A Newsmax report examines the possible side effects and dangers of popular sleep medications used to treat insomnia.

An astounding 60 percent of American adults report that they experience disrupted or inadequate sleep every night or almost every night, according to a recent survey. To cope, many respondents report that they resort to strategies such as excessive caffeine consumption, daytime naps, and nighttime sleep medications.

Although sleep medications can promote sleep, they’re a “double-edged sword,” says Dasgupta.

Many of the most common prescription and over-the-counter sleep medications have been linked to cognitive decline, brain shrinkage, and an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

These include prescription benzodiazepines such as Xanax (alprazolam) and traditional tricyclic antidepressants such as Elavil (amitriptyline).

Read the full story at www.newsmax.com