Hypnotics Drug Class Side Effects

Doctors prescribe hypnotics to treat insomnia. Insomnia is a sleep problem that may involve difficulty falling or staying asleep. Inadequate sleep affects mood, energy levels, health, and work performance.

Common causes of insomnia are stress, traumatic events, depression, anxiety, and medications. If you know the cause of your insomnia and treat it, it may reduce the need for sleep medications to aid or induce sleep.

Benzodiazepines are addictive hypnotics and are federally controlled substances. People can develop a physical dependence after several days of taking them, and the risk is higher during long-term use.

Doctors should take care when prescribing benzodiazepine drugs to people with a history of drug abuse or alcoholism because they are more likely to become addicted to benzodiazepines.

Do not drink alcohol before are after taking a sleep medication because drinking alcohol while using a sleep medication or sedative may lead to severe drowsiness.

There are over 40 different sedative/hypnotic drugs available. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care professional for any addition information about the generic forms available.

Melatonin receptor agonists

• ramelteon (Rozerem)
• prexin receptor antagonist
• suvorexant (Belsomra)

Benzodiazepines

• estazolam (Prosom)
• flurazepam (Dalmane)
• quazepam (Doral)
• temazepam (Restoril)
• triazolam (Halcion)

Non-benzodiazepine receptor agonists

• eszopiclone (Lunesta)
• zaleplon (Sonata)
• zolpidem (Ambien, Ambien CR, Intermezzo, Zolpimist, Edluar)

Antidepressants

• doxepin (Selinor)
• mirtazapine (Remeron)
• trazodone (Oleptra)

The dose of these drugs vary. Talk to your doctor about the exact dose you need to fall asleep.

Combining sleep medications or using other medications that also cause drowsiness will lead to severe drowsiness. Stimulants such as amphetamines or coffee may reduce the effect of sleep medicines.

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