Peril of the sleeping pill: Users a third more likely to die early



Sleeping pills can affect a person's alertness and co-ordination

Popping a pill might seem a small price to pay for a good night’s rest.

But experts warn the long-term cost could be far greater.

Research shows that those who take sleeping tablets are a third more likely to die prematurely than those who do not.

The figure takes into account factors that can affect longevity, from social class and chronic health conditions to smoking and alcohol use.

And, unlike previous research, it also recognises the effects of depression.

With around ten million sleeping pill prescriptions written each in tthe UK and many more tablets sold over the counter, the findings have significant implications

for the health and habits of the nation.



Crucially, the study did not distinguish

between those who were heavy users and those who only took them occasionally.

Researcher Genevieve Belleville said: ‘These medications aren’t candy and taking them is far from harmless.’



But British experts questioned whether the Canadian study had over-stated the risks. And they stressed that while sleeping pills should be prescribed prudently they still have a place in modern medicine.



Dr Belleville analysed 12 years of data on more than 12,000 Canadians.



When all other factors were equal, death rates were found to be significantly higher among sleeping pill users and those taking tablets to ease anxiety.

Pills used ranged from over-the-counter antihistamines to powerful prescription-only preparations such as Valium.



After taking into account alcohol and tobacco consumption, physical health, physical activity and depression, Dr Belleville found the drugs were linked to a 36 per cent increase in the risk of death.

Pill takers were more likely to succumb to every type of illness, from parasites to cancer, she said.



Writing in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, Dr Belleville, of Laval University in Quebec, gave a number of possible explanations for the alarming statistic.

Sleeping pills and anti-anxiety drugs affect reaction time, co-ordination

and grogginess, which raises the odds of falls, she said.

Tablets might also suppress the respiratory system, which could aggravate breathing problems during sleep, particularly for those with heart problems. In addition, effects on the brain could affect judgment and moods, increasing the risk of suicide.

Dr Belleville said doctors should give more prominence to cognitive behavioural therapy rather than medication to treat insomnia.

But British sleep experts said that although the Canadians had tried to account for the effect of health problems, marriage breakdowns and other factors, it is likely that these ‘underlying problems’ still skewed the result.



Professor Jim Horne, of Loughborough University, said many of those studied were likely to be very troubled, adding: ‘It is all very well saying people who take these die, but one has to ask what happens if these people don’t take sleeping tablets.



Genevieve Belleville, from Laval University's School of Psychology in Canada, led the study, derived from Canada's National Population Health Survey.



The data includes information on people aged 18 to 102, surveyed every two years between 1994 and 2007.



Both sleeping pills and anti-anxiety drugs can affect a person's alertness and co-ordination, which could make them more prone to falls and other accidents.



Another theory is that they interfere with the breathing system and affect any breathing problems as the person sleeps.



The medicines also work on the central nervous system, possibly increasing the risk of suicide.



Dr Belleville said people should consider a type of talking therapy called cognitive behavioural therapy instead.



'These medications aren't candy, and taking them is far from harmless.



'Given that cognitive behavioural therapies have shown good results in treating insomnia and anxiety, doctors should systematically discuss such therapies with their patients as an option.



'Combining a pharmacological approach in the short-term with psychological treatment is a promising strategy for reducing anxiety and promoting sleep.'



The study was published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry.