Insomnia Treatments

Insomnia Treatments

If you suffer from insomnia, there are several steps you can take to promote better sleep. Your healthcare provider can determine which treatments work best for your individual needs.

Benzodiazepines (BZDs): These drugs reduce the time it takes to fall asleep and improve quality of sleep. Furthermore, they may increase alertness throughout the day.

Non-benzodiazepine sedating antidepressants: These medications are prescribed to treat milder cases of insomnia and may be the preferred choice for people who cannot tolerate a BZD or have severe sleep issues. Examples include doxepin, trazodone, and mirtazapine.

Orexin receptor antagonist: This medication inhibits the effects of certain neurotransmitters in the brain that control sleepiness and wakefulness. It’s usually taken orally and prescribed to address both insomnia at night as well as waking up from it.

If the cause of your insomnia is due to a simple issue, such as getting up too early or spending too much time watching TV, you may need to make some simple lifestyle modifications to improve sleep quality. These could include setting an earlier bedtime and abstaining from caffeine and alcohol.

CBT-i (cognitive behavioral therapy) is an approach used by doctors and sleep specialists to teach you strategies for changing thought patterns and behaviors that might be contributing to insomnia. These changes can help you learn ways to relax more deeply before going to bed so you can think more clearly and calmly before drifting off to sleep.