Anyone who has ever had trouble sleeping knows how upsetting, irritating and frustrating it can be to lie awake watching your alarm clock tick closer and closer to the time you'll have to get up for school or work feeling exhausted, grumpy and unhappy. For some, sleeplessness is a chronic problem while for others it can be brought on by a number of issues including stress and other lifestyle factors.

On the occasions I've had trouble sleeping, I've resorted to over-the-counter, low-dose sleeping pills that were recommended by my doctor. As my own sleepless nights are fairly rare, and the pills were recommended by my family physician, I don't worry too much about taking them. If I needed the tablets on a regular basis though, I may be more inclined to try a herbal sleeping pill made with non-addictive, all-natural ingredients.

But then I read this article about how a number of over-the-counter herbal sleeping pills being sold in Canada (my homeland) contained potentially-addictive drugs, which weren't listed on the label. According to the piece, some people who took the pills experienced weeks of sleeplessness followed by depression after discontinuing use. A pretty scary thought for those believing that herbal pills are better for them than those with sleep-inducing drugs.

I think the most important thing to learn from this is that if you're having a chronic sleep problem, it is worthwhile to consult your physician about the best options available to you. That, and to make sure that you're aware of what kinds of ingredients are in any pill that you consume on a regular basis.