Q:
If I take a prescription pill and still can’t fall asleep, can I take another?
A:
If you’re taking a short-acting drug, such as Sonata, Rozerem, or Ambien—and it’s still early in the evening—you can take another pill. Short-acting medications kick in and then fade out, which is why they are prescribed for people who have trouble falling asleep. "They last about three or four hours, so you could take another pill up until about 3 a.m. because it would metabolize before you wake up," says Ana Krieger, MD, a sleep specialist at New York University. (The timing depends on your sleep schedule, of course, and it’s always wise to check with your doctor, she adds.) Longer-acting drugs like the time-released Ambien CR or Lunesta—for people who have trouble falling and staying asleep—shouldn’t be taken more than once a night.
Q:
Is it safe for me to take a sleeping pill at 11 p.m. if I had a glass of wine or a cocktail around 6 p.m.?
A:
It’s probably OK, doctors say, but the sleeping pill won’t work as well as it should. Here’s why: "Alcohol becomes a stimulant about three to four hours after you drink it, so you’re actually working against your sleep medication," Arand says. "It’s a terrible combination." (Watch a video about the effect of alcohol, caffeine, and cigarettes on sleep.)
Never drink and then immediately take a sleep aid. Why? Alcohol acts like a sedative at first, so you’d essentially be getting a double dose of sedatives. This can dangerously slow your heart rate and lead to dizziness, fainting, and shallow breathing, which can deprive your body of oxygen and damage brain cells. Worst case: You may even stop breathing altogether.
Because everyone metabolizes food and alcohol at different rates, there are no safety absolutes when it comes to the minimum number of hours you should wait between consuming alcohol and taking a sleeping pill, experts say. "But if you’re at a dinner party and really want a drink, have the alcohol early," Dr. Krieger says. "Then eat dessert without any alcohol and wait as long as possible before taking your sleeping pill."
Sleep:Prescription Sleep Drugs
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