May 19, 2026
Sleep apnea can make it next to impossible to get quality rest, leaving you feeling exhausted during your waking hours. When searching for ways to improve your sleep, you may be tempted to try sleeping pills. But while this may sound like a good idea on the surface, the fact of the matter is that sleeping pills can end up making your sleep apnea even worse.
Having sleep apnea means that your breathing repeatedly stops and restarts while you’re asleep. Most of the time, sleep apnea is the result of the muscles in your throat becoming relaxed. This can cause soft tissues to collapse and obstruct the airway, thus interrupting the flow of air.
So what sort of impact can sleeping pills have on sleep apnea? One of the effects of the medication is that it helps muscles throughout your body relax. Naturally, this includes the muscles in your throat. In other words, sleeping pills can contribute to the underlying issue that’s causing your sleep apnea, making your airway even more prone to collapse. As a result, you may start to experience more severe symptoms.
It’s important to note that sleep apnea can have serious consequences in the long term. Due to the lack of quality sleep, you may have trouble focusing at work, and you may be more likely to get into an accident while driving. Furthermore, sleep apnea is linked to a higher risk of suffering from cardiovascular problems such as heart attacks. As such, the last thing you want to do is risk making the problem even worse with sleeping pills.
Sleeping pills may not be a viable solution, but luckily, there are more effective ways to treat sleep apnea. Once the disorder has been formally diagnosed, you can explore your options for getting it under control.
The traditional way to treat sleep apnea is to use a CPAP machine, which helps keep your airway open throughout the night with a constant stream of pressurized air. However, many patients are unable to tolerate their CPAP machine, finding it to be too noisy or uncomfortable. As such, it may be worth considering an oral appliance instead. When you wear this device, it moves the lower jaw slightly forward, which can go a long way toward keeping the airway unblocked while you’re asleep.
It’s natural to want to take any steps you can to manage your sleep apnea, but sleeping pills simply aren’t the best way to do so. It’s better to speak to a sleep expert who can point you toward a treatment option that’s truly right for you.
At GoTo Sleep Center – Tempe, our sleep apnea doctors are dedicated to helping patients get their sleep-disordered breathing under control. We’ll always take the time to fully understand your situation before creating a customized treatment plan. We offer a wide range of oral appliances that can be personalized based on the patient’s unique needs. If you believe that you may be in need of sleep apnea treatment, you can schedule an appointment with our team by visiting our website or calling (623) 299-8799.
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