Insomnia & sleep disorders

Insomnia Treatment With Pills And Medications

March 6th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

Majority of people suffering from sleep disorders turn to pills and medications. This proves to be working at first but gradually there arise certain disadvantages and risks that need serious consideration before one starts with a particular kind of sleeping pills or medication. These days, both over the counter medications and prescriptions pills are used for insomnia treatment.

Over The Counter Medications

Over the counter medications for insomnia are usually ineffective in log term insomnia treatment. First of all, they do not ensure the quality of sleep enjoyed by healthy people. They give about 5 % duration of deep sleep while in healthy sleep this duration is 10 % to 25 %. Secondly, over the counter drugs for insomnia mostly work by the action of antihistamines (anti-allergic chemicals) present in them. These include chemicals like diphenhydramine citrate, diphenhydramine hydrochloride, and doxylamine succinate. While antihistamines do cast a sedating effect, they are not to be used by people with prostate problems, angina, heart problems, and urinary problems. Antihistamines can add to the intensity of these conditions. Finally, over the counter drugs have a number of side effects like: drowsiness and dizziness (that may remain for twenty four hours), memory lapses, dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, and urinary retention.

Prescribed Medications For Insomnia Treatment

Various types of medications, collectively called hyptonics, are prescribed for insomnia treatment. Hypnotics generally fall in three categories: benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepines, and antidepressants.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines is a class of prescribed drugs for treating insomnia and include names such as Dalmane, Doral, Frisium, Halcion, Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin Restoril, and Rohypnol etc. Benzodiazepines work by slowing down the Central Nervous System (CNS).

Non-benzodiazepines

Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata, and Imovane are the commonly prescribed non-benzodiazepines for insomnia treatment. These drugs have been reported to ensure greater health safety than the more popular benzodiazepines.

Antidepressants

Trazodone (Desyrel ) is the most common antidepressant prescribed for treating insomnia. It works by regulating the balance of neurotransmitters like acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. Other antidepressants include Elavil, Endep, Pamelor, Aventyl, and so on.

Duration Of Insomnia Treatment

Most of the health experts agree on using insomnia medications for a short period only. This is because these drugs do not eliminate the root causes of sleeplessness, which are quite complex for any one of these to cure radically. In addition, these medications cause drug tolerance and/or dependence of the patient on them. In all cases of using over the counter drugs or prescribed medications, it is important that the patient educate him/herself well on the possible side effects