Prescription Medicines

Minor Tranquilizers and Sleeping Pills

Minor tranquilizers (such as Valium, Librium, Xanax, and Tranxene) and sleeping pills (such as Dalmane, Restoril, Ambien, Lunesta, and Sonata) are widely prescribed. But these medicines can cause problems, including memory loss, addiction, and injuries from falls caused by drug-induced unsteadiness. In rare cases, people taking these medicines have done activities, such as driving and eating, while still asleep. These medicines also can cause a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). So you should use these medicines with caution.

Minor tranquilizers can be effective for short periods of time. But long-term use is often of limited value and introduces the risk of addiction and mental impairment.

Sleeping pills may help for a few days or a few weeks, but using them for more than a month generally causes more sleep problems than it solves. For other options, see the topic Sleep Problems.

If you have been taking minor tranquilizers or sleeping pills for a while, talk with your doctor about whether you can stop taking the medicine or reduce your dosage. If you have experienced any unsteadiness, dizziness, memory loss, or signs of an allergic reaction, tell your doctor.

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Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS	Last Updated: May 1, 2008
Medical Review:	Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
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