 | | | | Medical Health Encyclopedia | | In some rare cases, your health care provider may want you to see a sleep medicine specialist who will perform a sleep study (polysomnography) MEDICATIONS In most cases, medication will not be necessary. Your health care provider can explore with you the possibility of using prescribed medications if everything else has failed. Text Continues Below
Some antidepressants such as Elavil (amitriptyline) can be used at bedtime because they are sedating. They require a prescription. If insomnia is caused by depression, proper treatment of the depression with other appropriate medications or therapy should solve the problem. Benzodiazepines such as Valium (diazepam) or Ativan (lorazepam) are anti-anxiety medications that can also help induce sleep. They must be used with caution because they can be addictive. They too require a prescription. Newer medications called hypnotics are now available. They are help reduce the time needed to fall asleep but are less likely to be addictive than benzodiazepines. Ambien (zolpidem) and Sonata (zaleplon) are two examples. |
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