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Avoid alcohol as a sleep aid
alcohol and sleep
A listing is not a recommendation.
Origin: Contemporary sleep medicine · Tradition: Behavioural sleep medicine · Daily habits & sleep
What it is
Basic advice not to use alcohol as a sleep medicine: even if it seems to bring sleep on sooner, it can make the later part of sleep shallower and can worsen apnoea.
A short introduction (not a treatment instruction)
- Do not drink in order to fall asleep.
- If you drink, leave a gap before bed, and reduce the amount.
- If you are worried about dependence, seek specialised support.
Symptoms or aims often mentioned with this practice
- Sleeplessness
- Tiredness
- Breathing
Related symptom videos
Research notes (this is not a promise of effect)
A: High-quality systematic reviews or major clinical guidelines give a relatively consistent picture for this aim
Worsening of sleep quality with alcohol is a well-established finding in sleep medicine. This is daily-life advice whose benefit lies in stopping, rather than a complementary therapy.
Sources
Safety notes
Dependence, and withdrawal can be dangerous if managed only on one’s own judgement.
If you are unsure, or if you have a health condition, are pregnant, or take medicine, consult a qualified professional.
Situations in which this is better avoided
- If there is a risk of alcohol withdrawal, do not stop on your own; consult medical care