Blue Sleeping Pills: What Are They and What Are They Used For
If you have encountered blue sleeping pills, you may wonder what they are, what medication they contain and whether they are used to treat insomnia.
Colour alone, however, is not a reliable way to identify a medicine.
Different pharmaceutical manufacturers may produce tablets containing the same active ingredient in different colours, shapes and sizes. Conversely, completely different medicines can look remarkably similar.
This means that a blue tablet should never automatically be assumed to be a particular sleeping medicine.
In this guide, we explain what people may mean when searching for blue sleeping pills, why tablet appearance varies, how prescription sleeping medicines work and how to identify medication safely in the UK.
Best Selling Sleep Aid Tablets in the UK
-
Sleep Aid TabletsEszopiclone Tablets | Sleep Aid Tablets
Price range: £121.79 through £169.35Clear120 Tablets150 Tablets180 Tablets -
Sleep Aid TabletsNitrazepam Tablets: Sleep Pills
Price range: £124.11 through £171.67Clear120 + 10 FREE! x 10 mg Tablets150 x 10 mg Tablets180 x 10 mg Tablets -
Sleep Aid TabletsZaleplon Sleep Tablets
Price range: £124.11 through £171.67Clear120 + 10 FREE! x Tablets150 x Tablets180 x Tablets -
Sleep Aid TabletsZolpidem 10 mg
Price range: £124.11 through £171.67Clear120 + 10 FREE! x 10 mg Tablets150 x 10 mg Tablets180 x 10 mg Tablets -
Sleep Aid TabletsZopiclone 7.5MG, 10MG
Price range: £124.11 through £171.67Clear112 x 10 mg Tablets120 + 10 FREE! x 7.5 mg Tablets140 x 10 mg Tablets150 x 7.5 mg Tablets180 x 7.5 mg T
What Are Blue Sleeping Pills?
The term blue sleeping pills isn’t the name of a particular medication. It is primarily a description based on a tablet’s physical appearance.
People may encounter sleeping tablets that are:
- Blue
- White
- Yellow
- Pink
- Round
- Oval
- Capsule-shaped
- Film-coated
Their appearance depends on the medicine, strength, manufacturer, and formulation.
For that reason, searching for “a blue sleeping pill” isn’t enough to establish what medication someone has.
Why Are Some Sleeping Tablets Blue?
Pharmaceutical manufacturers use colours for several reasons.
Colour can help distinguish:
- One medicine from another
- Different strengths of the same medicine
- Different manufacturers
- Different formulations
- Branded and generic versions
The coating may also make a tablet easier to swallow or protect the active ingredient.
However, tablet colour doesn’t indicate how strong or effective a sleeping medicine is.
A blue tablet isn’t necessarily stronger than a white tablet, for example.
Sleep problems may develop for many different reasons, including:
- Stress and anxiety
- Changes in daily routine
- Shift work
- Jet lag
- Medical conditions
- Environmental disturbances
- Poor sleep habits
- Excessive caffeine or alcohol consumption
Identifying the underlying cause is often an important part of improving long-term sleep quality.
How Can You Identify a Blue Sleeping Pill?
If you have an unidentified tablet, don’t take it based on its colour or an online photograph.
Check the original:
- Blister packaging
- Medicine box
- Patient information leaflet
- Prescription label
- Manufacturer information
- Tablet markings or imprint
The package should identify the active ingredient and strength.
If the original packaging isn’t available, take the tablet to a pharmacist for advice rather than trying to identify it solely from its appearance.
This is especially important with sleeping medicines because some can cause substantial sedation and interact dangerously with other medicines or alcohol.
Are Blue Sleeping Pills Used for Insomnia?
Some medicines used for insomnia may be manufactured as coloured tablets, but treatment should be identified according to its active ingredient, not colour.
Insomnia can involve difficulty:
- Falling asleep
- Staying asleep
- Returning to sleep after waking
- Sleeping for an adequate amount of time
- Feeling refreshed after sleep
Occasional poor sleep doesn’t necessarily require medication.
When insomnia becomes severe or persistent, a healthcare professional can investigate its underlying cause and determine whether treatment is necessary.
Prescription Sleeping Pills in the UK
Some medicines used to treat severe insomnia in the UK are prescription-only medicines.
Depending on the patient’s circumstances, a clinician may consider medicines such as:
Zopiclone
Zopiclone is a prescription hypnotic used for the short-term treatment of severe insomnia.
It belongs to a group commonly referred to as Z-drugs.
Zolpidem
Zolpidem is another prescription hypnotic used for severe short-term insomnia.
It affects GABA signalling within the central nervous system, producing a calming effect that can make it easier to sleep.
Other Sleep Treatments
Different treatments may be appropriate depending on the cause of the person’s insomnia, other medications being taken, and their medical history.
The important distinction is that the appearance of the tablet doesn’t determine its medical purpose.
How Long do Sleep Aid Tablets Last For?
Non-benzodiazepine sleep aid tablets work quickly, aiding a sound sleep and last for up to 8 hours. For this reason, non-benzodiazepine sleep aid tablets are generally only ever used to treat and cure chronic insomnia.
The effects of benzodiazepine sleep aid tablets on the other hand, such as Nitrazepam and Diazepam, wears off after about 4 hours and as such can be used to treat other conditions such as anxiety and depression, as well as acute cases of insomnia.
Because they can be taken for extended periods of time relatively safely, non-benzodiazepine sleep aid tablets are prescribed to patients with sleep problems caused by anxiety.
Non-benzodiazepine sleep aid tablets are considered much safer due to the reduced risk of side effects, and this is why they are prescribed by doctor’s more than benzodiazepine sleep aid tablets nowadays.
Blue Sleeping Tablets vs Zopiclone
Of the billions of people that have this sleep disorder, it is estimated that less than half go and seek pharmaceutical relief for it. This is because people often prefer to first try and see if natural remedies for insomnia can work for them. Natural remedies can include two forms of natural relief – one is through using herbal sleep aid tablets and the other is through lifestyle changes that work to promote healthier sleep.
Of all of the herbal sleep aid tablets available, melatonin is perhaps the most renowned as it is the naturally occurring chemical in the brain that signals to us when it is time to go to sleep. Due to this, melatonin supplements or boosters have become a very popular sleep aid. Other variants of naturalized sleep aid tablets include:
- Tryptophan – an amino acid that may help induce sleep faster and increase the amount of time spent asleep.
- Ginkgo biloba – various studies show that consuming 240 mg of this natural herb before bed can lead to stress reduction, enhanced relaxation and the augmentation of sleep.
- L-theanine – consuming 400 mg of this amino acid daily is likely to promote sleep and improve feelings of relaxation.
Other natural remedies include healthy lifestyle changes as your lifestyle is inextricably linked to your sleep patterns. Before you buy a pharmaceutical form of insomnia treatment you can try:
- Regularly exercising at least once per day and not just before bed.
- Only going to bed when you are tired and waking up and going to sleep at a regular time every day.
- Performing a relaxing or meditative routine before bed such as taking a warm bath or reading.
- Ensuring that your bedroom is cool, dark, and quiet. Try using thick curtains and sleep apparel such as eye masks and earplugs.
- Ensuring that your mattress, pillows and blankets are optimized for your comfort.
Blue Sleeping Pills vs Zolpidem
People searching for blue sleeping tablets may encounter websites or discussions associating particular colours with zopiclone.
That association should be treated cautiously.
Generic medicines can be manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies, and their appearance can vary. A tablet’s colour therefore isn’t sufficient evidence that it contains zopiclone.
If you’re researching zopiclone specifically, identify it by:
Active ingredient: Zopiclone
rather than by tablet colour.
How Do Prescription Sleeping Pills Work?
Different medicines work differently, but several prescription hypnotics influence chemical signalling within the central nervous system.
Z-drugs such as zopiclone and zolpidem act on the brain’s GABA system.
GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that reduces neuronal activity. Increasing its effects can produce:
- Relaxation
- Drowsiness
- Reduced alertness
- Easier sleep initiation
Because these medicines affect the central nervous system, they should only be used according to appropriate medical advice.
How Quickly Do Sleeping Pills Work?
The onset varies considerably according to the active ingredient, formulation, patient, and other factors.
Some prescription hypnotics are relatively fast-acting, which is why patients may be instructed to take them shortly before going to bed.
Never take an unidentified blue tablet because you believe it is a fast-acting sleeping medicine.
Are Blue Sleeping Pills Available Without a Prescription?
Whether a sleeping medicine requires a prescription depends on its active ingredient and regulatory classification, not its colour.
Some pharmacy sleep aids may be available without a prescription, while medicines such as zopiclone and zolpidem are prescription-only medicines in the UK.
Consumers should therefore distinguish carefully between:
Non-prescription sleep aids
and
Prescription sleeping medicines
They are not interchangeable categories.
Possible Side Effects of Sleeping Medication
Side effects depend on the medicine involved.
Some sleeping medicines can cause:
- Daytime drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Reduced concentration
- Memory problems
- Poor coordination
- Unusual dreams
- Gastrointestinal symptoms
Certain prescription sleeping medicines may also cause dependence, particularly when used for longer than recommended.
Always read the patient information leaflet supplied with the specific medicine.
Sleeping Pills and Alcohol
Alcohol should not be combined with sedating sleeping medication unless a qualified healthcare professional has specifically advised otherwise.
Both can depress the central nervous system.
Combining them can increase:
- Excessive sedation
- Poor coordination
- Impaired judgement
- Breathing problems
- Difficulty waking
This is another reason why taking an unidentified “blue sleeping pill” is particularly risky.
Can Sleeping Pills Cause Dependence?
Some prescription hypnotics can cause tolerance and dependence.
Tolerance means that the effect of a medicine may become reduced after repeated use.
Dependence means the body adapts to the presence of the medicine, potentially resulting in withdrawal symptoms when it is discontinued.
This is one reason certain prescription sleeping medicines are generally intended for short-term treatment.
Alternatives to Sleeping Pills
Medication isn’t always necessary for insomnia.
Depending on the cause, improving sleep may involve:
- Maintaining consistent sleeping and waking times
- Reducing caffeine later in the day
- Limiting alcohol
- Exercising regularly
- Reducing screen exposure before bedtime
- Keeping the bedroom quiet and dark
- Developing a regular bedtime routine
- Managing stress
Persistent insomnia may benefit from professional assessment and treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I).
When Should You Seek Medical Advice?
Speak with a healthcare professional if:
- Insomnia persists for several weeks.
- You regularly depend on medication to sleep.
- Sleep problems interfere with daytime activities.
- You experience significant daytime sleepiness.
- Your current sleep treatment is no longer effective.
- You experience troublesome medication side effects.
- You experience breathing difficulties during sleep.
Persistent insomnia can sometimes indicate an underlying physical or psychological condition that requires treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blue Sleeping Pills
What are blue sleeping pills?
“Blue sleeping pills” is a descriptive search term rather than the name of one particular medicine. Several medicines can have blue or similarly coloured formulations.
Are all blue sleeping pills the same?
No. Different medicines and different strengths can have similar appearances.
Is a blue sleeping pill Zopiclone?
Not necessarily. Zopiclone products can differ in appearance depending on the manufacturer and formulation. Check the packaging and active ingredient rather than relying on colour.
Is a blue sleeping pill Zolpidem?
Colour alone cannot reliably identify zolpidem or any other medication.
Can you identify sleeping pills from photographs?
A photograph may provide clues, but it should not be relied upon to determine whether an unknown tablet is safe to take. Check the original packaging or ask a pharmacist.
Can I buy sleeping pills without a prescription in the UK?
Certain pharmacy sleep aids may be available without a prescription, but prescription hypnotics such as zopiclone and zolpidem require an appropriate prescription.
Are prescription sleeping pills intended for long-term use?
Many hypnotic medicines are generally used for relatively short periods because tolerance and dependence can develop. Follow the treatment plan provided by your healthcare professional.
Blue Sleeping Pills: The Bottom Line
The most important thing to remember about blue sleeping pills is that colour does not identify a medicine.
Different manufacturers can use different colours for the same active ingredient, while completely different medicines can look similar.
UK consumers should identify sleeping medication according to its active ingredient, strength, packaging and manufacturer, not simply whether the tablet is blue.
If you’re experiencing persistent insomnia, speak with an appropriate healthcare professional rather than experimenting with unidentified sleeping tablets.