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• Highlights
• Introduction
• Causes of Short-Term or Transient Insomnia
• Causes of Chronic Insomnia
• Risk Factors
• Prognosis
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Medications
• Resources
• References

Insomnia

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of insomnia.

Highlights

Psychotherapy Better Than Sleeping Pills

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) works better than zopiclone (Imovane) for short- and long-term treatment of insomnia, according to a 2006 Norwegian study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association . Patients who received CBT spent less time awake during the night than patients who received zopiclone or placebo. In addition, zopiclone did not provide better results than placebo.

Hot Flashes and Chronic Insomnia

Severe hot flashes are associated with chronic insomnia, according to a 2006 study in the Archives of Internal Medicine . The study of women ages 35 – 65 showed that 81% of women with severe hot flashes reported insomnia at least 3 nights a week for at least 6 months. Women experiencing perimenopause, the transitional period to menopause, were most likely to have sleep problems. The researchers suggest that treating hot flashes could improve sleep quality.

Insomnia and Older Adults

The risks of sedative hypnotics may outweigh the benefits for adults over age 60, suggests a review in the British Medical Journal . Side effects such as dizziness, loss of balance, and disorientation can be particularly hazardous for older adults.

Less Sleep Means More Weight

Lack of sleep is associated with weight gain, suggests research presented at the 2006 Associated Professional Sleep Societies meeting. Researchers tracked sleep and weight patterns in 68,183 women for 16 years. Women who slept no more than 5 hours a night had a 32% increased risk of gaining 33 pounds over the years than women who slept at least 7 hours a night.

Sleeping Pills and Sleepwalking

In March 2007, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asked drug-manufactures to strengthen the warning labels on sedative-hypnotic drugs, which include zolpidem (Ambien), eszopiclone (Lunesta), and triazolam (Halcion). The FDA warned these medicines may be associated with potentially severe allergic reactions and complex sleep-related behaviors, such as driving while asleep. Patients who take sleeping pills should be sure to follow the directions. These include not combining sleeping pills with alcohol or other drugs and not taking more than the prescribed dose.

• Review Date: 3/14/2007
• Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: Greg Juhn, M.T.P.W., David R. Eltz, Kelli A. Stacy. Previously reviewed by Harvey Simon, M.D., Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital (7/18/2006).

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