Expert warns to be careful when using sleeping pills

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – As daylight saving time approaches, experts are urging caution when using sleeping pills.

Dr. Chris Holstege, director of the UVA Health Blue Ridge Poison Center, emphasizes the importance of understanding how time changes can disrupt sleep patterns.

“We certainly want people to sleep well. And then the question becomes what people then take for sleep, and be careful with that because taking different medications for sleep can have consequences,” Holstege said.

Holstege points out that some people may turn to medications such as Valium or diazepam to cope with sleep disturbances, which can also develop into addiction.

“People drink alcohol in the same way. You think about, for example, Valium, a drug or diazepam that people used in the past for sleep to help them fall asleep. This is what people are addicted to. Valium has the same effects on brain neurotransmitters as alcohol,” Holstege said.

Holstege also adds that herbal remedies or sleeping pills can also have an effect on the body.

“Complications occur from all medications and all substances. It’s not just drugs. There are other substances, even herbs, that people use,” Holstege said. “I would be a little cautious just because of how they affect brain chemistry,” Holstege continues.

Holstege suggests focusing on natural methods to improve your sleep habits, especially as winter approaches and sunlight is limited. He advises prioritizing active rest, exercise and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule so people can better cope with the challenges of time changes and improve their overall well-being.