Why Sleep Medications Aren’t the Answer—and What Actually Works

When you can’t sleep, it’s tempting to reach for the quick fix: a sleep aid, a glass of wine, or over-the-counter medications.

While these might help in the short term, they rarely address the root of the issue. In fact, they can make things worse over time.

The Problem with Sleep Medications

• Short-term relief, long-term risks: Many prescription and OTC sleep aids are designed for short-term use only. Over time, they can lead to dependence and diminished effectiveness.

• Side effects: Drowsiness, confusion, memory issues, and even increased fall risk — especially for older adults — are common side effects.

• Doesn’t treat the cause: Medications may mask symptoms, but they don’t get to the underlying behavioral or cognitive patterns that drive sleep difficulties.

What Works Better: Therapy-Based Solutions

At Restore Sleep Health, we use evidence-backed therapies to help you retrain your brain for sleep, including:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I): Considered the gold standard in insomnia treatment, CBT-I helps you break patterns of worry, reshape beliefs about sleep, and adopt healthier sleep behaviors.

• PAP Desensitization: For those with sleep apnea struggling with CPAP compliance, we provide step-by-step therapy to make the device feel manageable — and eventually, natural.

• CBT for Nightmares (CBT-N): If bad dreams are keeping you up or affecting your mood, this targeted therapy can reduce their frequency and intensity.

Sleep therapy is not just about getting more hours — it’s about getting the right kind of sleep.

Unlike medications, therapy helps you build lasting skills that can improve sleep for years to come — without side effects or dependency.

Ready to break the cycle of restless nights? Schedule a free consultation with us and take your first step toward lasting, restorative rest.