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The Best Insomnia Medication for You
By Karen Garmon
Chronic insomnia is a prevalent and serious condition that is often
treated with various forms of medication. Newer forms of insomnia
medication are safe when used as prescribed and on a periodic basis, and
are less addictive than their older cousins. When considering insomnia
medication, it is important to remember there is no “one-size-fits- all”
treatment, and it is best to discuss your sleep problems and concerns with
a doctor before using any type of drug therapy.
The earliest known insomnia medication is bromide, which was used to
promote sleep back in the mid 19th century. Bromide was originally used to
treat epilepsy, but it was found to be an effective tranquilizer and
sedative shortly thereafter. By the early 1900’s, a new class of drug,
barbituates, was developed. Barbituates were very effective in promoting
sleep, and were widely used up until the 1960’s, when benzodiazepines were
introduced as a treatment for insomnia. Benzodiazepines were a much safer
insomnia medication than barbituates, as they were much less likely to
produce adverse effects, as well as much less likely to be fatal in the
event of an overdose.
The newest class of insomnia medication, developed in the 1990’s, are
known as non- benzodiazepine, benzodiazepine receptor agonists. These
medications are as effective as benzodiazepines, yet they have been shown
to present a lower risk of addiction and abuse, as well as fewer side
effects.
There are a number of different types of insomnia medication, most of
which fall into either the class of benzodiazepines or the class of
non-benzodiazepine, benzodiazepine receptor agonists.
The first type of insomnia medication is sedative-hypnotic.
Sedative-hypnotics are used to reduce the amount of time it takes to fall
asleep and increase the duration of sleep. These medications are generally
taken orally at bedtime, although some of the newer forms of
sedative-hypnotics can be taken on an “as needed” basis whenever symptoms
occur. Sedative-hypnotics classified as benzodiazepines are no longer as
commonly prescribed due to side effects such as inappropriate use,
dependence, memory and movement impairments, and next-day sensations
similar to a hangover. Those classified as non-benzodiazepine,
benzodiazepine receptor agonists have much better safety profiles and are
more likely to be prescribed. However, unusual side effects such as
sleepwalking have been reported by a few who have used them.
Another type of insomnia medication is over-the-counter (OTC). OTC
insomnia medications can be purchased at a pharmacy or drugstore without a
prescription. The majority of these medications contain antihistamines
that act as sedatives. The dosage of these antihistamines generally range
from 25mg to 50mg. They do not work for everyone, however, and can produce
side effects such as dry mouth and eyes, urinary retention, confusion,
vivid dreams, and a next-day “hangover.”
A third type of insomnia medication is sedating antidepressants. These are
prescription medications more commonly used to treat depression, but have
sedative effects that promote sleep. While there is solid evidence that
sedating antidepressants are effective at treating insomnia in the context
of treating depression, their effectiveness in treating primary insomnia
is less clear. Furthermore, the side effects of sedating antidepressants
are more severe than those of sedative-hypnotics, and are therefore less
likely to be prescribed. Disclaimer: This article is for informational
purposes only and is not meant to serve as medical advice. For medical
advice, please consult your doctor.
To learn more, visit
http://www.insomniacurenow.com/, if you are looking for an insomnia
medication.
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