Hospitalized due to self-medication for insomnia

On March 27, Dr. Ngo Quang Hai, former Deputy Director of the Training and Guidance Center, Central Acupuncture Hospital, said that for about a week now, the old woman has had difficulty falling asleep, waking up easily, and sometimes staying up all night, causing her health to decline. The patient has been using a sleeping pill (name unknown) to improve her condition.

However, after a few days of use, she showed signs of anxiety, excessive nervousness, and occasional panic attacks with fear. When examined, Dr. Hai discovered that the sleeping pill the patient had taken was a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA), which causes anxiety disorders. This type of drug must be prescribed and strictly monitored by a doctor because it has many side effects.

The patient was treated with acupuncture combined with massage, acupressure, moxibustion, electroacupuncture and adjustment of antidepressants. However, after 5 days, the patient still felt restless, anxious and had difficulty falling asleep. She continued to receive treatment in the direction of activating blood circulation, regulating menstruation and sedating. Currently, the patient's health is stable and she sleeps better.

According to doctors, sleep disorders can be the result of stress, prolonged tension, or cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, high blood pressure, asthma, or arthritis.

"The principle is to treat the cause, not the symptoms," said Mr. Hai, adding that instead of finding out the cause and changing lifestyle to improve sleep, many people choose to buy sedatives to take themselves.

According to Dr. Hai, there are currently many drugs on the market labeled as sedatives and insomniacs of unknown origin. Some drugs have the effect of reducing the activity of nerve cells in the brain, causing drowsiness. Using them without a doctor's instructions can cause drug resistance, making the treatment of sleep disorders extremely difficult. In addition, drugs can cause side effects that make patients anxious, depressed, and even death if overdosed.

Doctors recommend that when wanting to treat or adjust sleep, patients should not buy medicine on their own but should go to the doctor, determine the cause and follow the doctor's instructions.

People need to pay attention to their rest and living habits, change their working environment, and stay away from stress factors. On the other hand, everyone should sleep and wake up at a certain time. Do not drink stimulants such as coffee or strong tea in the evening; exercise regularly to improve health.

According to VnExpress