Can you tell me the names of the prescription sleeping meds?!
Question:
Can you tell me the names of the prescription sleeping meds?
My stupid doctor knows only one med; Stilnox.
Do you know other prescription sleeping meds?
3 weeks ago
And I already know that there is Diphenhydramine (Benedryl).
Answers:
People with insomnia often turn first to sleeping pills for a quick fix to help them fall asleep and stay asleep. Sleep medications may seem to help the problem at first, but they do not cure insomnia and often lose effectiveness over the long term. In addition, sleeping pills have side-effects and can be addictive.
Sleeping pills (or sleep medications) fall into two categories:
Over-the-counter (OTC) sleep medications
Prescription sleeping pills
What are the benefits and risks of over-the-counter sleep medications?
You can walk into a drugstore and choose from an array of sleep aids, offered without prescription. The main ingredient of over-the-counter sleeping pills is an antihistamine. Antihistamines are generally taken for allergies, but also make you feel very sleepy. Common over-the-counter sleep medications are Sleep-Eze, Sominex, Nytol, and Unison; they contain antihistamines such as:
diphenhydramine hydrochloride,
diphenhydramine citrate, or
doxylamine succinate.
In general, over-the-counter sleep medications are not a good choice because they:
Are not intended for long-term use.
Interfere with mental alertness during the day, so you should avoid driving and other similar tasks. You may also be at risk for falling.
Reduce the quality of your sleep by reducing time you spend in deep sleep.
Use over-the-counter sleep medications only for transient or short-term insomnia and in conjunction with changes to your sleeping habits. Be sure to pay attention to your body’s physical response to these sleep medications. Immediately discontinue use if you experience any severe adverse effects.
In addition, you can develop a tolerance for over-the-counter sleep aids after using them for just a few days. You may find quickly that you need a higher dosage to accomplish the same effect. As with any medication, it is advisable to consult with your doctor before taking over-the-counter sleep medications.
Why are sleep medications often prescribed for the treatment of insomnia?
Many people experiencing sleep problems want a quick fix for their problems. But the causes of insomnia are complex and vary by person. Several of the successful behavioral treatments for insomnia are time-intensive and require a lot of work by the person experiencing insomnia. The thought of a pill that can solve the problem quickly is very appealing. Unfortunately, sleep medications don’t cure insomnia, and they can often exacerbate the problem over the long term.
If you want to take medications to help you sleep because you are in a great deal of pain, are traveling, or just need to get some sleep, pay attention to the type of medication you choose and try to use the medication only when you really need it. If you also commit to making your sleep habits and sleep environment more conducive to sleep, you can limit the effects of insomnia on your life.
What are the dangers of sleep medications for treating insomnia?
Because sleep medications do not address the root cause of insomnia, they can become a crutch to lean on, rather than a cure. Just as you would not leave a cast on a broken bone indefinitely because it would cause the muscle to atrophy, sleep medications should be seen as a temporary aid for sleep problems, not a long-term solution.
Other concerns about the use of both over-the-counter and prescription sleep medications include:
development of drug tolerance
development of drug dependence
physical side effects
interactions with other drugs or chemicals in the body
withdrawal symptoms
rebound insomnia
What are the types of prescription sleep medications?
The following chart lists commonly prescribed sleep medications, along with links to individual drug reviews by Consumer Reports MedicalGuide.org.
This class of medications causes you to feel sleepy by increasing the normal effects of the brain chemical gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). They are more effective and safer for long-term, nightly use than benzodiazepines. However, they may lead to addiction.
Some popular medications in this class are:
zolpidem (Ambien) CR review
zaleplon (Sonata) CR review
eszopiclone (Lunesta) CR review
Melatonin receptor agonists
This newer hypnotic reduces alertness by acting on the melatonin receptors in the brain. It’s used for sleep onset problems. The medication has some side-effects, but is not a narcotic. It is not effective for problems in staying asleep.
ramelteon (Rozerem) CR review
Benzodiazepines (tranquilizers)
This class of medications works by slowing down the central nervous system to cause drowsiness. They are effective only for a few weeks and may lead to drug-dependence, impairment in memory and movement, and a hangover the next day.
These drugs are now less frequently prescribed than non-benzodiazepines. Some popular medications in this class are:
flurazepam (Dalmane) CR review
temazepam (Restoril) CR review
estazolam (ProSom) CR review
Other sleep medications
In addition, sedating antidepressants are sometimes prescribed for insomnia. These medications are primarily for the treatment of depression, but have sedating side-effects. Sedating antidepressants have more negative effects than the sedative-hypnotics and are generally best prescribed only for insomnia in the context of depression. Note that all antidepressants carry the risk of serious side-effects. An example is trazodone (Desyrel).
Older sleep medications are the barbiturates, no longer recommended for insomnia treatment. Barbiturates include Phenobarbital and come with a high risk of overdose, addiction, and abuse.
If you decide to try prescription sleep medications, it is wise to:
Educate yourself thoroughly about the drugs available, the potential side effects, and any interactions with other medications you take.
Follow directions closely, starting with a very small dose and increasing gradually, according to the doctor’s schedule.
Pay attention to your body, emotions, and actions to determine if any negative side effects are occurring.
Use the medications intermittently, rather than nightly, in order to decrease the negative effects and to increase the effectiveness when you do use them.
Ask your doctor for specific instructions for decreasing and/or terminating use.
How long should drug treatment last?
Sleep medications are meant to provide temporary relief from insomnia, not a long-term solution. The safety of long-term use of sleeping pills has not been established. Changes in your sleep habits and sleep environment, plus behavioral therapies, provide a better long-term solution to insomnia.
If you take sleep medications, the National Sleep Foundation recommends that you:
begin with the lowest possible effective dose;
use the drugs on a short-term basis, if you use them nightly;
take the drugs intermittently, if you use them long-term; and
use the drugs only in combination with good sleep hygiene and/or behavioral treatments.