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Insomnia Treatment: Medicine
Overview
Insomnia can be managed in different ways. If sleep disturbance fails to resolve with other supportive care measures, your doctor may recommend medications that can promote sleep. These can either be prescription or over-the-counter drugs. Most of these medicines are only recommended for short-term use. Drug treatment will depend on the causes of insomnia and severity of symptoms. For some people, sedative hypnotics or sleeping pills are enough to restore sleep, but others who suffer from underlying conditions such as depression may need antidepressants with sleep-inducing properties
Treatments
The Effect of Sleeping Pills on Insomnia
These drugs, also called sedative hypnotics, include benzodiazepine and non-bezodiazepine. Doctors don't usually encourage their patients to take prescription sleeping pills for no more than a few we...
Read more about Insomnia and Sleeping Pills.
The Effect of Antidepressants on Insomnia
Antidepressants can be used for primary and secondary insomnia. If your symptoms are not related to underlying diseases, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants with sedating properties. Antidepres...
Read more about Insomnia and Antidepressants.
The Effect of Over-the-counter Medications on Insomnia
People who experience occassional insomnia may benefit from non-prescription drugs that are known to cause drowsiness. Some over-the-counter anti-allergy drugs contain antihistamines. These drugs mak...
Read more about Insomnia and Over-the-counter Medications.
References
Foldvary-Schaefer, N. Getting a Good Night Sleep. Cleveland Press. 2006
Sedative effects of antihistamines. Roth T, Roehrs T, Koshorek G, Sicklesteel J, Zorick F. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1987;80:94-8.
Shives, L., Basic concepts of psychiatric-mental health nursing. Lippincott Williams & Williams. 2008