Treatments for Insomnia

Treatment list for Insomnia: The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Insomnia includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.

• No treatment - mild cases may require no treatment.
• Sleeping pills - only for transient cases (e.g. jet lag); longer-term use requires strict medical supervision and is controversial.
• Treating the underlying cause of insomnia
• Sleep therapies
  • Relaxation therapy
  • Sleep restriction therapy
  • Sleep reconditioning
  • Consistent sleep schedule - if possible avoid jet lap, shift work, or other problems.
  • Avoid daytime naps
• Changes to behavior
  • Avoid stress
  • Avoid worrying about not sleeping
  • Avoid caffeine
  • Avoid nicotine - especially not smoking near bedtime.
  • Avoid alcohol - especially near bedtime.
  • Avoid using bed for non-sleep activity - except perhaps sex.
• Changes to sleep environment
  • Avoid nosing environment
  • Avoid cold environment

Treatment of Insomnia: medical news summaries: The following medical news items are relevant to treatment of Insomnia:

• Alternative depression treatment can limit the need for therapy or medication
• Different types of sleep disorders plague many millions of Americans
• Drug aimed to improve sleep disorder also helps with depression
• FDA approval of weight loss pill is not necessarily good news
• Melatonin not helpful in most sleep disorders
• More women using natural hormones for menopause therapy
• New drug approved for treatment of pain associated with diabetic neuropathy

Treatments of Insomnia discussion: Transient and intermittent insomnia may not require treatment since episodes last only a few days at a time. For example, if insomnia is due to a temporary change in the sleep/wake schedule, as with jet lag, the person's biological clock will often get back to normal on its own. However, for some people who experience daytime sleepiness and impaired performance as a result of transient insomnia, the use of short-acting sleeping pills may improve sleep and next-day alertness. As with all drugs, there are potential side effects. The use of over-the-counter sleep medicines is not usually recommended for the treatment of insomnia.

Treatment for diagnosed chronic insomnia include identifying behaviors that may worsen insomnia and stopping (or reducing) them, possibly using sleeping pills (although the long-term use of sleeping pills for chronic insomnia is controversial), trying behavioral techniques to improve sleep, such as relaxation therapy, sleep restriction therapy, and reconditioning. ¹

A good night's sleep can make a big difference in how you feel. Here are some suggestions to help you: