#88 - Sleep & Sleeping Pills with Dr. Ranji Varghese

This interview podcast focuses on prescription sleeping pills, featuring a sleep medicine expert, Dr. Ranji Varghese. The podcast begins with an introduction to the topic and Dr. Varghese's impressive background. It then delves into the mechanisms of sleeping pills, comparing older benzodiazepines (like Valium) to newer non-benzodiazepines (like Ambien), highlighting their respective benefits, risks (including amnesia and complex sleep behaviors), and how they affect brain neurotransmitters. Dr. Varghese shares a personal anecdote illustrating the potential dangers of sleep medications, emphasizing the importance of cautious use and considering alternative treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). The episode concludes with contact information for Dr. Varghese and a preview of a future episode covering newer sleeping pill classes.