Insomnia is often a symptom of another condition rather than a condition of its own. If insomnia is caused by medical or psychological conditions, treatment will focus on those underlying conditions. When poor sleep quality itself is the major problem, medications can be prescribed short-term to relieve symptoms.
Recently, there has been increasing support for therapies that involve modifying behavior and lifestyle. These two approaches—sedative-hypnotic medications and behavior therapies—may be prescribed together, with the medications helping to provide a good night's sleep in the short term and the therapies helping you to develop long-lasting changes in approaches to sleep.
Work with your health professional to first try to determine whether another condition—such as depression, anxiety, pain, use of stimulants or medications, inactivity, or poor sleep habits—is causing your insomnia, and treat the underlying cause.
You may be able to treat your insomnia with minor lifestyle changes, such as modifying your sleep environment, your schedule, or what and when you eat and drink and getting more activity.
Sleep-inducing medications can be used if other types of treatment don't work. But medication should only be used intermittently, and it is not considered the first treatment of choice for long-term insomnia.
Recently, there has been increasing support for therapies that involve modifying behavior and lifestyle. These two approaches—sedative-hypnotic medications and behavior therapies—may be prescribed together, with the medications helping to provide a good night's sleep in the short term and the therapies helping you to develop long-lasting changes in approaches to sleep.
Work with your health professional to first try to determine whether another condition—such as depression, anxiety, pain, use of stimulants or medications, inactivity, or poor sleep habits—is causing your insomnia, and treat the underlying cause.
You may be able to treat your insomnia with minor lifestyle changes, such as modifying your sleep environment, your schedule, or what and when you eat and drink and getting more activity.
Sleep-inducing medications can be used if other types of treatment don't work. But medication should only be used intermittently, and it is not considered the first treatment of choice for long-term insomnia.
