MEDICATION THERAPIES
If your treatment includes a medication, your doctor can prescribe either zolpidem or trazodone, and adjust or discontinue as needed.
Zolpidem (Ambien®)
Type of treatment
Benzodiazepine receptor agonist
How it helps insomnia
Binds to brain cells (neurons) that inhibit wakefulness and promote sleep.
What treatment looks like
A tablet taken at bedtime every night or intermittently (a few nights per week).
Dose for most patients starts at 5mg per day, and can be adjusted to 10mg per day for those 18–65 years old.
Length of treatment is up to your doctor and you.
Potential benefits
Most commonly prescribed drug for insomnia.
Strong evidence for treating insomnia.
Results are typically immediate.
Shown to:
Reduce the time it takes to fall asleep
Increase sleep duration
Reduce wake after sleep onset
Potential drawbacks, risks, or side effects
Can produce tolerance, dependence, and abuse.
Long-term efficacy uncertain.
Most common side effects:
Sedation (daytime sleepiness)
Headache
Dizziness
Amnesia
Nausea
Sleep-related behaviors, like talking, walking, eating
Trazodone
Type of treatment
Sedating antidepressant
How it helps insomnia
Affects several brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that inhibit wakefulness and promote sleep.
What treatment looks like
A tablet taken at bedtime every night or intermittently (a few nights per week).
Doses of 25–100 mg per day are used for insomnia, lower than the dose that treats depression.
Length of treatment is up to your doctor and you.
Potential benefits
Widely prescribed for treatment of insomnia.
Lower potential for tolerance, dependence, and abuse than some insomnia medications.
Results are typically immediate.
Shown to:
Reduce the time it takes to fall asleep
Increase sleep quality
Increase in sleep duration (in some studies)
Reduce wake after sleep onset (in some studies)
Potential drawbacks, risks, or side effects
Not FDA-approved for treatment of chronic insomnia
Less evidence for treating insomnia compared to some other medications.
Most common side effects:
Sedation (daytime sleepiness), fatigue
Headache
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Reduced blood pressure, especially when standing up
Irregular heartbeat (arryhythmia)
Prolonged erection (men)