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ALL NEW AT 6 -- SLEEP AID DANGERS. DOCTORS ARE WARNING OF THE RISKS OF MEDICATION MEANT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF YOUR SLEEP. ONE SAVANNAH DOCTOR TELLS US - YOU SPECIFICALLY HAVE TO BE WARY OF *LONG TERM* USE - OF THESE MEDICATIONS. BUT ON TOP OF THAT - ITS IMPORTANT EVERY DAY - PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY SPEND THE NIGHT TOSSING AND TURNING... INSTEAD OF GETTING A FULL NIGHT'S SLEEP. (NAT ALARM) THIS EXHAUSTING PATTERN CAN LEAD MANY TO TURN TO SLEEP AIDES....LIKE AMBIEN. BUT THERE ARE RISKS WITH TAKING SOME OF THESE MEDICATIONS - LONG TERM 1:05 THERE ARE LONG TERM RISKS TO AMBIEN LIKE SLEEPWALKING JUDGMENT ISSUES. 1:08 AS PEOPLE AGE, YOU METABOLIZE IT DIFFERENTLY AND IT TENDS TO ACCUMULATE IN YOUR SYSTEM. 1:14 ANOTHER COMMON OPTION PEOPLE TURN TO - IS BENADRYL. 31 WE'VE KNOWN FOR YEARS THAT REGULAR USE OF FIRST GENERATION HISTAMINE SUCH AS BENADRYL ON A LONG TERM, REGULAR BASIS DOES INCREASE YOUR RISK OF DEMENTIA. :40 AND IF YOU THINK A SUPPLEMENT LIKE MELATONIN IS SAFE - KEEP IN MIND - IT'S NOT FOR EVERYONE. 3:30 IT'S WINDING A LOT OF KIDS UP IN THE HOSPITAL AND EMERGENCY ROOMS. 3:33 THE CDC ANNOUNCED IN A NEW REPORT - THERE WAS A 530 PERCENT INCREASE IN CALLS TO POISON CONTROL CENTERS BETWEEN 2012 AND 2021 - FOR PEDIATRIC MELATONIN INGESTION. AND A 420 PERCENT INCREASE IN CHILDREN LANDING IN EMERGENCY ROOMS - AS A RESULT OF THE SLEEP INDUCING SUPPLEMENT. 3:52 SOME OF THE SIDE EFFECTS THAT CHILDREN CAN EXPERIENCE. 3:54 THEY CAN GET OVER SEDATED, THEY CAN GET NAUSEATED, THEY CAN VOMIT WHILE THEY'RE SLEEPING. AND 3:59 WE'VE SEEN LOTS OF THAT IN THE GENERAL POPULATION. 4:02 AT THE END OF THE DAY - DR CONNELLY SAYS THE SAFEST WAY TO HELP YOU GET SOME SHUT EYE - IS TO IMPROVE WHAT HE CALLS - YOUR SLEEP HYGIENE. 1:47 DON'T LOOK AT A SCREEN RIGHT BEFORE BED. DON'T SLEEP IN A BED WITH A TELEVISION ON. YOU KNOW, YOUR BED SHOULD BE FOR SLEEPING AND A FEW OTHER ACTIVITIES, BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE FOR WATCHING A SCREEN OR WATCHING A TELEVISION OR LISTENING TO LOUD MUSIC WHEN IT'S TIME TO GO TO BED. 2:02 I REACHED OUT TO MEMORIAL HEALTH IN SAVANNAH TO SEE IF THEY'VE HAD ANY CASES OF KIDS TAKING SLEEPING AIDES - LIKE MELATONIN. THEY SAID IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS - THERE HAVE BEEN 72 ACCIDENTAL INGESTIONS - INVOLVING CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER. THERE HAVE BEEN 122 ACCIDENTAL INGESTIONS FOR THOSE UNDER 18. MANY OF THESE CASES - SIMPLY INVOLVE THE CHILD - TAKING TOO MUCH. AND GREG... AND COMING UP TONIGHT AT 11
Sleep Aid Dangers: Savannah doctors break down risks of sleep-inducing medications "It's winding a lot of kids up in the hospital and emergency rooms."
Each year, as many as 50 to 70 million adults in the U.S. are impacted by a sleep disorder, according to the American Sleep Association. Many of those people may be tempted to turn to sleep aids to help them get some shut-eye, but doctors say the medications can carry some risks.When it comes to sedatives like Ambien, doctors say it's crucial people only take it for a short duration."There are long-term risks to Ambien like sleepwalking and judgment issues. As people age, you metabolize it differently and it tends to accumulate in your system," Dr. Tim Connelly with Memorial Health said.Another common option people turn to is Benadryl. Doctors say you should not take this medication every night over a long period of time."We've known for years that regular use of first-generation histamine such as Benadryl on a long-term, regular basis does increase your risk of dementia," Connelly said.If you think a supplement like melatonin is safe, keep in mind, it can be dangerous if you take the wrong dosage. "It's winding a lot of kids up in the hospital and emergency rooms," Connelly said.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced in a report there was a 530% increase in calls to poison control centers between 2012 and 2021 for pediatric melatonin ingestion. There was a 420% increase in children landing in emergency rooms as a result of the sleep-inducing supplement."Kids can get over sedated, they can get nauseated, they can vomit while they're sleeping," Connelly said.Dr. Ben Spitalnick with the Pediatric Associates of Savannah said melatonin gummies are what parents need to be most wary of. That's because kids can mistake the gummies for candy and overconsume the supplement."So if you leave out gummies of any sort, whether it be melatonin or others, kids are going to get into it. They're going to think it's candy, and they're going to eat very large quantities. Now, in general, small overdoses of melatonin are not horribly dangerous, but they can be. High doses can lead to hospitalization, in rare cases, death," Spitalnick said. Memorial Health told WJCL 22 News in the past six months, there have been 72 accidental ingestions of sleep aids involving children 12 and under. They said there have been 122 accidental ingestions for those under 18.At the end of the day, Connelly said the safest way to help you or your kids to get some shut-eye is to improve what he calls your sleep hygiene."Don't look at a screen right before bed. Don't sleep in a bed with a television on. You know, your bed should be for sleeping and a few other activities, but it shouldn't be for watching a screen or watching a television or listening to loud music when it's time to go to bed," Connelly said.TRENDING STORIES3 people arrested after special needs teen in South Carolina dies of dehydration, malnutritionEvent center in Pooler? Residents share concerns about plans for 14-acre developmentPedestrian killed following crash in Hinesville; Georgia State Patrol investigating
Each year, as many as 50 to 70 million adults in the U.S. are impacted by a sleep disorder, according to the American Sleep Association. Many of those people may be tempted to turn to sleep aids to help them get some shut-eye, but doctors say the medications can carry some risks. When it comes to sedatives like Ambien, doctors say it's crucial people only take it for a short duration. "There are long-term risks to Ambien like sleepwalking and judgment issues. As people age, you metabolize it differently and it tends to accumulate in your system," Dr. Tim Connelly with Memorial Health said. Another common option people turn to is Benadryl. Doctors say you should not take this medication every night over a long period of time. "We've known for years that regular use of first-generation histamine such as Benadryl on a long-term, regular basis does increase your risk of dementia," Connelly said. If you think a supplement like melatonin is safe, keep in mind, it can be dangerous if you take the wrong dosage. "It's winding a lot of kids up in the hospital and emergency rooms," Connelly said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced in a report there was a 530% increase in calls to poison control centers between 2012 and 2021 for pediatric melatonin ingestion. There was a 420% increase in children landing in emergency rooms as a result of the sleep-inducing supplement. "Kids can get over sedated, they can get nauseated, they can vomit while they're sleeping," Connelly said. Dr. Ben Spitalnick with the Pediatric Associates of Savannah said melatonin gummies are what parents need to be most wary of. That's because kids can mistake the gummies for candy and overconsume the supplement. "So if you leave out gummies of any sort, whether it be melatonin or others, kids are going to get into it. They're going to think it's candy, and they're going to eat very large quantities. Now, in general, small overdoses of melatonin are not horribly dangerous, but they can be. High doses can lead to hospitalization, in rare cases, death," Spitalnick said. Memorial Health told WJCL 22 News in the past six months, there have been 72 accidental ingestions of sleep aids involving children 12 and under. They said there have been 122 accidental ingestions for those under 18. At the end of the day, Connelly said the safest way to help you or your kids to get some shut-eye is to improve what he calls your sleep hygiene. "Don't look at a screen right before bed. Don't sleep in a bed with a television on. You know, your bed should be for sleeping and a few other activities, but it shouldn't be for watching a screen or watching a television or listening to loud music when it's time to go to bed," Connelly said. TRENDING STORIES