Are You Sleep-Deprived?

Anyone would think the whole of America isn’t getting enough sleep, so they’re taking Ambien, or one of the other new sedatives. And Ambien has nasty side effects, like sleep driving and sleep-binge-eating. So, before you ask your doctor to prescribe one of these products, remember that not everyone who thinks they are, actually is sleep-deprived. You can take a simple on-line quiz to see if you are.

And then there are a number of simple steps you can take to improve your chance of sleeping well. Click here for a wonderful collection of tips.

If you must take a sedative, read the dreadful warnings listed in the package insert. Then realize that the serious or bizarre effects are extremely uncommon; a manufacturer wouldn’t keep a drug on the market if it had common side effects of this nature.