Sleeping pills are a specific class of drugs use to induce or maintain sleep. These are also called ‘sedative or hypnotics’. It may be useful in ending the sleep problems short-term. Benzodiazepines, barbiturates and different hypnotics are included in sedative hypnotic class.

Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are anti-anxiety medicines, which can increase the drowsiness and helps to sleep. All benzodiazepines are addictive. These are not useful in ending the sleep problems long-term. Xanax, Valium, Ativan and Librium are examples of benzodiazepines.

Barbiturates
Barbiturates depress the central nervous system and induce the sedation. These can be used for short or long acting purpose as sedatives or sleeping pills. But generally these groups of drugs are used as anesthesia.
Many other non habit forming sleep inducing drugs are there in the market. They can work rapidly to enhance drowsiness and sleep.

Side effects of sleeping pills
Like all other medications sleeping pills too have side effects. Sleeping pills are dangerous to people suffering from uncontrolled lung problems like asthma or COPD because it controls the body to breathe more slowly and less deeply.
General side effects of having sleeping pills are
1. Burning or itching in the hands, arms, feet and legs
2. Constipation
3. Appetite problems
4. Dizziness
5. Weakness
6. Unable to keep balance
7. Gas
8. Drowsiness
9. Dry throat or mouth
10. Heartburn
11. Headache
12. Stomach pain
13. Shaking of a part of body without control
14. Strange dreams

Awareness of possible side effects of sleeping pills can avoid more serious health problems.
Tolerance to sleeping pills:
The habit of taking sleeping pills over a long period of time will make the body accustomed to that drug. So the body needs higher and higher doses to induce the same sleeping effect. But a higher dose could lead to depressed breathing during sleeping and which may cause death. To reduce these side effects, avoid taking sleeping pills for more than a week or two.
Drowsy driving:
Some research studies revealed that peoples having sleep inducing drugs like Ambien may still have adequate drug in their bodies in the morning which will harm the activities like driving. To avoid this next day drowsiness, follow doctors dosing directions and don’t take Ambien like sleeping pills if there is no sufficient time to sleep.
Erratic Behavior Side Effects:
Peoples who are having some class of sleeping pills, especially benzodiazepines such as triazolam, will suffer side effects like sleep walking and amnesia. Those people will wake up and they don’t know where they are. These kinds of side effects should report to the doctors immediately.
Falling down:
The sensors in the feet will constantly measures the centre of gravity and balance entire body on two little feet. Some sleep inducing drugs may affect that system and patients who are having this may likely to fall down.
Cancer and death:
Some recent studies shows that people who are having these sleep inducing drugs may more likely to die or get cancer than those who did not take them.