Studies show that people with insomnia don't tend to abuse sleep aids. They don't tend to take higher doses than prescribed. Negative effects or abuses tend to be linked to excessive doses or to individuals who abuse other drugs or alcohol. Selecting the proper dose is especially important for older people. When hypnotics stay in the body longer, they remain active and can cause daytime sleepiness or forgetfulness.
Younger people can be at risk for side effects too.
People who use higher doses and hypnotics with longer half-lives tend to experience more side effects. To avoid these side effects, sleep specialists often advise the use of hypnotics with short half-lives. Any change in dosage should be discussed with your doctor. Aids Many people use sleep medications that are available without a prescription. However, OTC sleep aids may be less effective and they may have been subjected to less rigorous testing.