Nowadays, we all have a very hectic life. There are bosses to report to, deadlines to be met, bills to be paid, children to be helped in homework and a household to run and mange. This entire fat pace and scheduled time table leaves us fatigued and tired. There are tensions, stress and dilemmas. And this happens in chain. Do you know why? It's because in earlier, golden and calm, days, a man or woman was required to toil or work hard all day long and then fall peacefully asleep in night. Whatever was earned after a day's hard work was enough to support the family as there was neither so much inflation, nor the fancy things to buy. Life was simple. But alas, it is not so now. Whatever tension is created in the hectic day, can be eased once we have a good night sleep and give the mind the opportunity to calm down get rejuvenated. But if we are unable to sleep at night, then what happens? Next day, we are more tensed and tired, which will result in loss of another night's sleep. This is where a need for sleep medication arises.A sleep medication does exactly what it name suggests. It is a medication which helps you sleep. Now there are many types of sleep medications available in the market. There are main two categories for sleep meds.

First one is over the counter sleeping pills or OTC sleeping medications. These medicines are easily available at your pharmacist. These pills do not require any prescription by doctor. The drugs mainly have antihistamine, used to prevent or treat allergies. Histamine is the chemical substance present in our body which helps us in keeping awake. Anti-histamine reduces this and increases the chances of falling asleep. There are side effects too like severe drowsiness or joint pains the next day. Over the counter sleeping pills should only be used for short term relief, if required from insomnia. If your insomnia persists and you cannot sleep, regularly then please consult your doctor. These pills can be addictive if taken for long period of time and can have severe withdrawal symptoms if usage is stopped suddenly after a prolonged usage.

The second type is the prescription sleeping medications. These medicines usually have sedative hypnotic chemicals which induce sleep in the user. In layman terms, these medicines work by relaxing the nerves and hence help the patient fall asleep. Some of these medicines are for inducing sleep and some are to make the patient stay asleep as some people wake up at night and then cannot fall back to sleep.

In any case, it is advised that sleep medications should only be taken when absolutely necessary as most of are sleeping troubles can be solved by practicing a regular sleep hygiene.