Examples
|
| Lunesta | eszopiclone |
| Rozerem | ramelteon |
| Sonata | zaleplon |
| Ambien | zolpidem |
Benzodiazepines may also be used to provide short-term
relief from insomnia.
How It Works
These medicines are called
sedative-hypnotics. They help your brain relax so that you can fall
asleep.
Why It Is Used
Some people may need medicine for a
while to help them fall asleep. Doctors often prescribe medicine for a short
time if other treatment isn't working. These medicines work best as a
short-term treatment combined with lifestyle and behavior changes.
How Well It Works
These medicines are effective at
treating insomnia. They are the first-choice medicines for short-term
insomnia.
These sleep medicines may not have as many withdrawal and
tolerance effects as another class of drugs called benzodiazepines that are
used to treat sleep problems. But medicine doesn't work as well over time
as lifestyle and behavior changes do. Except for
ramelteon, sleep medicine can also become habit-forming.
Side Effects
Side effects of sleep medicines may vary
depending on which one you take. But side effects may include:
- Daytime drowsiness and
dizziness.
- Headaches.
- Dry mouth.
- Muscle or
joint pain.
- Changes in appetite or in the way food
tastes.
- Problems with balance or
coordination.
- Confusion and trouble remembering
things.
- Physical problems, such as falling, especially in older
people.
- An allergic reaction.
- Dependence and withdrawal
symptoms. Sleep problems may get worse when you stop taking the
medicine.
In rare cases, people taking these medicines have done
activities, such as driving and eating, while still asleep.
See
Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not
available in all systems.)
What To Think About
These medicines may help with
sleep problems, but they may not work any better than less expensive
nonprescription sleep medicines, such as Sominex or Nytol.
Complete the new medication information form (PDF)
(What is a document?) to help you understand this medication.
References
Citations
Hirschkowitz M, et al. (2009). Sleep disorders. In BJ Sadock et al., eds. Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry, 9th ed., vol 1, pp. 2150–2177. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.