When you are lying awake in the middle of the night unable to go to sleep, you would probably be willing to swallow anything anybody would give you that would make you just go to sleep. But in the cold, hard light of day, good judgment will return and you are just plain afraid of sleep medications. You have every reason to be afraid of them.

The problem with sleep medications is that those who suffer from insomnia take the drugs and then love the good night's rest that they enjoy and don't want to ever give up the drugs. The drugs available are all known for losing their ability to produce sleep. Dosage is increased to achieve the same effect until the insomniac is really hooked on the drugs and still isn't sleeping well. It's a catch-22 situation that needs to be avoided if at all possible.

Doctors are very, very reluctant to prescribe sleep medications, as well they should be. Doctors do have some choices for sleep medications, however, and there are newer drugs coming on the market every day that are not addictive.

Right now there are three basic sleep medications that are available:

1. Benzodiazepines are a hypnotic drug. They work to suppress neuron excitability in the brain. There are several possible side effects, including strange mood swings and daytime drowsiness, among others.

2. Non-benzodiazepines are also hypnotic drugs, but much less potent than Benzodiazepines. There are still significant side effects, but there is less risk of dependence.

3. Antidepressants are used to help with insomnia. There have been many studies done, and there is some question as to the advisability of prescribing antidepressants, particularly to young people; but the drugs do have fewer side effects and there is less chance for an overdose.