Stiftung Warentest tests over-the-counter sleeping pills - and advises against an active ingredient
Created: 09/23/2022, 12:31 p.m
By: Stella Henrich
Stiftung Warentest tested freely available sleeping pills.
But do these products really help you fall asleep?
An overview.
Munich - Healthy sleep is of great importance for human well-being.
Sure, this cap of sleep shouldn't be held in the office, that goes without saying. But somehow we all know the phenomenon of falling asleep: We lie awake in bed and can't fall asleep.
There are many reasons: mostly concerns, such as the fear of a corona infection, unpaid bills, terrible lovesickness, or even bullying at school or at work, which were initially taken lightly.
But colds or overexcitement can also rob us of our sleep.
So what to do in such situations?
Stiftung Warentest: sleeping pills on the test bench - what really helps?
"One way to finally find peace again can be sleeping pills that are available without a prescription," explain the consumer advocates from Stiftung Warentest in their October issue of Test-Magazine.
To do this, they have filtered out the most suitable drugs from their drug database.
Two groups of over-the-counter active ingredients could be used to help people with sleep problems go back to sleep: "We recommend antihistamines with the active ingredients doxylamine and diphenhydramine, but certain valerian preparations can also help," the testers continued.
However, the sleep-promoting effect of the products is documented to varying degrees.
Sleeping pills in the test: certain active ingredients stimulate sleep
In total, Stiftung Warentest considers seven agents with the active ingredients doxylamine and diphenhydramine to be suitable.
The cheapest remedy from "Schlafsterne" with the active ingredient doxylamine costs 4.59 euros for ten tablets.
With the active ingredient diphenhydramine, the cheapest product costs 7.97 euros for 20 tablets and is from "halbmond".
But Betadorm D, Vivinox sleeping dragees, Gittalun, Hoggar Night are also suitable as a sleep aid.
All of these products are freely available and cost between eight and 14 euros.
What to do if you have trouble sleeping
In the case of sleep disorders in adulthood, which last a few nights and seriously affect the day after, sleeping pills with doxylamine or diphenhydramine for self-treatment are assessed as “suitable” by Stiftung Warentest.
Both active ingredients have been used for a long time.
Its sleep-inducing effect is well known.
However, these sleeping pills should only be taken for a few days at most, because the body gets used to the substances.
After that, they no longer worked sufficiently, or such a high dose would have to be taken that there would be an increased risk of undesirable effects.
Source:
Stiftung Warentest
Sleeping pills tested by Stiftung Warentest: therapeutic benefit not proven
However, according to the experts, sleeping pills with melatonin should be avoided.
This is mainly due to the poor study situation.
For example, melatonin has not been sufficiently researched.
In addition, agents with melatonin are often marketed as dietary supplements, which is why they are not officially tested and approved.
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Valerian is a little more suitable.
According to Stiftung Warentest, however, it depends on the right dosage.
This should be between 300 and 600 milligrams.
However, further studies are also necessary here in order to finally prove the therapeutic effect.
These valerian preparations are "suitable with restrictions", according to Stiftung Warentest:
Abbey -
Valerian Forte
Valeriparan
- strong for the night
Euvegal
-Balance
Klosterfrau
- Valerian Forte nerve rest
sedonia
Sleeping pills in the test: When all else fails
Of course, if over-the-counter sleeping pills don't help, doctors can also prescribe prescription drugs.
However, these funds are only a suitable solution for a short time, "because they quickly become addictive and lose effectiveness," warn consumer advocates.
This patient is being examined in the sleep laboratory for causes of insomnia.
(Iconic image) © Roland Weihrauch/picture alliance/dpa
On the other hand, if you lie awake for more than two weeks in a row, a sleep diary can also help to identify possible patterns and actual causes of insomnia and to get to the bottom of it.
But a sleep laboratory also uncovers hidden causes of poor sleep.
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