Sleeping Pills

• Sleeping pills work by sending a message to the central nervous system that it is time for sleep. The body responds with the appropriate yawning and stretching, and sleep ensues shortly after. The person remains asleep until the next morning. Various types of sleeping pills exist, with differing functions and purposes.
  
  

Benzodiazepines

• The most common type of sleeping pills are benzodiazepines. These pills have been around the longest, and thus have a proven record of bringing about sleep. Benzodiazepines work by increasing the function of the neurotransmitter GABA (Gamma Amino Butyric Acid) which acts as a calming agent to the brain. GABA's function is to slow down body processes, and benzodiazepines aid in this process. The person is unable to move quickly and exhibits other telltale signs of sleep, such as slurred speech, an inability to stand without stumbling, and slow hand-eye coordination. Benzodiazepines come in both long-acting formulas, which may interfere with the next day's functions, and short-acting ones, which usually wear off in just a few hours.
  
  

Other Types of Sleeping Pills

• Non-Benzodiazepines are a new type of sleeping pill that are less likely to cause daytime drowsiness. These pills work by targeting sleep receptors in the brain, thus telling the person it is time for sleep. They move quickly through the system and the body then eliminates the pill, causing little to no residual effects. A person wakes up the next day, and may proceed through the day without feeling listless. Melatonin receptor agonists, another form of sleeping pill, work by mimicking the effect of melatonin on the brain. (Melatonin is the natural hormone that promotes sleep.) This type of sleeping pill tricks the brain into believing that it released melatonin, and so the brain tells the person it is time to sleep.