wide-eyed...

... at 1:19 a.m., and 2:05, and 3:15. Sleeping so poorly, for  several nights in a row as if I had to wonder if my neurons were overloaded on caffeine(which I rarely consume.)  Baffled as to why I have been lying there in the dark on full alert for night after night, trying to figure out what is causing my brain to turn on in the wee hours. Thought processes running at full speed when those cells should be resting instead of firing at maximum power. Finally deciding, with ample time to ponder, it must be the OTC meds. Consumed  with the idea of clearing up constantly dripping nose, sneezing, itchy throat, misc. other allergy-type symptoms.

It is probably a reflection on our culture that we think a pill can fix all our problems. Taking something to wake up, and another to go to sleep. Like Alice in The Looking Glass: one makes you taller and the other makes you shorter. Uppers and Downers, On and Off-ers. So willing to put the tab in your mouth and wash it down, without a thought for the side-effects or contra-indications.

Which brought me to actually reading all the fine print on the box. Sure enough, right there, hidden in the 'Drug Facts': Stop use and ask a doctor if you get nervous dizzy or sleepless. Along with all the other reasons you should not be consuming this particular drug. Like if you have heart disease, diabetes, glaucoma, kidney disease, high blood pressure, etc., etc., And a list of 23 inactive ingredients.

We rarely consider that everything has some sort of side effect - all have some inherent risk we just overlook in order to get the desired results. All those little pills you consume, chemicals taken without a second thought, will surely interact in your blood stream, possibly creating some highly undesirable concoctions. The request that you bring a brown paper bag every time you have a medical appointment is designed to prevent those unexpected eruptions, baffling symptoms. But then we have a runny nose, sore toe, grumbling belly and proceed to add Over The Counter meds. to the mix. Which brings about unintended consequences - like being wide-eyed at 1:19, 2:05, 3:15.

I finally got up and took more drugs (OTC, of course) that are designed to help a body sleep. Making my brain slow down, turn off and give me several hours of peace. To be awakened by the aroma of bread in the toaster coming through the heating vents. But I can already predict a nap is in the offing.