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“When treating insomnia, doctors can recommend lifestyle changes that will allow you to develop good sleep habits. They may also recommend therapies or medications since insomnia can be a side effect of another medical problem. Treating the underlying condition could allow the insomnia to actually resolve on its own. For example, women experiencing menopause and menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes that are keeping them awake, a doctor might try treating the hot flashes first. There are also many prescription medications for treating insomnia that don’t necessarily address the underlying condition. Some are meant for short-term use while others longer. Some of the medications include Ambien, Benadryl and other psychiatric meds. It’s important to discuss the benefits and potential side effects of these medications with your doctor. As sometimes the adverse effects might actually outweigh the benefits. Some insomnia medications can also be habit forming. So again, ask your doctor about the risks of taking these medications.
If your insomnia has been caused by a short-term change in your sleep wake cycle, such as jet lag, your sleep schedule will probably return back to normal on its own, or some natural remedies such as melatonin can also be very helpful. The goal of cognitive behavioral therapy is to change your behaviors and thoughts to help you sleep your sleep hygiene can be very important in this CBT work. If you’re diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, a night guard or C-PAP machine can also be prescribed to open up your airway and then allow for better breathing at night.”
