The Insomnia Files

Insomnia is a generally defined as not getting enough sleep, or getting sleep that is not restful. About 30 percent of adults report some symptom of insomnia, and this lack of sleep affects the daytime activities of about 10 percent of adults. For a small percentage of adults, the insomnia lasts at least one month and is not necessarily tied to another sleep problem or complicating condition.

Categorizing Insomnia

Primary insomnia. Primary insomnia isn't caused by other known conditions, but this form of restlessness produces regular symptoms and usually responds to treatment.

Secondary insomnia. Secondary insomnia stems from other illnesses, either physical or psychiatric. Medication or other sleep disorders might also be at the root of this condition.

Categorizing insomnia by the duration of the condition includes:

Acute insomnia. Acute insomnia usually is caused by a temporary, outside event. Emotional trauma, a dramatic change in schedule, or some other disruption of your daily routine might trigger bouts of poor or disturbed sleep. If you can anticipate a break in routine that might bring about insomnia, like an upcoming trip, a doctor can help you plan for and prevent any potential loss of sleep.

Chronic insomnia. Chronic insomnia lasts anywhere between one to six months. People dealing with chronic insomnia lose sleep at least three times per week, and the condition can cause problems functioning during the day.

 Insomnia Medication

A popular treatment for insomnia is medication. Drug treatment should be used only if the lack of sleep is affecting daytime activities and a health care provider has evaluated the cause of the insomnia and suggested changes to sleep habits.

Popular sleep medication includes:

    * Sedative hypnotics. Hypnotics are prescription drugs and classified in two groups. Benzodiazepines, such as temazepam (Restoril) and triazolam (Halcion), are effective but have a risk of causing dependency. Non-benzodiazepines, such as zolpidem (Ambien) and eszopiclone (Lunesta), have a lower risk of dependency.
    * Antihistamines. Antihistamines are usually sold over the counter as treatment for allergies, but some, such as doxylamine (Unisom), that cause drowsiness are marketed as sleeping aids. The evidence that they work is limited, but some reports suggest diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can be used for mild insomnia.
    * Antipsychotics and antidepressants. Antidepressants and antipsychotics such as trazadone (Desyrel), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and thioridazine (Mellaril) have long been used to treat insomnia, but side effects and their possible effect on cardiac functioning limits their use.
    * Melatonin receptor medication. Melatonin, a naturally occurring hormone sold as a nutritional supplement, does not appear to help primary insomnia, but might be of help with temporary disorders such as jet lag. Melatonin helps regulate your sleep cycle. A prescription medication called ramelteon (Rozerem) mimics the effects of melatonin and may be useful for people who have trouble falling asleep.

Elizabeth Connor