Hypnotic medications for sleep problems

Hypnotic, or sleep-inducing, medicines are often used to control short-term insomnia.¹ For long-term (chronic) insomnia, nonmedication treatments are preferred.

Benzodiazepines, the most common class of hypnotic medicines, provide short-term relief from insomnia by inducing and maintaining sleep. Examples are quazepam (Doral), diazepam (such as Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan). Side effects can include dependence and withdrawal symptoms, daytime drowsiness and dizziness, insomnia that gets worse if the drugs are stopped, and physical problems such as falling, especially with older people.² Benzodiazepines inhibit the ability to recall memories. In addition, they appear to suppress your body's nighttime production of melatonin, a hormone that helps you maintain your sleep-wake rhythm.³

Non-benzodiazepine hypnotic sleep medications include zolpidem (Ambien), zaleplon (Sonata), and eszopiclone (Lunesta). They are now recommended as the first-choice medicines for short-term insomnia.² Lunesta also can be used for long-term insomnia. These shorter-acting sedative-hypnotic medicines may not have as many withdrawal and tolerance effects as benzodiazepines do. They are also safer for people with breathing problems.⁴

In rare cases, people taking these medicines have done activities, such as driving and eating, while still asleep. These medicines also can cause a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). So you should use these medicines with caution.

Using sedative-hypnotics may actually make sleep apnea and other breathing disorders worse.²