Treating insomnia

Insomnia

Insomnia is considered a sleep disorder that leads to a person’s inability to start sleeping, or the person’s inability to stay and continue sleeping, and this results in either sleeping for very few hours or sleep disturbing. Insomnia may be acute insomnia for a short period of time, and it is considered a common problem that may be caused by work pressure, or family problems, or others, and it may persist for several days or weeks, and insomnia may be chronic and persistent. insomnia) extends for a month or more, and most cases of chronic insomnia are secondary; that is, it is a symptom or side effect of another health problem, or certain medications, or other, but insomnia may also be primary; that is, it is an existing problem in itself and not as a result of another health problem Or a specific drug. The cause of primary insomnia has not yet been fully understood, but it is possible that some causes may trigger its occurrence, such as prolonged tension, and emotional disturbances, for example.

Treating insomnia

Insomnia can be treated in more than one way, as follows:

Some over-the-counter medications are used to treat insomnia, as we mention below:

Antihistamines are one of the most widespread and used, but they may cause side effects such as feeling calm and lethargic during the day, dizziness, poor movement, dry mouth, confusion in vision, constipation, weight gain, and urinary retention. Some medicines, such as Diphenhydramine, may become accustomed to the body quickly, as this habit usually occurs within three days.
Melatonin, a hormone that is secreted from the pineal gland, and the peak time for its natural secretion in the body is between the second hour after midnight until the fourth hour after midnight, and its level falls before dawn, and its secretion decreases It is considered normal with increasing age, so it is considered more effective for treating insomnia in the elderly, and because of its ability to influence the harmony of the biological clock in the body, it is considered effective for treating sleep disorders, and this hormone is present as a dietary supplement. The effectiveness of melatonin in people with insomnia may depend on the composition and dosage of the drug, the timing and frequency of taking it, and the duration of the treatment.
Tryptophan: (L-tryptophan) is used to improve sleep in people with insomnia, although there is little research to prove its effectiveness.

Prescription medications

Certain prescription medications may be used, such as Eszopiclone, Ramelteon, Zaleplon and Zolpidem, and this group of drugs is the first choice for treating insomnia. Short duration. Orexin receptor antagonists are also used. They work by blocking the action of some chemicals in the brain that cause the person to remain awake. Therefore, these drugs stimulate and improve sleep. Benzodiazepines are used to help start the Benzodiazepines. Sleep or continued sleep, as well as antidepressants that have a sedative effect.
Other types of drugs are used but have not been authorized for use by official authorities, including Gabapentin, a drug used to treat chronic pain, and its use has been studied in some sleep disorders such as Restless legs syndrome, and the results included An improvement in sleep, increased sleep time and effectiveness, and other results. Also among these drugs is tiagabine, an antiepileptic drug, and its effect on sleep has been studied at a dose of 4-16 milligrams, and this dose is much lower than that used to treat epilepsy.

Herbal remedy

Some herbs may be used, such as Valerian root, chamomile, primrose, and Passion flower, but there is insufficient scientific evidence to prove effectiveness and safety for their use. (2 It is worth noting that some people use alcohol to help them fall asleep and this is wrong and should be avoided, as alcohol causes drowsiness at the beginning and helps in starting to sleep; however, it increases the possibility of waking up during the night and difficulty returning to sleep, and thus causing body fatigue in The second day and feeling tired.

Factors of insomnia

The chance of insomnia may increase in women due to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, or in the menopause period (English: Menopause, for example, at night sweats and hot flashes) cause menopause Sleep, as well as the presence of mental and physical disorders, increases the likelihood of insomnia, and increases the chance of it by increasing the person's age. The absence of a regular schedule of time, such as a change in working hours or travel, may contribute to disturbance in the person's sleep and waking cycle, which increases his exposure to the problem of insomnia.

Complications of insomnia

Insomnia affects physical and mental health because sleep is considered an important factor in maintaining physical activity as well as healthy food. Therefore, people who suffer from anxiety suffer from a decrease in the quality of life compared to people who get the right and adequate amount of sleep. Complications of insomnia include a decrease in performance at work or school, a slowdown in reactions, which increases the possibility of accidents, mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and drug abuse, in addition to an increased possibility of long-term diseases such as high blood pressure, and heart disease, Insomnia may cause you not to feel refreshed and energized when you wake up from sleep, feel sleepy during the day, lose energy, lose ability to focus, learn, remember, etc.

References

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What Is Insomnia?", National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute,2011-12-13، Retrieved 2017-07-17.
Pharmacology - OTC", National Sleep Foundation, Retrieved 2017-07-17.
"Insomnia - Treatment Overview", WebMD, Retrieved 2017-07-17.
"Pharmacology – Other Agents", National Sleep Foundation, Retrieved 2017-07-17.
Mayo Clinic Staff (2016-10-15), "Insomnia"، Mayo Clinic, Retrieved 2017-07-17.