Roughly 42 million sleeping pill prescriptions were filled last year, according to the research company IMS Health, up nearly 60 percent since 2000 – showing that Americans may be more anxious and stressed than ever before.

Lance Longwell, a spokesman for IMS Health, a leading prescription research company that conducted the survey, said this is inaccurate and the actual number is much higher at 43.1 million prescriptions.

These numbers raise the question of why so many Americans are suddenly in need of supplemental drugs to help them fall asleep.

Dr. James O’Brien, the founder of TalkAboutSleep.com, a forum for physicians as well as people with sleep-related queries, said they are over-prescribed and should be used cautiously and not be the only resort for an insomniac.

“Sleeping pills are a good thing and a bad thing,” he said. “Well-meaning physicians are discussing sleep with their patients and prescribing hypnotic agents in order to help them. However, for some, sleeping problems may require sleep studies to treat the disorder. Sleeping pills may be the first step, but not the only answer.

“There are many types of hypnotic agents with different chemical compositions. Not all sleeping pills are the same. Some get you to sleep while others get you to sleep and keep you asleep,” he added.

People must be informed about the different types of pills that are available before taking any particular one, he warned, because sleeping pills are not “miracles in a bottle.” The drugs they contain are meant to replicate the brain’s natural chemicals that allow the body to sleep.

Kathleen McCann, a spokeswoman for the American Insomnia Association, said that the surge in technology and an increased consumption of caffeine prevents people from finding peaceful places to allow their brains to process at night.

“Society encourages 24-7 stimulation that keeps us up and engaged,” she said, adding that many people have unhealthy sleeping environments and suffer anxiety and restless minds that keep them awake.

According to O’Brien, people are having difficulty sleeping because artificial light fools the brain into thinking it is sunlight and then it will not produce melatonin.

“Light from the computer screen makes the brain think that the sun is still up. It gets our adrenaline up and we don’t know what time it is. There are no cues,” he said.

With sources of artificial light keeping people’s brains active throughout the night, more and more people are incapable of getting the sleep they need, and as a result, they seek the help of physicians.

For these insomniacs, McCann said sleep centers nationwide seek psychological explanations to find the underlying root of anxiety and sleeplessness instead prescribing pills.

According to various doctors, there are many side effects of sleeping pills, the most common being drowsiness the day after taking a pill.

However, some users, like Stephen Wells, a lawyer in Buffalo, report uncharacteristic sleepwalking and amnesia after using Ambien, he said in an interview with the New York Times.

“I had no recollection of it the next day,” Wells reported.

In light of these side effects, many physicians and sleep experts say people must exercise caution when using sleeping pills.

“People need to examine their own sleep habits and then talk to a doctor,” said Marci Cleary, a spokeswoman for the National Sleep Foundation.

She added there are simple steps one can take to assure better sleep, such as finding a cool, dark sleeping environment.

Cleary expressed the importance of developing the correct sleep habits early in life, adding that the recommended dosage is 7 to 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep, but it varies according to the individual.

“There are biological systems at work – your brain is processing the information from the day. Good sleep affects memory and alertness and keeps you focused,” she said. “It’s a long-term habit; it’s about treating your body right; it’s as important as diet and exercise”