Drug Treatment for Insomnia – It’s a Debatable point!

As a sufferer of insomnia you are faced with a number of treatment options.  Let’s look at a few of your choices.

The most obvious to many is sleeping pills.  Whilst this can be a very successful way to treat insomnia the side effects can be a worry to some people.  There is also the question of whether to take over-the-counter preparations or drugs prescribed by your doctor.

Today more and more people are turning to alternative and more holistic approaches to treating their insomnia.  There are a number of disciplines coming under the umbrella of alternative therapies.  Therapies such as hypnosis, relaxation, meditation and herbal are a few options together with exercise and diet.

Sleep Therapy can embrace a range of treatments including self-therapy and more common sense approaches to the insomnia problems. 

To chose drugs or not?

If prescribed or over-the-counter medicine is your choice, take care to be aware of any side-effects you may experience.  Always take your medication as prescribed including dosage and when you should take it.  As most sleep medicines are to be taken just prior to bedtime, it is not likely that you would be going to drive a vehicle or undertake any type of activity that requires complete concentration, but be aware that these types of drugs will induce drowsiness.  It is required by law in most countries that any precautions be listed on the packaging of medications.

Generally, doctors will prescribe sleeping pills to assist the patient sleep through the night.  These pills are usually prescribed in the smallest dosage necessary, and for the shortest amount of time needed.  Common sleeping pills are Ambien, Sonata, Lunesta, and Rozerum.

As depression and anxiety are often the underlying cause of insomnia, a doctor may prescribe antidepressants.  By taking antidepressants, the insomnia is treated as a result of addressing the depression and anxiety.

There are also over-the-counter sleep medicines that generally have the desired effect.  These usually contain antihistamines, and whilst they work quite well they may cause drowsiness the next day.  You should note that these insomnia drugs should not be taken with other medications such as cold and flu medicines.

So, What’s the Debate?

The side effects of drug therapy must be taken into consideration.  This together with the potential for patients to become drug dependent is cause for debate.  People are becoming more aware and educated in their own wellbeing, as well as the fact that many doctors are tending to lean toward non drug therapies.  It is therefore becoming more common for conditions such as insomnia to be treated with the whole body in mind.

As a wider understanding of the human mind and body has evolved, treating the source of the complaint rather than the symptoms is more widely accepted.  For example, if the insomnia is brought on as a result of indigestion treating it with sleeping pills is obviously not going to eradicate the indigestion.  On the other hand eating a sensible diet could very well end the discomfort of indigestion and therefore, the insomnia is no longer a problem.

Summing up, it amounts to what is causing your insomnia and whether it is best treated by conventional prescription drugs or the more conservative holistic approach.  Whatever the choice, any drugs you take for insomnia must be under the supervision of your doctor.  For alternative treatment methods the choice again should match the underlying complaint.  In the meantime you may like to try listening to a soft relaxing meditative CD, you can hear a sample of the CD that I use to help with my insomnia - click the following link River of Tranquility