Is alcohol a useful sleep aid?

Humphreys said:
It does make you feel crappy the next day, but so do most doctor approved sleep-aids, and the same goes for dependance etc. I can't see that it's greatly inferior to other sleep aids.
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Says who, what when and where?
Your anecdotes are not usefull.

You should seek a sleep clinic for help if you can.
 
Jeff Corey said:
Overall, the effects are detrimental. http://cme.medscape.com/viewarticle/497982
"...although alcohol may be effective in sleep induction, it impairs sleep during the second half of the night and can lead to a reduction in overall sleep time. As a result, it can also be associated with daytime somnolence. It is of interest that alcohol's negative effects on sleep are even observed when it is ingested in the late afternoon.

Insomnia is often a chronic condition, and chronic reliance on alcohol increases the risk of development of alcohol dependence and alcoholism."

ETA, google "Alcohol effects on sleep" to get the Medscape article, if the link doesn't work.
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I think this is the best response in the thread.

Basically, ethanol is a sedative so small quantities may be tolerable. But then again: small quantities may have no sedating effect either.

If the patient drinks enough to get zonked out, it's likely that the negative effects will be uncomfortable in a few hours: dehydration, headache. That will impact the quality of sleep, even if the patient was able to drop off earlier. It neutralizes any potential gains.

I used to work in a discharge planning ward with seniors, and the geriatricians often prescribed a shot of brandy before bedtime. It was easier on the staff, but I'm not sure it was good for the patients.
 
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Jeff Corey said:
Overall, the effects are detrimental. http://cme.medscape.com/viewarticle/497982
"...although alcohol may be effective in sleep induction, it impairs sleep during the second half of the night and can lead to a reduction in overall sleep time. As a result, it can also be associated with daytime somnolence. It is of interest that alcohol's negative effects on sleep are even observed when it is ingested in the late afternoon."
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This for me. Even a small amount of alcohol (I'm not a big drinker) may make me fall "asleep" more quickly for the short term - but I wake up later feeling like I haven't actually slept and at that point I become extremely restless and can't get comfortable. I also have difficulty figuring out how covered-up to be; my body temperature seems erratic. Not so great a sleep aid in my book.
 
Dancing David said:
Says who, what when and where?
Your anecdotes are not usefull.

You should seek a sleep clinic for help if you can.
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I don't need any other help for my sleep. I know exactly what causes my sleep issues, and how to deal with them.

Paying a lot of money for something that cannot be cured is a terrible idea. For instance, stress and anxiety causes sleep issues, so the solution is to not be stressed and anxious. I don't need a clinic to tell me how to do that, I know how, it's just much easier said than done.

I am perfectly happy using alcohol for sleep when needed.

I don't have anything better than anecdotes, but as the affects of alcohol vary greatly between people anyway, trying for yourself and experiencing the affects is going to be far more useful than any large scale study.

I'm not sure why I was singled out for my anecdotal evidence, that's practically all that has been posted in this thread, and probably all the OP was expecting. Obviously no doctor is going to suggest it instead of FDA approved medicine!
 
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I hardly drink at all, but I find a glass of wine in the late evening pretty good on the whole. However, I agree about the poorer sleep in the later part of the night, so I wouldn't hand it an unqualified 10/10.

But now and again, once in a while - why not?

Rolfe.
 
Humphreys said:
I don't need any other help for my sleep. I know exactly what causes my sleep issues, and how to deal with them.

Paying a lot of money for something that cannot be cured is a terrible idea. For instance, stress and anxiety causes sleep issues, so the solution is to not be stressed and anxious. I don't need a clinic to tell me how to do that, I know how, it's just much easier said than done.

I am perfectly happy using alcohol for sleep when needed.

I don't have anything better than anecdotes, but as the affects of alcohol vary greatly between people anyway, trying for yourself and experiencing the affects is going to be far more useful than any large scale study.

I'm not sure why I was singled out for my anecdotal evidence, that's practically all that has been posted in this thread, and probably all the OP was expecting. Obviously no doctor is going to suggest it instead of FDA approved medicine!
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So this statement was made by your and quoted by me was it not?
It does make you feel crappy the next day, but so do most doctor approved sleep-aids, and the same goes for dependance etc. I can't see that it's greatly inferior to other sleep aids.
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So what doctor approved sleep aids are you talking about there?
 
Dancing David said:
So this statement was made by your and quoted by me was it not?


So what doctor approved sleep aids are you talking about there?
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I have taken Zopiclone (I believe I have spelt that right, but I'm not certain) in the past, as well as practically every OTC medicine. Zopiclone was recommended to me at the time as one of the best there was, and it worked great, but I felt bad the next day, had a horrible metallic taste in my mouth for the whole day, and given time, I would have become completely dependant on them.

I find alcohol safer, just personally of course, I am not trying to suggest anyone should take my wordfor any of this, I think experimenting with what is out there is the best course of action to take, and alcohol should definitely be considered for more minor sleep issues, used in moderation, if you like it, of course.
 
Yeah, anecdotally from me - it gets me to sleep qiuckly, but the quality of sleep is poor. I feel tired on waking. Ditto for my wife; I don't snore when I'm sober, but a heavy nightcap changes that. I'm sure that has deleterious effects on my sleep as well.

If I compare it to exercise, there's no contest. Sleeping when I've been for a good run is fantastic; takes seconds to drop into, and waking up the next day sort of feels like mornings should feel - new, and fresh.
 
Pure anecdote: a good, stiff shot of booze knocks me right out if I drink it a half hour before bedtime. Hmmm, it's about that time :)
 
Humphreys said:
I have taken Zopiclone (I believe I have spelt that right, but I'm not certain) in the past, as well as practically every OTC medicine. Zopiclone was recommended to me at the time as one of the best there was, and it worked great, but I felt bad the next day, had a horrible metallic taste in my mouth for the whole day, and given time, I would have become completely dependant on them.
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So your general statement was based upon one use of one medication? Okay.

And receiving a medication to treat a symptom is not dependance.
 
Dancing David said:
So your general statement was based upon one use of one medication? Okay.

And receiving a medication to treat a symptom is not dependance.
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One prescription medication, lots of non-prescription (these are close to useless). I thought it was generally well known that no sleeping tablet is going to allow you great nights sleep without any adverse side effects over a long term period.

As far as dependence goes, I'm not sure what you mean here. The dependence occurs because of the higher doses gradually needed to get the same affect, coupled with the horrible rebound insomnia that occurs when you stop use after an extended period of time.

I'm not arguing against the use of proper sleep medicine anyway, I am simply suggesting that moderare alcohol consumption can work too, and although there are some negative side-effects, the same goes for sleeping tablets.

I know for a fact alcohol is useful as a sleep-aid.
 
Yes alcohol will help you go to sleep if you drink a few units, as will most cns depressants. However, like was found out with other gabagenic drugs to help sleep like benzos, your sleep architecture is really muddled up. Usually you sleep deeply for the first few hours with normal rem cycles but then the really deep delta stages are either very brief or never happen at all. And some people think these are the most important parts of sleeping. You may sleep for the wanted amount of time, but the quality of the sleep for the second half of the night is often quite restless and not enough.

And using a drug as addictive as alcohol daily for anything would be awful, not to mention its nerotoxic and cell damaging metabolites like Acetaldehyde for example. Its why you can often tell heavy drinkers from other people as their skin and cells appear older, worn and wrinkly due to being abused to an extreme level. Not to mention ethanols liver damage, or various increased cancer risks. Stick to prescribed and tested drugs, not legal highs like alcohol

Nothing drastically wrong to use it for this every once in a while :) Or for recreation :p Just dont expect to wake up feeling too fresh.
 
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Jeff Corey said:
Overall, the effects are detrimental. http://cme.medscape.com/viewarticle/497982
"...although alcohol may be effective in sleep induction, it impairs sleep during the second half of the night and can lead to a reduction in overall sleep time. As a result, it can also be associated with daytime somnolence. It is of interest that alcohol's negative effects on sleep are even observed when it is ingested in the late afternoon.

Insomnia is often a chronic condition, and chronic reliance on alcohol increases the risk of development of alcohol dependence and alcoholism."

ETA, google "Alcohol effects on sleep" to get the Medscape article, if the link doesn't work.
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Damn. Beat me to it pretty much. Should have read whole thread first. Wondered where I learnt about that.
 
Yep, as Zeuzzz said, you fall asleep relatively quickly but the full 'cycle' of sleep is disrupted, hence the 'groggy' feeling in the morning.

Personally, I can drink 5/6/7litres of 5.2% lager go to bed at 1-2am and sleep like a baby all night, wake up at 7am bright as a button and have a very productive day at work. I've never had a hangover either. When people describe them to me I just can't relate.
 
Rocko said:
Yeah, anecdotally from me - it gets me to sleep qiuckly, but the quality of sleep is poor. I feel tired on waking. Ditto for my wife; I don't snore when I'm sober, but a heavy nightcap changes that. I'm sure that has deleterious effects on my sleep as well.

If I compare it to exercise, there's no contest. Sleeping when I've been for a good run is fantastic; takes seconds to drop into, and waking up the next day sort of feels like mornings should feel - new, and fresh.
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That is the same for me.

The other sleep aid for me is warm milk, taken just before bed time.
 
Humphreys said:
One prescription medication, lots of non-prescription (these are close to useless). I thought it was generally well known that no sleeping tablet is going to allow you great nights sleep without any adverse side effects over a long term period.
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That is a rather general statement is it not? And another unsupported one. Yes OTC is not the way to go, it even tells you that on the label.
It is for the occasional use, not long term.
I don't think benadryl has any long term adverse effects.
As far as dependence goes, I'm not sure what you mean here. The dependence occurs because of the higher doses gradually needed to get the same affect, coupled with the horrible rebound insomnia that occurs when you stop use after an extended period of time.
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You haven't established that, or I missed it. Most prescription medications only say that in the TV commercials. The better phrasing would be “If used for abuse and off label, these medications pose a risk of substance dependence. Although abusing ambion of lunesta would not be any fun.
I'm not arguing against the use of proper sleep medicine anyway, I am simply suggesting that moderare alcohol consumption can work too, and although there are some negative side-effects, the same goes for sleeping tablets.
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That was not your originals statement, here is the deal, if you have consistent problems sleeping you should get help. I hope that people would not treat a recurrent infection with home remedies either.

Most sleep disorders can be traced to a cause that may be open to treatment.
Home remedies are not the solution in most cases.
I know for a fact alcohol is useful as a sleep-aid.
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