In this episode, Kathy and I are going to be talking about another controversial topic that many of you have probably had some experience with at one time or another...and that’s the issue of sleeping pills and OTC sleep aids. In particular, we will be discussing:

• Why sleeping pills are usually the wrong way of treating insomnia
• Why insomnia may not really be insomnia
• How to wean yourself off sleeping pills
• A non-prescription therapy that's better than sleeping pills in the long run.

Show Notes:

Sleep aid market increasing

Podcast: How to sleep better without medications

Podcast: How medications are harming you

Risk of complications for sleeping pills

Sleep aids and risk of Parkinson's

Sleep-eating

Insomnia increases risk of dying

Insomnia as a harbinger of mental illness

Insomnia and future risk of heart disease

Insomnia and increased risk of dementia

Hip fractures with Ambien

Sleeping pill vs. CBT-i study

3 Ps of insomnia

Krakow’s OSA in treatment resistant insomnia study

Dr. Krakow’s podcast on OSA and Insomnia

Dreams about choking while sleeping

Sleep endoscopy in AHI < 5 study

UARS paper - Guilleminault

SLEEPINESS 10 steps

Podcast 65: How to sleep better without medications

3 Rs: Sleep restriction, reconditioning and relaxation

Neck stretching exercises

Two floppy valves videos

Online CBT-i programs