Sleep Medicine
All
insomnia medications should be taken shortly before bed. Do not attempt
to drive or perform other activities that require concentration after
taking an insomnia medication as the medication will make you sleepy.
Sleep medication pills
Medications should be used in combination with good sleep practices.
Ambien
The
original version of Ambien works well at helping you get to sleep, but
some people tended to wake up in the middle of the night. Ambien CR is
an extended release version. It helps you get to sleep within 15 to 30
minutes, and the new extended release portion helps you stay asleep.
You should not take Ambien or Ambien CR unless you are able to get a
full night's sleep - at least 7 to 8 hours.
Taking ambien is not advisable if you
Have a history of depression, liver or kidney disease, or respiratory conditions.
Lunesta
Lunesta
also helps you fall asleep quickly, and studies show people sleep an
average of 7 to 8 hours. Don't take Lunesta unless you are able to get
a full night's sleep as it could cause grogginess.
Taking lunesta is not advisable if you
Have a history of drug or alcohol abuse, depression, lung disease, or a condition that affects metabolism.
Rozerem
This
is a new sleep medication that works differently than the others. It
works by targeting the sleep-wake cycle, not by causing central nervous
system depression. It is prescribed for people who have difficulty
falling asleep. Rozerem can be prescribed for long-term use and the
medication has shown no evidence of abuse and dependence.
Taking rozerem is not advisable if you
Are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Have history of kidney or respiratory problems, sleep apnea, or depression.
Sonata
Of
all the new sleeping pills, Sonata stays active in the body for the
shortest amount of time. That means you can try to fall asleep on your
own. Then, if you're still staring at the clock at 2 a.m., you can take
it without feeling drowsy in the morning. However, if you tend to wake
during the night, this might not be the best choice for you.
Taking sonata is not advisable if you
- Have severe liver impairment.
- Are pregnant.
- Have a history of depression, liver or kidney disease, or respiratory conditions.
Benzodiazepines
These
older sleeping pills (Halcion, Restoril, and others) are useful when
you want an insomnia medication that stays in your system longer. For
instance, they have been effectively used to treat sleep problems such
as sleepwalking and night terrors. However, these drugs may cause you
to feel sleepy during the day and can also cause dependence, meaning
you may always need the drug to sleep.
Taking benzodiazepines is not advisable if you
- Are pregnant or breast-feeding.
- Have a history of drug abuse, depression or respiratory conditions.
Antidepressants
Insomnia
is a common symptom of depression. Thus, some antidepressant drugs,
such as trazodone (Desyrel), are particularly effective in treating
sleeplessness and anxiety that's caused by depression.
Amitriptyline
One
of a class of medications used to treat depression. The tricyclic
antidepressants (TCAs) are also used for some forms of anxiety,
fibromyalgia, and the control of chronic pain.
Please Note: This brand name drug is no longer available in the US.
Taking amitriptyline is not advisable if you
- Are recovering from a heart attack or using a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI).
- Have a history of seizures, hyperthyroidism, liver disease, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
Nortriptyline
is indicated for the relief of symptoms of depression. Endogenous
depressions are more likely to be alleviated than are other depressive
states.
Taking nortriptyline is not advisable if you
- Are recovering from a heart attack or using a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI).
- Have a history of glaucoma, seizures or schizophrenia.
Trazodone (Desyrel)
Trazodone
is indicated for the treatment of depression. The efficacy of Trazodone
has been demonstrated in both inpatient and outpatient settings and for
depressed patients with and without prominent anxiety.
Taming trazodone is not advisable if you
Have a history of high blood pressure.
Consider when taking trazodone
Interacts with warfarin (Coumadin) and many herbal supplements.
Over-the-Counter Sleep Aids
Most
of these sleeping pills are antihistamines. They generally work well
but can cause some drowsiness the next day. They're safe enough to be
sold without a prescription. However, if you're taking other drugs that
also contain antihistamines -- like cold or allergy medications -- you
could inadvertently take too much.
FDA
issued warnings for prescription sleep drugs In March 2007, alerting
patients that they can cause rare allergic reactions and complex
sleep-related behaviors, including "sleep driving."
The FDA's warnings include the following sleep pills
- Ambien/Ambien CR,
- Butisol Sodium,
- Carbrital,
- Dalmane
- Doral,
- Halcion,
- Lunesta
- Placidyl
- Prosom
- Restoril
- Rozerem
- Seconal
- Sonata
Hormones Supplements
Melatonin
Melatonin
is a naturally occurring hormone whose levels peak at night. It is
triggered by dark and levels remain elevated throughout the night until
light decreases it. For this reason, melatonin has been studied for use
as a sleep aid. However, most study results have not found it to be
beneficial when compared to a sugar pill (placebo). Some positive
results have been shown in helping adjustment to jet lag and shift
workers who work nights. However, it�s unclear whether simple
exposure to light at the right time is more effective, and there is no
risk of side effects with light exposure. Long term uses of melatonin
are unknown.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
This
therapy is intended to reestablish healthy sleep patterns by helping an
individual cope with his or her sleep problem. One cognitive-behavioral
approach, called paradoxical intention, helps to retrain an
individual's fears of sleep by doing the opposite of what is causing
the anxiety. For example, a person with insomnia worries long before
going to bed about not being able to sleep and the difficulty he or she
will have at bedtime. Rather than preparing to go to sleep, therefore,
the person prepares to stay awake. Another cognitive-behavioral
technique, called thought stopping, allows a person with insomnia a
certain period of time to repeatedly and continuously think about going
to bed. This technique helps "wear out" the anxiety associated with
going to bed, and decreases the likelihood that he or she will obsess
about falling asleep at other times.
You
can easily navigate to your interest using the below scroll box filled
with content regarding sleep insomnia details and its treatment.
Sleep disorder information and treatment guide
|
