Taking sleeping pills might seem like a quick fix for insomnia, but doctors warn about serious health risks. Here's what you need to know before taking the pill.

Sleeping pills can change your breathing patterns and make you breathe less deeply. This can make heavy snoring and pauses in breathing (sleep apnea) worse and raise your risk for lung infections.

“Sleeping pills are sedatives — hypnotic medications — and they lower brain activity, which is why people sleep better,” says Sloane, who also co-directs UNC’s program on aging, chronic ...

If we can have a sleeping pill that helps people sleep without disrupting their sleep at the same time it will be very important,” Hauglund concludes. Cell, 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.11.027 ...