin.

antidepressants

Antidepressants belong to the group of psychotropic drugs and are used to treat depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and personality disorders. They usually have a mood-enhancing effect and, depending on the type of medication, can have an activating or depressing effect.

Both the so-called “selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors” (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants can disrupt melatonin synthesis and thus cause unpleasant sleep disorders. This is because antidepressants affect nerve connections in the brain or the activity of important neurotransmitters, especially noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin, take effect.These hormones are also involved in regulating the sleep mechanism. Studies have shown that the drug-induced changes lead, among other things, to the suppression of REM sleep and a reduction in the amount of REM sleep, which often causes affected patients to complain of increased Dream or report nightmares.

antipsychotics

Antipsychotics are used for states of excitement, psychosis or mental illnesses and particularly affect the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is also involved in regulating the sleep-wake rhythm. Depending on the medication, it can also have a positive effect on sleep. Some antipsychotics are therefore used specifically to promote sleep and drowsiness. However, if taken long-term, this effect can be reversed and disrupt restful sleep.

drugs against Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases

People suffering from Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's often suffer from sleep disorders due to the symptoms. But drugs used in therapy can also affect sleep. They act on the dopamine circuit and, especially if the dosage is incorrect, can have a negative effect on the psyche, promote nightmares and cause movement disorders that disrupt sleep at night.

Caffeine-containing painkillers or cough medicines

Due to its activating effect, caffeine also used as an enhancer in some painkillers or cold remedies. As we all know, caffeine has a stimulating effect and makes you awake, which can hinder the process of falling asleep in the evening.

4. Sleep well despite medication & side effects

Medications are prescribed to maintain health and improve the well-being of patients. Unfortunately, side effects can never be completely ruled out and how a medication works always depends largely on the individual body and medical condition or the dosage of the medicine. If you suffer from sleep disorders and suspect that a medication could be the cause, you should first contact your doctor and discuss the medication therapy with him/her. In some cases, it may be possible to change the medication or take it at a certain time so that sleep is not disturbed too much.

Please remember that you should never take or stop taking medicines on your own.olltest. ThisThis article is not a substitute for medical advice.

If you cannot do without medication for health reasons, you can try to support your sleep in a natural way and create the best possible conditions for a restful night. For example, by improving your sleep hygiene and bed environment.

5. Conclusion

• Taking certain medications can lead to difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, nightmares or shortened nighttime sleep.

• Medications that can have a negative effect on sleep include blood pressure lowering drugs (beta-blockers), antidepressants, antipsychotics, drugs for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, and painkillers and cold remedies containing caffeine.