what is the chemical in sleep aids
Examples of non-benzodiazepine sleep aids are zolpidem, eszopiclone, and zaleplon. Antidepressants are sometimes prescribed for sleep difficulties because, through altering chemicals such as serotonin and norepinephrine, they can have a sedating effect. Trazodone and amitriptyline are antidepressants that are sometimes prescribed as sleep aids. Diphenhydramine is an over-the-counter sleep aid.
Many of the commonly prescribed sleep aids cause sleepiness by enhancing GABAâa wide-reaching inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. Orexin sleep aids block the brainâs receptors for the chemical orexin. Since they target a more localized area of the brain, the hope is that they will cause fewer side effects. Orexin Receptor Antagonists Differ from Standard Sleep Drugs by Promoting Sleep at Doses That Do Not Disrupt Cognition.