subject: Management Of Insomnia - Get The Facts [print this page] In order to enjoy a good night's sleep, eliminating bad sleeping habits should be a necessity. Also taking care of other problems that cause insomnia will help keep you energized during your daytime activities. Not only body cleanliness requires good hygiene, but your sleeping pattern as well. Medications may prescribed in the event that natural sleeping remedies do not seem to work for you.
The Use Of Behavioral Therapy
Behavioral modification aids in implementing a new and improved sleeping habit by incorporating ways to achieving a sleep-friendly environment. This method is either just as effective or slightly more effective than drug therapy. In addition, Behavioral Therapy is the primary solution recommended for chronic insomniacs.
These may include the following:
* Cognitive therapy makes use of mainly thinking about good things rather than worrisome thoughts. This can be done during one-on-one or group counseling sessions.
* Light therapy is a treatment for people suffering from circadian sleep rhythm disorder. This helps adjust your internal body clock - telling when to be asleep or when to be awake.
* Relaxation techniques are also found to be effective in managing sleep disorders since they decrease your level on anxiety. Methods like biofeedback, breathing exercises, and muscle relaxation are known to help normalize breathing, heart rhythm and alleviate muscle tension and mood disorders.
* Sleep education is the most basic technique in promoting good sleeping patterns.
* Sleep restriction is an unorthodox way to promote sleep. It is by reducing the time you spend in your bed - leading to being tired the following night due to sleep deprivation. Your bed time will then be slowly increased once your sleep shows signs of improvement.
* Stimulus control is almost the same as sleep restriction. But this time, your bedroom will only be associated with two things: sleep and sex.
Drug Regimen
The following are prescription medications for sleeping problems (the trade names are in italics).
* eszopicione (Lunesta)
* ramelteon (Rozerem)
* zaleplon (Sonata)
* zolpidem (Ambien)
Occasionally, using these medications will possibly lead to serious side effects such as allergic reactions, behavioral changes, and facial swelling. However, such side effects like agitation, drowsiness, impaired thinking, night wandering, and problems in balance are much more felt by the elderly. That is why these medications shouldn't be for long term use, thus should only be taken for not more than a 3-4 weeks.
If your insomnia is also accompanied by depression, the following sedative antidepressants may be written in the prescription:
* doxepin (Adapin or Sinequan)
* mirtarzapine (Remeron)
* trazodone (Desyrel)
AS for over-the-counter sleeping pills, they usually cause drowsiness since most of them contain antihistamines. Also, antihistamines reduce your sleep quality and can cause be blamed for having burred vision, dry mouth, and sleepiness during daytime.
