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Pharmacological Treatment of Insomnia

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Primary Care Sleep Medicine

Abstract

Insomnia is an incredibly common complaint occasionally affecting more than 40 % of the population. Insomnia can be a primary diagnosis or secondary to associated sleep, psychiatric or medical illnesses that induce disturbed sleep or nighttime discomfort. Insomnia is most commonly treated with medications including drugs of abuse/misuse (ethanol and cannabis), over-the-counter preparations (type 1 antihistamines, herbal remedies, and nutritional supplements), and prescription hypnotics used as recommended or as based on sedative side-effect profiles. Many of theses agents have significant abuse potential and toxicity, and limited effectiveness when used to treat insomnia. The newer alpha 1 GABA-A active medications for insomnia are efficacious, minimally addictive, have minimal side effects, are nontoxic in overdose, and can be used long term without altering sleep structure. When appropriately utilized these newer medications are safe for use in most patients with insomnia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine, Southern Colorado Residency Program, University of Colorado Medical School, Pueblo, CO, 81005, USA

    J. F. Pagel M.S., M.D.

  2. Sleep Medicine, Sleep Disorders Center of Southern Colorado, Parkview Medical Center, Pueblo, CO, 81005, USA

    J. F. Pagel M.S., M.D.

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  1. J. F. Pagel M.S., M.D.
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Correspondence to J. F. Pagel M.S., M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sleep Disorders Center, Pueblo, Colorado, USA

    James F. Pagel

  2. Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine / Center for Healthful Behavior Change, New York, New York, USA

    S. R. Pandi-Perumal

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Pagel, J.F. (2014). Pharmacological Treatment of Insomnia. In: Pagel, J., Pandi-Perumal, S. (eds) Primary Care Sleep Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1185-1_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1185-1_9

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1184-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1185-1

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