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February 9, 2010
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Insomnia Treatment: Sleep Aids and Stimulants

Medical Author: John P. Cunha, DO
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Doctor to Patient

Ambien: Sleeping Pill FAQs

Medical Author: Benjamin C. Wedro, MD, FAAEM
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Ambien Sleep Drug: What You Need to KnowInsomnia, the inability to sleep, is all too common in our society. Many people have transient sleep disturbances and treat them with over-the-counter medications, while others turn to their healthcare provider for prescription medications - and there are plenty of choices for medications. Each has its benefits and risks, indications, and side effects, and these medications are not interchangeable. More importantly, they aren't safe to use together.

Regardless of the mechanism of action of sleeping pills, they are all "downers." They depress brain function, and if too many are taken or if they are mixed with alcohol or other drugs, the breathing centers of the brain can be depressed to the point that the body stops breathing, and the person dies.

One prescription sleep medication is zolpidem (Ambien). Ambien is a sedative drug that works quickly; but as with any sleeping pill, it needs to be used in a wise manner.


Doctor to Patient

What is insomnia and what causes it?

Insomnia is difficulty in falling or staying asleep, the absence of restful sleep, or poor quality of sleep. Insomnia is a symptom and not a disease. The most common causes of insomnia are:

Insomnia can also be caused by faulty sleeping habits such as excessive daytime naps or caffeine consumption.

Insomnia may be classified by how long the symptoms are present.

  • Transient insomnia usually is due to situational changes such as travel, extreme climate changes, and stressful events. It lasts for less than a week or until the stressful event is resolved.

  • Short-term insomnia usually is due to ongoing stressful events, medication side effects, medical conditions, and lasts for one to three weeks

  • Chronic insomnia (long-term insomnia) often results from depression or substance abuse and continues for more than three weeks.

Transient insomnia may progress to short-term insomnia and without adequate treatment, short-term insomnia may become chronic insomnia.

Among the medications and substances that can contribute to insomnia are:

  • caffeine and coffee,

  • tobacco,

  • alcohol,

  • decongestants (for example, pseudoephedrine),

  • diuretics [for example, furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (Dyazide)] especially if taken in the evening or at bedtime,

  • antidepressants [for example, bupropion (Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, Zyban), fluoxetine (Prozac)],

  • appetite suppressants [for example, sibutramine (Meridia), phentermine (Fastin)], and

  • amphetamines.
Insomnia also may be the result of withdrawal from:

Next: What are non-drug treatments for insomnia? »

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