The scientific evidence is clear: sleep is essential to health and wellbeing.

"Sleep is the most important neurobehavioural experience of our lives," says sleep expert and Strategic Lead, National Addiction and Mental Health Surveillance Unit, Dr Rowan Ogeil.

Sleep is important for feeling well-rested, for memory consolidation and learning new tasks, and for replenishing proteins and hormones used throughout the day.

Many things can affect our sleep, including:

• if you are sick
• when sleeping in an environment that is too hot or cold, and
• the use of alcohol and drugs.

How can drugs affect sleep?

Drugs can affect our sleep in many ways, including how quickly we fall asleep, our perception of how much we slept or how restful and refreshing a sleep phase was.

Some drugs, such as benzodiazepines and alcohol, can increase sleepiness. Others, such as caffeine and nicotine, promote vigilance or “wakefulness”. Many commonly used drugs for other health conditions also have sleepiness as a side effect.

The amount you take and the time you take the drug in relation to when you go to sleep can also influence how the drug affects the quality of your sleep.

“It's important to talk to your doctor or health care professional if you notice any changes in your sleep after starting a new medication,” says Dr Ogeil.

More information:

• The Sleep Hub for advice and resources
• The Sleep Health Foundation
• The Sleep Talk Podcast
• Turning Point’s work in sleep research and education

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