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[O. L. Herbeck]

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If you are thinking of using Ativan think again! Even by the standards of other prescription drugs it is dangerous, and people using Ativan require constant monitoring of kidney and liver function to ensure that it is not causing permanent damage to the body. Ativan is prescribed all too often, both for anxiety and sleep problems, but the prescription of a pharmaceutical drug like Ativan makes the assumption that your anxiety and sleeping problems are being caused by a chemical imbalance when there are many other factors which could be affecting you. Before resorting to the use of Ativan or another benzodiazepine you should try a combination of lifestyle changes, relaxation techniques, cognitive therapy and/or herbal remedies. All of these are obviously side effect and dependency free methods of dealing with anxiety and insomnia, whereas Ativan can lead to addiction, dependency and permanent damage to the body.

Alprazolam sounds like a delicious candy, but is actually a very powerful drug much more commonly known as Xanax. Used in the treatment of anxiety and insomnia, alprazolam can cause depression and in some cases make insomnia worse. Thankfully there are a few alternatives to using alprazolam, many available without a prescription. Natural supplements containing St. John's Wort and Valarian Root have been shown to have a great effect on anxiety and insomnia without harsh side effects. Many people do not use these in place of alprazolam because they do not give you the same "oomph" and immediate relief that prescription drugs can offer, but they can help you get a much better night's sleep. Natural supplements can not only improve both the amount of sleep you get but also the quality of sleep, whereas prescription drugs often make you go to sleep but leave you very groggy the next morning. For a much more natural sleep try natural supplements and only use prescription drugs like alprazolam in cases of serious insomnia.

If you can't sleep there are a couple things you can do to try and remedy this. The first thing to try is to create a good environment for sleep. When you can't sleep you should also stop looking at the clock! Most insomnia is caused by stress, looking at the clock and counting the hours of sleep you can get will stress you out further. A trick that works for many people who can't sleep is to pretend that it is time to get up. It is hard to explain, but people often feel the most tired when they are not allowed to sleep. Besides that, herbal supplements can offer you relief when you can't sleep. There are many plants and herbs that have great soothing effects without harsh side effects. Trust in the healing powers of nature before using pharmaceuticals when you can't sleep and your body will thank you.

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