Prescription sleep medication may only increase sleep time by about 20 to 30 minutes.
All prescription sleep medications come with risks, including drowsiness the next day. Some have also been linked to sleepwalking and other odd nightmare behavior.So, you should take the lowest dose for the shortest time possible.
Another option is an over-the-counter sleep drug, which can also cause drowsiness the next day and may be habit-forming when taken long term. If sleeping pills worry you, you might be more comfortable taking the popular supplement melatonin.
And if you suffer from chronic sleep problems, Consumer Reports suggests cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. With CBT-I, you work with a therapist to help fix bad habits, like using your smartphone too close before bedtime.
