Insomnia Treatment: Sleep Aids and Stimulants
Medical Author: John P. Cunha, DO
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
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Ambien: Sleeping Pill FAQs
Medical Author: Benjamin C. Wedro, MD, FAAEM
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
 Insomnia, 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.
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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:
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Insomnia Treatment: Sleep Aids and Stimulants
Night Sweats »
Introduction
Doctors in primary care fields
of medicine often hear their patients complain of night
sweats. Night sweats refer to any excess sweating occurring
during the night. However, if your bedroom is unusually hot or you are using too
many bedclothes, you may begin to sweat during sleep - and this is normal. In order to distinguish
night sweats that arise from medical causes from those that occur because one's
surroundings are too warm, doctors generally refer to true night sweats as
severe hot flashes occurring at night that can drench sleepwear and sheets, which are
not related to an overheated environment.
In one study of 2267 patients visiting a primary care physician, 41% reported
experiencing night sweats during the previous month, so the perception of
excessive sweating at night is fairly common. It is important to note that
flushing (a warmth and redness of the face or trunk) may also be hard to
distinguish from true night swe...
Read the Night Sweats article »
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