Doctor Amir Khan has warned against using a common medication. He recently admitted he would never advise people to take it, and it should be avoided for a certain reason
Katie-Ann Gupwell Acting Content Editor
12:58, 27 Feb 2026Updated 12:58, 27 Feb 2026
Doctor Amir Khan named the medication he’d “never” advise people use (stock image) (Image: Getty Images)
Millions of people take medication on a daily basis, yet there are certain medicines that doctors are reluctant to prescribe. Doctor Amir Khan has previously admitted there’s a particular type he would “never” recommend, as he believes it can lead to potentially dangerous consequences.
The health expert shared his professional advice on a previous episode of the No Appointment Necessary Podcast, which he co-hosts with presenter Cherry Healey. During the episode, the pair were discussing sleep and how people can struggle to get a decent night’s rest.
According to the GP, there’s something you should actively avoid when trying to nod off. This isn’t the only crucial guidance to have emerged on the subject either. It has also been revealed there are other straightforward techniques you can use to help you fall asleep with ease.
In a clip circulated on social media, the doctor was asked when someone should turn to sleeping pills for assistance. He replied: “I would say never. Never, ever use sleeping tablets.
“There’ll be lots of people watching this going ‘well, I’ve got insomnia, I need sleeping tablets’. Actually, what you need is probably cognitive behavioural therapy and psychiatric input to look at why you’re not sleeping and what can be done.
“The only time I might, and this is so rare, give out sleeping tablets is if there has been an acute situation, like you’ve had a death in the family or you’ve been through a very traumatic incident, and you can’t sleep.
“I will never give them out for more than a week because they’re so addictive, you can build up a tolerance to them and the quality of sleep you have on sleeping tablets, you don’t get into that deep REM sleep that you need to feel fully refreshed.”
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It appears that sleeping tablets can sometimes cause more harm than good, which is precisely why the doctor exercises such caution when it comes to prescribing them.
What you need to know
Whilst doctors occasionally prescribe sleeping pills for those in desperate need, they should only ever be taken on a short-term basis. They can serve as a temporary measure to tackle the issue, and are typically only issued for roughly a week or so, under a doctor’s supervision.
They are not regarded as a long-term solution to sleep problems. Despite being effective at helping people drift off, prolonged use can result in dependency, tolerance and even daytime fatigue.
For conditions such as insomnia, lifestyle adjustments and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) are the preferred first-line treatments.
People are strongly advised against using sleeping pills without consulting a doctor beforehand, as the medication may not be suitable for you, or there may be more effective ways of managing your symptoms. Avoid using over-the-counter options without speaking to your GP first.
If you are prescribed them, there’s no need to be alarmed about taking them. You simply need to approach their use with care, and remain mindful of their potential risks.
Whilst they may prove effective for short-term relief of insomnia, both prescription and over-the-counter alternatives also carry substantial, well-documented risks. This is why they should never be utilised long-term.
If you’re worried about your sleep quality, contact your doctor for further advice. They will guide you on the most appropriate ways to manage it.
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