Insomnia: drug treatments
Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .
Insomnia: drug treatments. Failure of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). Fully referenced neurology checklist.
Indication for drug treatments
- Failure of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)
Drug treatments indicated for short-term use: ≤4 weeks
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Benzodiazepine receptor agonists: Z drugs
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Sedating antidepressants: if there is co-existing mood disorder
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Dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORA)
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Other drug treatments
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Treatments not recommended
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Synonym
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References
- Schutte-Rodin S, Broch L, Buysse D, Dorsey C, Sateia M. Clinical guideline for the evaluation and management of chronic insomnia in adults. J Clin Sleep Med 2008; 4:487-504.
- Wilson SJ, Nutt DJ, Argyropoulos SV, et al. British Association for Psychopharmacology consensus statement on evidence-based treatment of insomnia, parasomnias and circadian rhythm disorders. J Psychopharmacol 2010; 24:1577-1600.
- Guidance on the use of zaleplon, zolpidem and zopiclone for the short-term management of insomnia. NICE technology appraisal guidance [TA77]. April 2004.
- Riemann D, Baglioni C, Bassetti C, et al. European guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia. J Sleep Res 2017; 26:675-700.
- Sateia MJ, Buysse DJ, Krystal AD, Neubauer DN, Heald JL. Clinical practice guideline for the pharmacologic treatment of chronic insomnia in adults: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline. J Clin Sleep Med 2017; 13:307-349.
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