Getting the right amount of sleep each night helps you remain alert during the day, but it is also vital from a health perspective. Research shows that a chronic lack of sleep can increase your risk of serious health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and dementia.
Insomnia is a condition where a person has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at night. While it can sometimes be caused by another medical condition (which is known as secondary insomnia), many people with the disorder experience bouts of sleeplessness with no clear cause.
Chronic bouts of sleeplessness can be addressed with prescription and non-prescription medications. Some insomnia medications, such as ramelteon and zaleplon, are used to help people fall asleep. Other medications, including suvorexant and doxepin hydrochloride, can help people stay asleep or easily go back to sleep after waking. Medications like zolpidem tartrate (better known under its brand name Ambien) and temazepam can perform both functions.
People with insomnia must keep in mind that taking these medications for an extended period may lead to health issues or could increase a person’s risk of dependence. For instance, prescription sleep medications often leave people feeling tired during the daytime, or they may carry harmful side effects. Your doctor can explain the different medications, their benefits, and their potential risks during your appointment.
While insomnia medications offer quick relief from sleeplessness, most people with insomnia benefit most from multiple treatment approaches. If racing thoughts and stress are keeping you awake at night, your doctor may recommend cognitive behavioural therapy in addition to medication. Light therapy, which involves using a light box to adjust your internal clock, or sleep restriction, which induces tiredness at night, are often helpful. Certain lifestyle changes can also be beneficial for people with insomnia:
If you find that treatment and lifestyle changes are not effective at treating your insomnia, the sleep disorder may be caused by an underlying health condition.