Know Your Own Female Body

If you're struggling to get to sleep at night, you might think that an over-the-counter sleep aid is the best way to go. If you only deal with insomnia once in a while, an over-the-counter sleep aid might work for you. But, if insomnia is a nightly occurrence, you need to talk to your doctor about prescription medication. If you're not sure that prescription sleep medication is right for you, read the list provided below. Here are four reasons to switch from OTC sleep aids to prescription sleep medicine. 

Avoid Medication Interaction

If you're taking other medications, you need to be careful with interactions. You might not know this, but mixing some medications can have serious consequences. You might think that over-the-counter medications won't interact with prescription medications. That's not the case though. That's why you need to talk to your doctor about prescription sleep medicine instead. Your sleep specialist will make sure that the sleep medicine you're prescribed doesn't interact with any of the other medications you take. 

Ensure the Correct Dosage

If you're taking over-the-counter sleep aids, you need to worry about the dosage. Most over-the-counter sleep aids use a generic dosage formula. That means they don't take your specific needs into consideration. Unfortunately, that also means that you could be receiving the wrong dosage. One of the benefits of prescription sleep medicine is that your doctor will prescribe the dosage that's right for you. 

Target Your Sleep Issues

If you haven't had a sleep study performed, you might not know what's causing your insomnia. That means the sleep aid you're using might not be targeting the right issues. If that's the case, you need to talk to your doctor about a sleep study. Once you've had the sleep study, your doctor can prescribe medication that targets your specific sleep-related issues. That way, you can get a better night's sleep.

Reduce Dependency

If you're using over-the-counter sleep aids on a nightly basis, there's a good chance you could become dependent. Taking over-the-counter sleep aids every night makes it hard for your body to get to sleep on its own. To avoid dependency on OTC sleep aids, talk to your doctor right away. They can help you avoid the risk of OTC sleep aid dependency. 

Don't take chances with your sleep. If you're not getting a good night's sleep, talk to your doctor about the sleep medicine options that are available to you.  

For more information, visit a local clinic like Elkview General Hospital.