How to Treat Sleep Disorders

Insomnia #4 – Treating Sleep Disorders In United States alone 70 million people suffer from sleep disorders. So how do doctors treat all these individuals? Mark Haltrecht, D.O. Family Practice Doctor NSLIJ Plainview Hospital The treatment of sleep disorders can be divided into two basic categories, behavioral therapy and medication. A successful plan may incorporate elements of both. Sleep aid medications are often a short term option for treating insomnia. They tend to provide quick relief from wakefulness but can also result in addiction and may have decreased effectiveness overtime. Benzyldiazepine hypnotics are one class of prescription drugs that are commonly used to treat insomnia. These drugs include Temazepam, which is sold under the brand name Restoril, and Flurazepam, also known as Dalmane. Here is how benzyldiazepine work, gaba is an inhibitory neurotransmitter found in the brain. When these medications enter the brain, they bind to a receptor on gaba creating a sedative effect which induces sleep. These medications tend to have a long lasting action and are most beneficial to those who frequently awaken during the night. Another group of medications, the non benzyldiazepine hypnotics are chemically different than benzyldiazepine but have a similar method of action. They also work by binding to a sleep inducing receptor on gaba. Non benzyldiazepine includes Eszopiclone which is commonly known as Lunesta and Zolpidem which is sold under the name Ambien. These quick acting but short lasting medications are the most effective for people who have trouble initially falling asleep at night. Certain antidepressant medications are used to encourage sleep when chronic depression leads to insomnia. Examples include Terizidone or Desorel and Nortriptyline or Pamelor. As with all prescription medications, sleep aids can be addictive and should only be used under the direct consultation of a doctor. People who worked odd hours or suffer from jet lag may have a disruption in their circadian rhythm, which is a disturbance in the body’s natural sleep wake pattern. These individuals may benefit from taking over-the-counter melatonin supplements. Melatonin is a hormone which is naturally released by the brain’s pineal gland. While medication scan be a great option for short term insomnia, behavioral therapy is often necessary to make the changes that will lead to a lifetime of her sleep. Sleep hygiene measures are simple actions you can take to correct factors that stop you from getting sleep. Common examples include maintaining a regular sleep schedule seven days a week and only using the bed for sleeping and sex. People who lie in bed with their minds rising may benefit from relaxation therapy which entails practices like progressive muscle relaxation and meditative breathing. If you suffer from a sleep disorder, your doctor will probably combine behavioral therapy with medication to treat the problem. These therapies all have high successes, so the odds are good that you will be sleeping soundly in no time. Want to learn more, check out other videos and sources on this site for more information.