Sleeping pills is a generic term commonly used to describe prescription and over the counter medications helpful in promoting sleep. These pills help people who have difficulty falling asleep, or they struggle with staying asleep. The most widely prescribed sleeping pills fall under the drug class of benzodiazepines or benzodiazepine receptor agonists. Sleeping pills help when depression, stress, travel, or other life problems disrupt your sleep and keep you awake. For long-term sleeping problems or insomnia, doctors generally prescribe sleeping pills along with behavior and lifestyle changes.