Insomnia at War: The Complete Guide to Sleep Medicines and the Differences Between Them

We spend about a third of our lives sleeping, or at least that’s what we’re supposed to do, since sleep is used not only for rest and relieving fatigue, but for thousands of thinking operations, data processing, the operation of the physiological systems, and even for the growth of the body and disease prevention. However, in recent decades there has been a steep increase in the number of people suffering from sleep disorders, whether because of the intense lifestyle, tensions, anxieties, and perhaps also because of the environmental effects on our bodies.

The old drugs: addiction and withdrawal symptoms

These drugs were also accompanied by habituation, when upon stopping their use, difficult withdrawal symptoms such as tremors and sweating appeared. Meanwhile, in the last decade, a new generation of drugs were developed, which are cleared from the body in a short time, usually within 5 hours, so that a significant part of the drug is already excreted in the urine in the morning hours and disappears almost completely from the body. These drugs usually do not cause tolerance or severe physical addiction, and despite this, the public’s fear of addiction remains high, and according to experts, it is not always justified when it comes to controlled and timed treatment.

New benzodiazepines: Bondoramine and Teva Brotizolam

These drugs are considered very effective in inducing sleep, and they help the patient fall asleep in a relatively short time. Although they are considered safer than the old generation, they can still cause side effects that are important to know. Among the common symptoms can be found blurring or dizziness the morning after, especially if the patient has not slept for at least seven consecutive hours. In the meantime, there may also be dry mouth, mild muscle weakness, and in some cases some damage to short-term memory regarding the events that happened near taking the pill. Elderly people should be especially careful when using these medications due to the fear of falling at night on the way to the bathroom or in the morning when waking up.

The “zi” medicines: fall asleep within half an hour

The half-life of the drug zolpidem, which is found in Ambien, Stilnox, and Zoderm, is only about two hours, so it clears quickly from the cycle and is more suitable for occasional difficulties falling asleep. On the other hand, the drug Zopiclone, known as Nocturno, has a half-life of about 5 hours, so its effect is longer and is also suitable for people who suffer from multiple awakenings during the night.

The rapid clearance of the drugs from the body usually does not cause heavy sleepiness in the morning, but they have unique side effects. Many patients report a metallic or bitter taste in the mouth after taking Nocturno. A rare and more dangerous side effect is automatic behavior from sleep, such as walking, eating or even driving, when in the morning the patient remembers nothing of the event. Therefore, it is very important to ensure a full sleep of at least 7 to 8 hours after taking.

Antidepressants that also help sleep

Miro, for example, is known to cause a marked increase in appetite and weight among some users. Other drugs in this group can cause dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, and a tired feeling in the morning that can last for several hours. Meanwhile, in some cases there may also be a change in the heart rate, so an orderly medical follow-up must be carried out.

Circadin: the smart melatonin

The natural sleep hormone in our body is called melatonin, known as the dark hormone, as it is secreted in the dark and makes us sleepy at night and active during the day. The hormone is secreted from the pineal gland, and absorption of light inhibits its secretion. Studies have shown that with age, especially in the elderly, the pineal gland calcifies and the secretion of melatonin decreases, and giving melatonin to these patients improved the quality of sleep in approximately 40% of cases.

The new medicine that fights wakefulness: the orexin blockers

The new drug acts as a blocker of orexin, thus it actually turns off the mechanism of awakening instead of trying to force the body to sleep. This drug has shown great success in treating insomnia caused by disturbing thoughts and stress. However, it requires an allocation of at least 7 hours of sleep, as getting up too early under its influence can lead to severe blurriness and lack of coordination. Other side effects can include sleepiness during the day, headaches, and in rare cases temporary sleep paralysis upon awakening.

It is important to remember that any sleep medication must be given under medical supervision, especially in days when reality requires us to be ready for any scenario at any moment.