Rebound Insomnia
Using Over The Counter Medication to treat insomnia
Actually, for most people, over-the-counter (OTC) sleep medications are not a good choice. These drugs is not intended for prolonged use and rely on the sedating side effects of antihistamine to facilitate sleep.
While taking an OTC sleep medication, avoid driving and other tasks where mental alertness is required. The sedative effects of antihistamines may increase the risk of falling, too.
Sleep experienced while taking OTC sleep medications is not of the same quality as normal sleep. Some who take OTC sleep medication use as little as 5% of their total sleep time in deep sleep (compared with about 10-25% of healthy sleepers).
Only use OTC sleep medications for temporary or short-term insomnia and in conjunction with changes in sleep habits. Be sure to take into account the body's physical response to them. Immediately discontinue use if you experience severe side effects such as forgetfulness, constipation, urinary retention, and dizziness.
There are some medications on the market does not contain benzodiazepines. These pills are shorter acting and can induce sleep with fewer side effects than benzodiazepines. These hypnotics include zolpidem (Ambien), Zaleplon (Sonata) and zopiclone (Imovane).
Those brands have some differences, such as the following:
• Zaleplon (Sonata) is the shortest-acting hypnotic available. It can be taken even in the middle of the night and if a patient needs to wake up in just four hours. In such cases, the drug effective and still does not for that person too anesthetized in the morning. It seems to have a good safety culture than other hypnotics record and may be particularly useful for patients in the younger and older age groups.
• Zolpidem (Ambien) may be useful for people who take it as soon as they go to bed, since it is longer acting than the Sonata. A study in 2002 suggested that the drug could be used for an as needed, with up to five tablets taken a week. After three weeks, two thirds of the patients taking zolpidem thus able to reduce their tablet intake, and more than 25% without losing improvements in sleep.
Such funds may be particularly useful for preventing jet lag. They may also be useful for people who have included mood disorders, such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. They also seem to be safe and effective for older patients, even possibly those with chronic pulmonary problems, but research is needed to confirm this. They are expensive, though.
Of course, there will be some possible side effects can occur even with these pills. They have fewer morning side effects than benzodiazepines, including morning sedation and memory loss (although they may occur to some extent). Ambien record of adverse events is similar to that triazolam (Halcyon), the short-acting benzodiazepine. Sonata seems to have less serious side effects. In general, for both drugs, side effects are mild, but may include:
• Nausea.
• Dizziness.
• Nightmares.
• Agitation or antagonistic mood in the morning.
• Memory loss (in high doses).
• Headache.
• Rare fatal overdoses have been reported.
As with any hypnotics comprise alcohol a risk with these drugs. The risk of rebound, dependence and tolerance is lower with these agents than with benzodiazapine, especially with the Sonata.
In one study, people had who took this hypnotic every night for one year is no evidence of dependence or withdrawal symptoms, but several large studies are needed to confirm long-term security. These agents is still subject to abuse. In any case, no hypnotic should be taken for more than a few days or at higher than recommended dose.
A combination of newer antidepressants and structured Psychotherapy has proven to be very effective in improving both depression and insomnia in patients with both conditions.
Chloral hydrate is relatively reliable and has been in use since 1832. Many doctors prescribe it for short term use if other sleep medicines can not be used. It has significant side effects, however, and some experts believes that it no longer has a role in the treatment of insomnia.
In any case, does not seem to be effective in the elderly. Chloral hydrate poses a risk of addiction and it can be fatal in overdose. It also has carcinogenic properties and can damage genetic material.
Potential side effects also irritation of the skin, mucous membranes, and stomach. People with stomach, heart, kidney, liver or disorders should not take this drug at all. If a child is given the (usually for a minor operation), so that the child Never should have chloral hydrate remaining in his or her lifetime.
Since most of these drugs are available by prescription only is a thorough consultation with your doctor necessary. When under the care of a physician, he or she can be sure that the medication is working for you and they can even help you with any withdrawal symptoms you should stop taking medication.
The most significant concern for the use of medications for the treatment of insomnia is that medication does not solve the root cause of the problem, and instead becomes a crutch to lean on rather than a cure. Just like you would not leave a cast on a broken bone indefinitely because it will cause the muscle to atrophy, sleep medicines be viewed as a temporary help for sleep problems and not a long one.
Other concerns about the use of over-the-counter and prescription sleep medicines include:
• development of drug tolerance and / or dependence
• reduced the effectiveness of drug
• physical side effects
• interactions with other drugs or chemicals in the body
• withdrawal symptoms
• rebound insomnia
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