Insomnia is becoming a cultural problem. In 1999 a survey found that 30% of American men and 20% of women used medication to help them sleep in the course of a year.

There are a variety of medications available. They may help for the short term, but it is really important to get to the root cause of the sleep problem. For some, it may be sleep apnea. For others, it may be anxiety or depression. There may be medical conditions that are causing sleep problems. If you have a problem sleeping, see your doctor. That said, I will run through the medical options for sleep. There are a variety of options.

Over The Counter Medications

Most of the over the counter medications contain antihistamines that cause drowsiness. These are medications such as Tylenol PM, Sominex, Unison, and Benedryl. These medications can cause dizziness, daytime sleepiness and dry mouth.

Natural Remedies

Melatonin is one of the more popular natural remedies. In studies, it has been found to help people fall asleep but may not increase the total sleep time or reduce daytime fatigue. It has been found to benefit the elderly who have low melatonin levels. It has helped people who are blind to maintain their circadian rhythm. It has been found to have benefit to some who are jet lagged. There is no set dose. Some recommend as little as 0.3 mg at bedtime for insomnia. High doses may actually keep people awake. Rozerem isn’t really natural, but it acts on the melatonin receptors and has a similar effect on sleep. It has the side effect of potential dizziness and daytime drowsiness. Valerian is an herb that can be helpful for sleep. It takes one to two weeks of continued use to work. The usual dose is between 300 and 600 mgs. It is relatively safe but can cause vivid dreams, and has been reported to cause abnormal heart rhythms in high doses. Chamomile tea is safe and relaxing and can be very helpful for those who have mild sleeping problems.

Prescription Drugs

Long acting drugs include Klonopin , Restoril, and Dalmane. These drugs are in the benzodiazepine family. They can cause depression, depressed breathing, memory loss (sleep walking), and overdoses can be fatal. These drugs should not be mixed with alcohol. They can become habit forming. Short acting non-benzodiazepines include Sonata, Ambien, and Lunesta. Sonata is very short acting and can be taken if you can’t fall back to sleep in the middle of the night. Ambien and Lunesta are better if you take them at bedtime as they are longer acting than Sonata. Ambien and Lunesta are particularly useful for people with jet lag. Side effects include dizziness, nausea, amnesia with sleepwalking and headache.

Other Prescription Drugs Chloral Hydrate is rarely used due to the risk of addiction. As we know from Anna Nicole Smith, when chugged from the bottle and mixed with other drugs it can be fatal. These medications and supplements are not meant to be used long term. Many can result in rebound insomnia when they are stopped. Some can interfere with the sleep cycle so that the sleep isn’t as restful a natural sleep.

If you have a sleep problem, it is important to consult your doctor and find ways to sleep without medication