The short explanation
It could be a contributing factor, and it is worth raising with her doctor soon. Many sleeping medicines cause drowsiness, unsteadiness and slower reactions, and in older adults these effects can last into the night and the next morning. Getting up in the dark to use the toilet while still drowsy is a common time for falls. Other things can also cause falls at night, such as low blood pressure when standing up, needing to pass urine urgently, poor eyesight, weak legs, other medicines and poor lighting. A doctor can review all her medicines, check her blood pressure and balance, and decide whether the sleeping tablet should be reduced or changed. It should not be stopped suddenly without advice, because that can cause withdrawal effects.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Night lights along the path to the bathroom, a bedside commode, non-slip mats and handrails can reduce falls.
- Encouraging her to sit at the edge of the bed for a moment before standing may help if she feels dizzy.
- Falls in older women can cause fractures, especially if bones are thin, so prevention is important.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This cannot tell you why she is falling. Her doctor needs to examine her and review her medicines.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Could her sleeping tablet be causing her falls?
- Can her medicine be reduced or changed safely?
- Should her blood pressure, eyesight or bones be checked?
- What changes at home can help prevent falls?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Emergency — call 112 now
- Call 112 if she hits her head, cannot get up, has severe pain or cannot move a leg after a fall.
Get help the same day
- Get care the same day if she seems confused or unusually drowsy.
Book an appointment soon
- See her doctor within a few days to review her medicines after these falls.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Zopiclone NHS
- Sleep disorders MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Insomnia NHS
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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