Sleeping pills belong to tranquilizers class of drugs. Sleeping pills induce artificial sleep in people suffering from insomnia by depressing the activities of the central nervous system [brain and spinal cord]. When such drugs are taken for a prolonged time, such drugs can become addictive and the person can become addicted to such drugs and the aftereffects of such drugs are drowsiness, hallucinations, slow heart rate etc. and in extreme cases, the person can enter a state of coma and death can also take place.

Therefore it is highly recommended that sleeping pills should be administered to people suffering from insomnia but under the strict consultation of a doctor.