8 Easy Ways to Better Sleep

Photo by: CN Digital Studio

Therapy might work better than pills.

A disturbing new study in BMJ Open finds that popular sleeping medications, including drugs like Ambien and Lunesta, may increase your risk of dying. Over-the-counter meds, like Tylenol PM, don't cause as much dependency and addiction as prescription pills, but there's no good evidence that they're safer, says study author Daniel F. Kripke, M.D.

If you're really

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Photo by: CN Digital Studio

Therapy might work better than pills.

A disturbing new study in BMJ Open finds that popular sleeping medications, including drugs like Ambien and Lunesta, may increase your risk of dying. Over-the-counter meds, like Tylenol PM, don't cause as much dependency and addiction as prescription pills, but there's no good evidence that they're safer, says study author Daniel F. Kripke, M.D.

If you're really struggling, ask your doctor about taking 1 to 3 milligrams of melatonin. It's safe, and it may help regulate your circadian rhythm so you feel sleepy at night (which, we hope, means you'll be perkier during the day), Reiter says. If you still need help, ask your doctor about cognitive-behavioral therapy, which could help you zap bad sleep habits and snooze sans drugs. Your DARE officer would be so proud.

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