Metasleep, Noctesia, Forténight, Noctiphar, Sleepyl, Lunestil… These are sleep aids that you can buy without a prescription. Although you will not find the word ‘sleeping aid’ on the package leaflet. These are ‘non-addictive’ nutritional supplements ‘to promote the quality of sleep’. In addition to vitamins, they also contain valerian, Indian ginseng, lemon balm or golden poppy. Last year, more than 1.3 million boxes were sold, an increase of 33 percent compared to 2019. Doctors are said to have become more careful about prescribing ‘real’ sleeping pills. Nevertheless, 5.5 million boxes were also sold last year.
Sleep expert and neurologist Inge Declercq (UZA) believes that non-prescribed drugs are sold too quickly. Many people don’t know what they are taking. And if one pill doesn’t work, they take two.” Many of these products contain melatonin, a sleep hormone that we produce ourselves. ‘Melatonin has an effect on the brain, but also on the intestines, for example. If you get too much of that, it can be harmful.’ Other drugs affect the production of histamine, which can cause cardiac arrhythmias.’ (tdl)
