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While a good night’s sleep is one of the most important things an individual can do to lead a healthy life, too many people struggle with falling and staying asleep. Even if the body is tired, the mind doesn’t always cooperate by settling down for rest when the time comes. To help overcome this challenge, sleep aids have become increasingly popular.

Research from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine has found that between 10 and 35 percent of all adults in the United States struggle with occasional insomnia. While a number of these individuals will turn to over the counter (OTC) sleep medications, there is little scientific evidence that shows such medications relieve sleeplessness for longer than a few days.

OTC sleep aids can also cause a number of undesirable side effects, such as rebound insomnia when the medication is discontinued; indigestion; next day drowsiness; dry mouth; constipation and urinary retention; weakness and general fatigue; blurred vision; forgetfulness; and balance problems.

Prescription sleep aids have been proven to be very effective for some, while problematic for others. In the case of Ambien – the fast-acting sleep-aid zolpidem – individuals have been observed walking, eating, talking on the phone and even driving while not fully awake. The drug has also been shown to awaken the minimally conscious into a fully conscious state.

In a recent Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) study, researchers suggest that while some powerful brain circuits are shut down with medications like Ambien, the powerful sedatives in the medication activates other circuits when deprived of activity.

Molly M. Huntsman, an assistant professor in the department of pharmacology at GUMC and corresponding author for the study noted that brain cells or neurons are highly reactive to incoming activity throughout an individual’s life. If this activity is silenced, many neurons automatically react to this change.

This process suggests that inhibitory neurons responsible for stopping neural activity are themselves shut down by zolpidem. At the same time, excitatory neurons are allowed to re-awaken and become active again. As other neurons are “asleep”, there is no monitoring of these active neurons, leading to unconscious behavior.

MIT scientists and colleagues completed a study that shows melatonin could serve as an effective sleep aid for older insomniacs and other individuals. Misuse of the hormone has the ability to cause certain problems and some have questioned the efficacy. This research into this area, however, could help generate interest among other research teams to further explore the use of dietary supplements and other alternatives to help in providing individuals with a good night’s sleep.