Insomnia Medication
Insomnia medication should not be taken carelessly. Low-dose medication for insomnia can help short-range insomnia but is rarely helpful for long-term insomnia. At present, most experts recommend trying medications as a last resort after trying other treatments for insomnia have failed because these medications can be addictive can have serious side effects. Hypnotics such as sedatives, minor tranquilizers, and anti-anxiety drugs are among the most commonly used medications for insomnia. But most of these hypnotics can lose its effectiveness once a person had become used to it. Consequently, this can make the insomnia return and for this reason most doctors' recommend reducing the dose slowly.
Insomnia medication can be:
1. Over the counter medication - this does not require doctor's prescription and can relieve mild insomnia. Good thing about this medication is that it is inexpensive and is not addictive but it should not be used by individuals with angina, heart arrhythmias, glaucoma, and urinary problems.
2.
Prescription medication - this insomnia medication should be taken at the lowest dose possible. This type of medication include:* Bendodiazepines - the most common and safest hypnotics but can be potentially risky when combined with alcohol. This should not be taken by individuals who are taking ulcer medication.
* Non-benzodiazepines - Side effects of these hypnotics includes nausea, dizziness, nightmares, agitation, and headache. This medication may pose less of a risk of dependence.
* Anti-depressants - These can relieve insomnia associated with depression. Good thing about this insomnia medication is that it has fewer side effects and poses lesser danger for overdose than other anti-insomnia drugs.
There are several excellent sleep labs around the US that are especially designed to diagnose sleep disorders through a sleep study. This study is pain free and provides a comfortable bed for the patients to sleep. When the patient is asleep, electrodes are attached to the different parts of the body. These electrodes are linked to computerized equipment that records the body's sleep patterns throughout the night. Recordings include brain wave activity, breathing, hearth rhythm, eye and chest movement that measures the oxygen level in the blood. Insomnia medication then is prescribed by your physician after analyzing the complete data from the result of the study.
Can't sleep? Insomnia medication might be a good solution for you. Talk with your health care provider to learn more about your options.