Urological Disorders Are Treated By Atlanta Urology Specialists

If you need a urologist, one great place to find one is on an Atlanta Urology Specialists website. These sites list doctors in many of the different medical fields, so you have an easy way to find a doctor that will work with you to help solve your urological needs. A urologist is a trained medical doctor specializing in medicine of the urinary tract of both men and women, along with the male reproductive system. Urology can be broken down into further specialization, including neurourology, pediatric urology, and urologic oncology. Some urologists also offer treatment for male infertility and sexual dysfunction. There are Atlanta urology clinics available that offer these services and more. Neurourology has to do with abnormal urination and the effect of the nervous system on the urinary tract. Some medical conditions that effect the nervous system also have an impact on the urinary tract as well. Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury can result in urinary disorders such as incontinence, overactive bladder, and urinary retention. Stress incontinence is one form of urological disorder that can often be helped by Atlanta urology specialists. It happens when activity, such as coughing, exercising, sneezing or laughing can cause a small urine loss. This can occur when muscles of the pelvic floor become weakened, sometime due to childbirth or pregnancy, but can also be caused by menopause in women and in men after a prostatectomy. Stress incontinence is often treatable, and this is a great topic of discussion to bring up with your Atlanta Urology Specialists, who can offer the best advice for your specific condition.Urinary retention is the inability to urinate. This can be a very serious condition that requires immediate medical attention, because it can cause the bladder to stretch significantly, causing pain and even causing urine to back up into the kidneys, which can cause kidney failure. Prostate cancer can cause urinary retention to occur, so it is crucial to have regular exams of the prostate to catch cancers early and begin treatment. Atlanta urology clinics can offer these types of diagnostic and treatment services.Many people have an overactive bladder. It often makes the patient have to urinate often, even throughout the night. Sometimes some simple lifestyle changes, such as limiting the amounts of fluids drunk as well as removing caffeine from the diet, can help reduce the instances of this occurring. Older people are more likely to have this medical condition than are younger ones. There are some medications and devices that can be used to lessen the impact of an overactive bladder on one’s lifestyle. Your Atlanta Urology Specialists can offer you the best advice on treatments available.

Prostate Health Supplements and Information All Men Should Know About

The prostate is a walnut-size gland of the male mammalian reproductive system. Its main function is to secrete and store the seminal fluid (one of the constituents of sperm). In women, Skene’s glands are sometimes referred to as a female prostate. The most common problems of the prostate are benign prostatic hypertrophy, Prostatitis and prostate cancer. The benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) - is characterized by the fact that the volume of the prostate increases. In this case, the passage of urine is made difficult. BPH thus increases the risk of urinary retention (lack of ability to urinate) and infection of the prostate. It is often linked to the diminution of the male hormone production that occurs in older people. Age increases the risk of BPH; that’s why prostate issues occur more in older males. There is a certain increase in prostate volume at 75% in men over 50 years. Clinical signs may be present in almost 100% of men over 90 years. Conventionally, several drugs are available: doxazosin , Flomax, Proscar and Avodart. They act on the muscles that control the emptying of the bladder. More recently, drugs that reduce the level of the hormone that causes the increase in prostate volume were allowed on the market. Those available drugs have greatly helped improve the quality of life of those suffer from BPH. However, none of existing drugs so far can not cure BPH. The surgery may be necessary.Prostatitis - is the inflammation of the prostate, a common condition in middle-age men. If the prostate grows too large it may constrict the urethra and impede the flow of urine, making urination difficult and painful, or completely impossible. Prostatitis can be acute or chronic. Acute prostatitis may be accompanied by fever, chills and urinary retention. Most of the times, the infection is caused by Escherichia coli. The chronic prostatitis is often due to the proliferation of Escherichia coli, more rarely of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in case of urogenital tuberculosis. Symptoms are chills, fever, lower back pain, body aches and frequent and painful urination. Prostatitis is treated in several ways depending on its severity and the therapists, but most methods used are antibiotics, surgery, massage, and herbal medicine. Prostate cancer - is the worst prostate problem men over 50 can have. Not only because the disease is painful, but also, it could cause death to the victim. The prostate cancer share similar symptoms with other prostate-related problems. Although pain in the lower back and difficulty of ejaculation are rarely present in other prostate issues.This type of cancer develops from the tissues of the prostate when cells of those tissues mutate to multiply uncontrollably. The disease can spread (metastasize) from the prostate to other parts of the body (especially in the lymph nodes). The treatment is done by surgery, radiotherapy, hormone therapy and sometimes chemotherapy, or a combination of these methods.Alternative TreatmentEat a healthy diet by eating fresh fruits and vegetable abundantly. Eating fruit not only give you antioxidants, but also fructose. Fructose can stimulate the production of vitamin D that will stop the subsequent growth of malignant tumors. The absence or lack of vitamin D can increase the risk of developing cancer cells particularly on the prostate. Eat more fish and reduce fat in your diet. Increase your sex life. Many researches show that men who live a healthy lifestyle and have regular sexual intercourse are less apt to develop prostate cancer. Consuming lots of omega 3, drink plenty of fluid, most importantly fresh carrot, radish and watercress juice.Prostate remedies are flooding the market today for the health of prostate gland, but Not of them work. To find out how to protect or restore your prostate health, visit our prostate remedies website and save 5%.

Drug addiction is a huge worldwide dilemma. Opiates became some of the well-known addictive drugs nowadays. Opium-derived drugs are widely accessible and enormously circulated almost anywhere. Before discussing the details of opiate addiction, its properties, and its treatment procedures, it is necessary to learn more about the opium-derived compound first.

Actually, an opiate is a substance that comes from the opium plant. The most popular variants of opiates include morphine, papaverine, codeine, heroin, and thebaine. Fascinatingly, two of the most popular kinds of opiates, heroine and morphine, have similar chemical structures. Due to this characteristic, heroin can be discovered through urine screening when morphine is being administered to the body. According to the field of medicine, heroin has the potential to be a brain sedative and it has the potential to enter the brain more rapidly as compared to morphine. Actually, both medications are even used as painkillers and tranquilizers that provide relaxing effects.

(1) Morphine: Morphine or opiate analgesic drug is the most popular and the most obtainable opium-based drug in the world today. Morphine is a kind of amino acid derivatives. Morphine is very essential in medical studies since it is used for the treatment of health complications such as the swelling of the lungs. An overdose of morphine can create plenty of troubles to the physical condition of the drug dependent person. The disorders triggered by an overdose of morphine include hypoventilation, pulmonary edema, cardiac failure, pulmonary failure, coma, or even death.

(2) Codeine: Codeine is a bit similar to morphine, in terms of content. Codeine is also considered to be a prescribed drug for treating cough, acute and severe pain, diarrhea, and bowel syndrome. An overabundance can create plenty of complications like nausea, euphoria, drowsiness, miosis, dry mouth, itching, vomiting, urinary retention, constipation, hypotension, and respiratory complications.

(3) Thebaine and Papaverine: The structural composition of thebaine is quite similar to the structural form of codeine and morphine. Thebaine also goes by the name of paramorphine. This kind of substance is not applied alone. Several substances that are administered with thebaine include nalbuphine, oxymorphone, naloxone, oxycodone, etorphine, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. An overdose of thebaine is absolutely similar to the side-effects of codeine and morphine.

(4) Heroin: Heroin is considered to be a semi-synthetic tranquilizer. Due to the fact that the demand for this opium-derived drug is extremely elevated, heroin production is also one of the fastest growing illicit industries. The most popular way of misusing heroin is the utilization of the drug to the human body through an injection. Heroin also goes by the brand name Diamorphine. An addiction to heroin may cause acquired immune deficiency syndrome and other venereal diseases. An overdose of heroin may bring about acute difficulties like chronic constipation, kidney failure, hypoventilation, profound unconsciousness, as well as death.

The lone source of opiates is the opium plant. The quality of opiates depends on the water content of the opium plant.

The liquid form of opiates is called methadone, a drug that is used in the detox of people with addiction issues. An overdose of methadone may progress to addiction.

Opiates have a few positive effects on the human body when prescribed by physicians as painkillers. When oversupplied, opiates may bring about a few serious complications. Addiction to opiates may initiate physical and psychological dependence. Muscle spasm is a common side-effect that resulted from the constant use of opiates. Lung complications are also common side-effects of opiate drugs. Other effects of opiate addiction include hypotension, cracked lips, skin rashes, and constipation. Addiction to opiates may harm the nervous system and it may result to stupor and coma. Finally, a continuous misuse of opiates may lead to the fatality of the person with addiction issues.

The treatment procedures for opiate addiction may be performed in a residential or a non-residential basis. The entire treatment procedure in both cases is classified into two stages: the detoxification and the advising. Detoxification involves the riddance of harmful substances from the drug dependent person’s body. In advising, the person who has drug addiction issues is motivated to continue a better life.

While the drug-addicted person is going through the different treatment procedures, encouragement from his relatives, his friends, and his fellowmen are highly necessary.

Berlin Flores is a wellness and nutrition essayist who is an expert when it comes to opiate addiction topics. Check out the opiate addiction site www.drugrehabprogram.net for additional information in reference to opiate addiction.

Enlarged prostate is a painful condition that affects many men over the age of 40. The prostate is very small, slightly larger than a peanut. As the prostate becomes larger, more pressure is placed on the bladder, which could eventually end in urinary retention. There are numerous theories as to what causes the prostate to grow, mostly dealing with the testosterone chemical in a man’s body.

If you are diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, the doctor will go over several treatment options. If your condition is not severe, then prescription medications can be very effective. He or she will prescribe one type of medicine to start shrinking the prostate, and a second medicine to relax the muscles and take the pain away.

In some circumstances, the prostate is so enlarged that the doctor has no option but surgery. There are also two types of surgical procedures involved with this condition. One procedure is when the doctor scrapes some of the tissue away from the prostate in order to take the pressure off of the bladder. The second, and the most preferred, procedure involves making several small cuts around the prostate.

If you would prefer to try an alternative medical treatment, there are two that have been found to be the most effective. While this may sound out of the ordinary, pumpkin seeds have several healing properties which have been found to be very effective in men suffering with an enlarged prostate.

Pumpkin seeds have a fatty oil that acts as a natural diuretic and helps to improve the flow of urine. In turn, this helps to counteract the effect of the enlarged prostate gland on the urethra. Pumpkin seeds also contain high levels of zinc, approximately eight milligrams of zinc. Many doctors will recommend their patients to take sixty milligrams per day of zinc, due to the fact that it has proven to reduce the size of the enlarged gland. Another benefit of pumpkin seeds is that they have a high count of amino acids, such as alanine, glycerin, and glutei acid.

Saw palmetto is another alternative. Saw palmetto is a small palm tree with seeds that were an important part of the Seminole Indians’ diet. You can purchase it in capsules at most stores. It helps turn the testosterone in the man’s body into dihyrotestosterone, which is the same effect that many medicines would have. The largest benefit is that it increases urine flow without having the issue of frequent urination.

There are many opinions of saw palmetto as to whether or not it is effective. However, all of the studies that have been produced have shown a large benefit from using saw palmetto. A study was conducted in Germany with more than three thousand men, and saw palmetto brought to greatest results. There are many alternative medical treatments, but the two mentioned above have had the most benefits. Make sure that you consult with your doctor prior to trying any form of medical treatment in order to determine which method is the safest and most effective for your condition.

Prostate enlargement, or benign prostatic hyperplasia, is a common diagnosis that affect many men over the age of forty years or older. While it is not a common cause of prostate cancer, it can cause the bladder to shut down if it is not treated, as well as urinary tract infections, and a great deal of discomfort.

Understanding what the prostate is will help you understand your condition as well. The prostate is very small, almost the size of a nickel. It is located near the base of your bladder. It is the gland that produces the white secretion that later makes the semen. The secretions from the prostate help to nourish the sperm when it is ejaculated from your body.

Before seeking the help of a doctor, you need to determine if your symptoms might be the cause of an enlarged prostate. The first sign is urine leakage. This soon turns into frequent urination, and then eventually you will not be able to urinate at all. If you are having any of these ate gland, or benign prostatic hyperplasia, is a condition that a man faces who is over the age of forty. It is also thought to be the most common diagnosis for men over the age of sixty. While having an enlarged prostate does not necessarily mean that prostate cancer is ahead, it is still a very uncomfortable problem to deal with.

The cause of an enlarged prostate is almost as mysterious as the common cold. A normal prostate gland is smaller than a quarter, but larger than a peanut. As the prostate grows, it begins to squeeze the urethra causing a large amount of pain. After this occurs, the bladder feels the constant urge to push urine down the narrowed urethra in a forceful manner. The bladder will eventually feel the urge to not completely release itself and it is then that the patient starts to have urinary retention.

In order to prevent the worst from happening, it is important that you spot the signs and symptoms of an enlarged prostate before the condition becomes worse. The first sign is the leakage of urine. If you let the problem continue, eventually you will not be able to completely empty the bladder. This will cause you to have frequent trips to and from the bathroom, especially in the middle of the night. Of course, the last symptom is the inability to urinate. You should not take any of the symptoms lightly and seek medical attention at the sign of the first symptom.

In the worst circumstances, patients who have let the problem persist without getting help for their symptoms have experienced fever, chills, nausea, extreme lower back pain, and blood in the urine. This could cause the patient to be hospitalized until their condition has been rendered stable. This is also one of the main reasons that men are recommended to visit the doctor each year for a prostate check. If the doctor finds that an enlarged prostate is present, there are two certain medications that can be used: Finasteride and Alpha-blockers.

Alpha-blockers can be used to relieve the symptoms of the enlarged prostate by relaxing the muscles in the gland. Doctors will then follow up with Finasteride in order to start shrinking the prostate gland. Mixed with the Alpha-blockers, the condition can be treated appropriately and you will not be in an extreme amount of pain as you were prior to the diagnosis occurring.

If medicine does not cure the problem, there is a surgical procedure that can be done, known as the transurethral resection of the prostate. The procedure consists of scraping tissue from the core of the prostate with the aid of a telescope. The transurethral incision of the prostate has also been considered as an option as well. Unlike the resection, the incision procedure involves a few cuts in the prostate in order relieve the pressure from the urethra. There is no scraping involved which is why it is preferred over the first procedure. If you sense that you might have an enlarged prostate, do not wait about seeking medical attention. The condition will only worsen if you wait.

If you find that you are suffering from a weak urine stream, you may be surprised to find out that it is a fairly common condition that affect people of both genders and all ages. The people who primarily suffer from this often-ignored issue are older men around the age 40 who have enlarged prostate glands, if if this describes you, you’ll find that there are several ways to look at this condition and also to treat it.

If you notice that you are experiencing hesitation or delay when it comes to urination, you should start thinking about the causes and what you can do about it as soon as possible. It can be hard to detect, as it comes on gradually, and it may be a small problem for years before you think to have it treated. If this condition is left untreated, you’ll find that it can even result in full urinary retention, where the individual finds himself unable to urinate at all. Because this later problem is a direct result of the former situation and because it can result in bladder discomfort and distention, the sooner you get this problem treated the better.

The primary cause for urinary hesitancy, as this condition is called, is an enlarged prostate gland. As men get older, there is a good chance that their prostates will enlarge, and because of this, you’ll find that they can the enlarged glands can pinch urethra, resulting bladder muscles that are thicker and more sensitive. This can greatly affect the urine stream over time, but you’ll find that this is far from the only cause. A urinary tract infection, especially one that keeps recurring after treatment, or some prescription drugs could be the culprit, as could certain neurological disorders. It is also possible that the temporary inflammation of the prostate gland is to blame.

When you are looking into the treatment for a decreased or irregular urine stream, you need to remember that any symptoms like vomiting, blacking out or persistent fevers are reasons to seek medical advice, but you’ll find that barring anything that extreme, you’ll have several different options in front of you that you can try at home. Looking ahead and planning for the worst, remember to keep a good record of your urination patterns so that you can report them to a doctor as necessary.

Some men find that the application of heat to their lower abdomen, just a few inches below the navel, can relax the muscles there and help strengthen your urination flow. Similarly, massage or light pressure over your bladder can help you stimulate the urination flow to where it is stronger as well. Many men also find that the issue of dehydration can be problematic, so make sure that you drink the requisite 8 cups of water a day. Drinking cranberry juice, which is a natural diuretic, can be advisable as well.

If you feel that an infection is to blame, make sure that you go to your doctor for the right kind of antibiotics. There are many reasons that you might be experiencing this problem, so keep an open mind, and if necessary, speak to a professional!

For many people, urination is something that they simply don’t think about until they have to. Urine flow is something that can be very noticeable if it becomes a problem, though, and if it is a problem for you, you’ll find that the more information on it you have, the better equipped you’ll be to deal with it. For many men, if they have problems starting the flow of urine, even in circumstances where it has never been a problem before, the cause could very well be an enlarged prostate, a condition that is commonly known as benign prostatic hypertrophy or benign prostatic hyperplasia, often shortened to BPH.

There are several reasons which may be related to why a man’s prostate will enlarge when he gets older. This is a condition that is most often seen in older men, around the age of forty, though men of all ages have been known to develop this condition. This is a very common condition, and should not be a source of embarrassment. As a matter of fact, it is worth noting that some professionals will say that all men will have an enlarged prostate if they live long enough, and according to several studies, it is a condition that is common to roughly 90% of men over the age 80.

Although having trouble starting the urine stream is one of the primary symptoms of an enlarged prostate, you’ll find that there are some other symptoms as well. A strong and abrupt urge to urinate is common to this condition, as is a weak urine stream or dribbling after urinating. You may also find that you are straining to urinate or that your bladder does not empty all the way. In more severe cases, you may find that urinary retention occurs, where there is no urine production at all, or you might notice pain with urination or bloody urine, which can indicate that there is an infection involved.

If the symptoms are mild and not particularly troubling, you may be interested to see if a course of self-care will keep these symptoms minor. For instance, an avoidance of alcohol, the performance of Kegel exercises and a regular course of exercise can help, as can avoiding over the counter decongestants or antihistamines. A reduction in stress has been shown to be useful, as has the avoidance of drinking water less than two hours before bed.

As for any problem, more severe symptoms mean that you should go see a doctor as soon as possible. If you experience constant fever, blood in your urine, faints or vomiting, it is time to go see a medical professional. He or she might recommend antibiotics that can treat an inflammation of the prostate or Alpha-1 blockers, which are used to treat high-blood pressure. In addition, drugs to reduce the level of hormones created by the prostate can be instrumental in this case.

Remember that your health is a priority, so make sure that if you have this problem that you look into it!

Diarrhea is one of the great killers of children in India. It is characterized by frequent passage of liquid or semisolid stools and may be accompanied by abdominal (gripping) pain. When diarrhoea is associated with abdominal pain and passage of blood and mucous due to infection or inflammation of the intestines, it is called dysentery. In dysentery there is an excessive loss of fluids and salts from the body. Diarrhea associated with vomiting, may lead to serious consequences like dehydration, shock and death. Infants, children, and elderly debilitated persons are more susceptible to dehydration, and for this reason diarrhoea is a more serious problem in them than in young adults.

Anti-motility Drugs in Diarrhoea

A number of drugs are used to oppose the increased intestine movements in diarrhoea. But overall utility of such drugs is limited and these are often misused.

Diphenoxylate (Lomotil)

Diphenoxylate is a drug related to the painkiller pethidine. It is available in combination with atropine, an anti-spasmodic drug which relieves gripping or colicky pain. The combination is sold under the trade name LOMOTIL containing atropine 0.025 mg and diphenoxylate 2.5 mg.

Adverse Effects: If taken in larger doses over a period of time, it may cause addiction. In children, LOMOTIL has been reported to cause retention of toxic substances in the intestines as a consequence of decreased mobility. The toxicity in children includes dryness of mouth, blurring of vision, urinary retention, distension of abdomen due to toxin stay (loss of bowel activity causes retention of toxins which further reduces bowel movement leading to distension) marked respiratory depression, coma, and even death. Some of these symptoms can appear even with near therapeutic doses. Therefore it is banned in children below the age of six years.

Loperamide

It has a poor penetration through the blood-brain barrier and therefore does not cause addiction and sedation in therapeutic doses. It is more potent than diphenoxylate. These are never given if diarrhoea is due to ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis or irritable bowel syndrome. The average daily adult dose is 4 to 8 mg and should not exceed 16 mg. It is not recommended in children less then 2 years of age. Dose 2 to 5 years (13 to 20 kg) 1 mg; 6 to 8 years (20 to 30 kg) 2 mg twice a day.

Adverse Effects: Abdominal cramp and skin rashes are the main side-effects of this drug. Same precautions should be observed as for LOMOTIL.

Racecadotril (Redotril 100 mg)

This is a newer drug which reduces fluid secretion and its loss in stools. It is useful in viral and watery diarrhoea in diabetics in a dose of 100 mg three times a day. It may cause nausea, thirst, giddiness and headache. It is safer than diphenoxylate and codeine. Codeine was the time tested drug but because of its addiction potential and availability of newer and safer agents, it is rarely used for its anti motility effects.

Isapgol (Sat Isabgol)

It is generally used in the treatment of constipation, but is also effective in mild diarrhoea

AdvCare is one of the leading Canada drugs websites. First established in January 2000, its mission is to become the number one site for prescription medication searches.

The prostate is a walnut-size gland of the male mammalian reproductive system. Its main function is to secrete and store the seminal fluid (one of the constituents of sperm). In women, Skene’s glands are sometimes referred to as a female prostate. The most common problems of the prostate are benign prostatic hypertrophy, Prostatitis and prostate cancer. The benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) - is characterized by the fact that the volume of the prostate increases. In this case, the passage of urine is made difficult. BPH thus increases the risk of urinary retention (lack of ability to urinate) and infection of the prostate. It is often linked to the diminution of the male hormone production that occurs in older people. Age increases the risk of BPH; that’s why prostate issues occur more in older males. There is a certain increase in prostate volume at 75% in men over 50 years. Clinical signs may be present in almost 100% of men over 90 years. Conventionally, several drugs are available: doxazosin , Flomax, Proscar and Avodart. They act on the muscles that control the emptying of the bladder. More recently, drugs that reduce the level of the hormone that causes the increase in prostate volume were allowed on the market. Those available drugs have greatly helped improve the quality of life of those suffer from BPH. However, none of existing drugs so far can not cure BPH. The surgery may be necessary.Prostatitis - is the inflammation of the prostate, a common condition in middle-age men. If the prostate grows too large it may constrict the urethra and impede the flow of urine, making urination difficult and painful, or completely impossible. Prostatitis can be acute or chronic. Acute prostatitis may be accompanied by fever, chills and urinary retention. Most of the times, the infection is caused by Escherichia coli. The chronic prostatitis is often due to the proliferation of Escherichia coli, more rarely of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in case of urogenital tuberculosis. Symptoms are chills, fever, lower back pain, body aches and frequent and painful urination. Prostatitis is treated in several ways depending on its severity and the therapists, but most methods used are antibiotics, surgery, massage, and herbal medicine. Prostate cancer - is the worst prostate problem men over 50 can have. Not only because the disease is painful, but also, it could cause death to the victim. The prostate cancer share similar symptoms with other prostate-related problems. Although pain in the lower back and difficulty of ejaculation are rarely present in other prostate issues.This type of cancer develops from the tissues of the prostate when cells of those tissues mutate to multiply uncontrollably. The disease can spread (metastasize) from the prostate to other parts of the body (especially in the lymph nodes). The treatment is done by surgery, radiotherapy, hormone therapy and sometimes chemotherapy, or a combination of these methods.Eat a healthy diet by eating fresh fruits and vegetable abundantly. Eating fruit not only give you antioxidants, but also fructose. Fructose can stimulate the production of vitamin D that will stop the subsequent growth of malignant tumors. The absence or lack of vitamin D can increase the risk of developing cancer cells particularly on the prostate. Eat more fish and reduce fat in your diet. Increase your sex life. Many researches show that men who live a healthy lifestyle and have regular sexual intercourse are less apt to develop prostate cancer. Consuming lots of omega 3, drink plenty of fluid, most importantly fresh carrot, radish and watercress juice.Prostate remedies are flooding the market today for the health of prostate gland, but Not of them work. To find out how to protect or restore your prostate health, visit our http://www.vitalfoodstore.com/supplements-for-prostate-prostate-remedies-s/38.htm””> prostate remedies website and save 5%.

Everybody knows that if it’s over-the-counter, it’s got to be safe. Or is it really? After all, prescription sleeping pills are a lot more tightly regulated by doctors and the FDA. Not to mention a lot more expensive.Let’s just start with what everybody knows already about over-the-counter sleep aids. Just so everybody’s on the same page.Firstly, the main ingredient of over-the-counter sleep aids is an antihistamine. Antihistamines are generally taken for allergies, but also make you feel very sleepy. And yes, while they make you get to sleep faster, there is little evidence that they improve the quality of your sleep at all, much less help treat insomnia. Meaning, if you really had good quality sleep, won’t you be productive in your following wake hours? That brings me to the second fact that everybody already knows about OTC sleep aids.OTC sleep aids tend to cause “morning hangovers” or what is explained as residual next-morning sedation due to the fact that antihistamines have long half-lives. That simply means they stay very long in the bodies and therefore continue to cause drowsiness.So most people usually try to live with that limitation by simply staying away from driving or handling heavy machinery. However, did you know that you would also have to put up with constipation and a racing heartbeat through your day? Did you also know that you could be in a state of confusion, delirium and have urinary retention? These are called anticholinergic side effects of antihistamines. That certainly wouldn’t do for that important office meeting next morning.Thirdly, common over-the-counter sleep medications are Sleep-Eze, Sominex, Nytol, and Unison that are mostly either diphenhydramine or doxylamine antihistamines.However, other common OTC sleep aids like Tylenol PM and Advil PM are actually combinations of the painkillers acetaminophen and ibuprofen with an antihistamine, diphenhydramine.And that is why, the Medical Letter, which reviews drugs, recommends against using antihistamines for sleep. Some doctors say users of Tylenol PM may be taking acetaminophen they do not need. Acetaminophen overdoses can cause liver failure.As for ibuprofen, common side effects mainly involve the gastrointestinal system. It can cause ulcerations, abdominal pain, cramping, nausea, gastritis, and even serious gastrointestinal bleeding. Sometimes, stomach ulceration and bleeding can occur without abdominal pain, and black tarry stools, weakness, and dizziness upon standing may be the only signs of internal bleeding.And finally, back to the premise that if it’s over the counter, it’s got to be safe. That is truly the costliest and harmful fallacy that everybody has believed about OTC sleep aids being safer than prescription sleeping pills.The reason is this. OTC sleep aids are not regulated and therefore, prone to abuse. If the OTC sleep aids were used as they were originally intended for i.e. to treat allergies or relieve mild pain that usually resolve within days, their sedative side effects would have been limited. And because using OTC sleep aids does not require a doctor’s consultation and supervision, potential drug interactions would not have been flagged out and underlying serious side effects would have gone undetected. Also, you can develop a tolerance for over-the-counter sleep aids after using them for just a few days. You may find quickly that you’ll need to pop in more pills each time to accomplish the same effect.Last but not least, a so-called transcient insomnia may progress into a chronic insomnia if the root of the problem is not resolved. A slippery slope indeed. Don’t we all agree that insomnia is just a symptom of an underlying problem? And for many of us occasional insomniacs, it’s always triggered by something called stress.Here’s a tip. Today, researchers have found that the best treatment for insomnia with the highest success rates is to change our thought patterns to then change our behaviors into those that induce sleep. So, it’s really all in the mind.