Pacific Sleep Center - Sleeping Pill Information

Which Sleeping Pills Are Available Over the Counter?

The medications below are grouped in order of effectiveness and the potential side effects.

Products with limited (some) evidence of effectiveness
Product Latin name (or generic name)	Potential side effects
Valerian root, v. officinalis (L.)	Restless sleep, gastrointestinal upset, headache, contact allergies, mydriasis, possible carcinogen, possible liver toxicity
First-generation histamine-1-receptor antagonists: diphendydramine hyddrochloride/citrate, doxylamine succinate	Vomiting, depression, malaise, drowsiness, impaired mentation, extrapyramidal reactions, rhabdomyolysis, dry mouth, weakness, gastrointestinal upset, headache, impotence, urinary retention, increased intraocular pressure

Products with insufficient scientific evidence of effectiveness
Product Latin name (or generic name)	Potential side effects
Hops - Humulus lupulus	Unknown
Chamomile - Matricaria recutita	Vomiting, allergic reactions
Lemon balm - Melissa officinalis	Unknown
St. John's wort Hypericum perforatum	Fatigue, gastrointestinal upset, dizziness, anxiety, headache, photosensitivity, phototoxicity
Patrinia root - Patrinia Scabiosaefolia Fisch	Nausea
Niacin, niacinamide, vitamin B3	None known at recommended daily allowances
Magnesium	None known at recommended daily allowances
Vitamin B12 - cyanocobalamin, hydroxycobalamin, methylcobalamin	None known at recommended daily allowances
Dietary changes Yoku-kan-san-ka Chimpi-hange	Unknown

(425)670-9097

Products with no scientific evidence of effectiveness
Product Latin name (or generic name)	Potential side effects
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)	Dizziness, confusion, ataxia (difficulty walking), possible prolonged QT (heart problem)
California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)	Unknown
Wild lettuce (Lactuca virosa)	Possible hallucinogenic
Scullcap	Seizures, possible hepatic toxicity (liver poison)
Calcium	None known at recommended daily allowances
Vitamin A	None known at recommended daily allowances
5-hydroxytryptophan	Unknown
Naturum muriaticum	Unknown

Products with significant safety concerns
Product Latin name (or generic name)	Potential side effects
Jamaican dogwood (Piscidia piscipula)	Toxicity to humans
Alcohol	Dependence, neurotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, myelosuppression, hepatotoxicity, respiratory depression, sedation, depression
L-tryptophan (L-2-amino-3-(indole-3-yl) propionic acid)	Eosinophilia myalgia syndrome (painful muscles and unusual cell in blood)
Kava kava (Piper methysticum)	Hepatotoxicity (liver poisoning)

Reference: Oral Nonprescription Treatment for Insomnia. AL Meoli, C Rosen, D Kristo et a Journal of
Clinical Sleep Medicine, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2005 182

Accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine

Sleeping Pills