Among such people is 29-year-old marketing professional Sarah Alamin, who resides in Dubai. Originally looking for a quick and simple fix for her problems with falling asleep, she first began taking herbal melatonin pills. Like many others, Sarah thought these vitamins were a natural cure for insomnia. Starting from neighborhood pharmacies, she began purchasing them in hopes they might improve her sleep given the demands of her work. The pills first looked to be helping her fall asleep faster and enhance the quality of her relaxation. She eventually came to see, though, that she had grown dependent on the tablets even though she was not especially having trouble sleeping.

Sarah's narrative is not singular. Many consumers of over-the-counter herbal supplements overlook the possible adverse effects or long-term implications on their health, Medical experts caution that regular use of sleep aids including melatonin-based products may cause different problems. Over-reliance on sleep aids for adults might cause cognitive problems and memory loss. In children, the consequences can be even more worrisome since they might affect other important developmental milestones and brain growth.

Pharmacists also warn against using herbal supplements unattended as their quality and potency vary greatly. "While herbal supplements like melatonin can offer a natural alternative for improving sleep, it's essential to approach them with caution," advised licenced pharmacist Ola Anwar. She said that melatonin and related treatments might interfere with other drugs and might not be appropriate for everyone, especially those with underlying medical problems.

Anwar says people should see a pharmacist or healthcare practitioner before using any sleeping aids. If needed, a healthcare professional can evaluate the personal health demands and provide less dangerous but more efficient substitutes. Sometimes sleep problems could be a sign of a more severe underlying medical condition that calls for medical attention; so, professional counsel is more advisable than self-medication.

Herbal pills like melatonin are intriguing because of their accessibility and simplicity, particularly when people are searching for short cures for their sleep issues, Still, one should not ignore the possible hazards connected to their use, especially in cases of non-medical monitoring. Dependency on herbal supplements or sleeping drugs could cause long-term health problems that could have been averted with correct advice and treatment, People should become more conscious of their sleeping patterns and, when needed, see a specialist.

Even if melatonin and other herbal medicines seem to be a safe fix for sleep problems, their uncontrolled usage might have major effects. Those like Sarah Alamin could be unintentionally compromising their health by depending on sleep aids without consulting a doctor. Pharmacists and doctors underline the need of using these products carefully and consulting experts to guarantee long-term health and safety.

UAE doctors caution against using sleeping pills without a prescription

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