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[P. I. Stob]

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Ativan, the generic name being Lorazepam, is a dangerous prescription drug which can severely damage the liver, doctors say. Even the lightest version of Ativan, that which contains only 1mg of Lorazepam, can have very negative effects on your health. Ativan is just one member of the benzodiazepine family which Valium, Lithium and Xanax also belong to. While the use of Ativan has shown moderate effectiveness in the treatment of anxiety and insomnia the cons of its use far outweigh the pros. The types of side effects it can produce are troubling, as well as the rates of people who become dependent and/or addicted to it. Long term use of Ativan increases the risk of liver damage and also amplifies the withdrawal symptoms when a person eventually tries to stop taking Ativan. Ativan works by inhibiting receptors in the brain, although its use makes the assumption that there is an imbalance in the brain. Herbal supplements and therapy are available for anxiety and sleep problems and should always be considered first.

Looking to get better sleep? It is not only the amount of sleep you get in a night, but the quality of that sleep. There are many different stages of sleep, and to get better sleep at night you should consider the amount of REM, and deep sleep you get. It has been shown that getting better sleep during the REM cycle improves mood and energy levels, whereas lacking it leaves people irritable and often drowsy. Lacking in deep sleep can have a similar effect, you may have experienced this before; an instance where you got your regular seven or eight hours but did not feel refreshed. The question is "How do we get better sleep?" You must address physical and psychological factors which may be keeping you from getting better sleep. A poor diet or lack of exercise can be damaging to the sleep cycle. If you cut down on fatty foods and increase your exercise, you may notice you are getting not only more but better sleep. Dealing with stress and anxiety will also help you get better sleep. Even though you might not be aware of it, being anxious can keep you from falling into a deep sleep. For both physical and psychological health, herbal supplements are available to help you get better sleep.

If you are suffering from insomnia, knowing all the sleep remedies available to you is precious information. At the doctor's office you will can learn a bit about various pharmaceutical sleep aids, but very little about natural sleep remedies. Unfortunately this field is largely neglected by the medical profession, but there are a lot of natural sleep remedies which should be considered before resorting to expensive and potentially dangerous prescription drugs. While these drugs do induce sleep they have many side effects and generally do not result in good sleep quality, instead leaving the user groggy and drowsy the next morning. Herbal sleep remedies do not result in this "hung over" feeling, and are still very effective in treating insomnia. By naturally calming the mind and relaxing your muscles, sleep remedies from nature can help you get the best sleep you've had in years. The other advantage to herbal sleep remedies is that they do not require a prescription; and doctors do not like to prescribe pharmaceutical sleep aids for long periods of time. You are overall better off using natural sleep remedies over pharmaceuticals in most cases.

Sleepwell