Why You Should Always Talk To Your Primary Doctor About Sleep Medicine

Posted on: 18 August 2021

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Sleep medicine can be extremely helpful for those who suffer from all sorts of conditions, be it sleep apnea, insomnia, or anything in between. However, it is important to note that sleep medicine is just like any other medicine in that it needs to be tailored to your situation to have the best possible results. Even if you can buy this sleep medicine over the counter, you should still talk to your primary health care doctor about it, and there are many reasons why that is the case. Here are three of the most pressing issues that illustrate why you need to talk to your doctor about choosing a sleep medicine.

Tailor The Dosage

A lot of sleep medicines will have recommended dosage on the back of the packaging, but this is a very general recommendation that may not be totally fit for your needs. Either it might be too little or too much, which can cause it to be ineffective. You might then blame the medication for not working when in reality it works fine, and instead, you just don't know how much to take. Talking to your primary health care doctor will allow them to give you the proper dosage for your age, weight, and other genetic factors so that you get proper relief.

Choosing The Right Type

There are so many different types of sleep medicine that all promise to have varying effects. Knowing which brands you can trust and what type you need for your specific condition is not that easy without a medical degree, which luckily your doctor has. They know the industry in and out, and they can advise on what you should be taking and even write you a prescription if the drug requires it. Knowing your doctor is in charge of your medication can also help you sleep easier, just like the sleep medicine you are after!

Not Interfering With Other Treatments

If you are already on another type of medication or undergoing any sort of treatment, then you should always bring a new drug you intend to take to your primary health care physician. They will know whether the sleep medicine is compatible with what you are already on or if it might have negative consequences, which could potentially cancel out the effects of your current medication, or the sleep medicine, or both. Your doctor can help ensure that your current drug rotation will work for you.