Medicines for Sleep

Some people may need medicines to help with sleep for a short period of time. But in the long run, making changes in your lifestyle and sleep habits is the best treatment for problems with falling and staying asleep. Learn more about over-the-counter and prescription sleep medicines.

Medicines for sleep

Before using medicines for sleep, talk to your health care provider about treating other issues, such as:

Anxiety
Sadness or depression
Alcohol or illegal drug use

Over-the-Counter Sleep Medicines

Most over-the-counter (OTC) sleeping pills contain antihistamines. These medicines are commonly used to treat allergies.

While these sleep aids are not addictive, your body becomes used to them quickly. Therefore, they are less likely to help you fall asleep over time.

These medicines can also leave you feeling tired or groggy the next day and can cause memory problems in older adults.

Sleep Medicine From Your Provider

Sleep medicines called hypnotics can be prescribed by your provider to help reduce the time it takes you to fall asleep. The most commonly used hypnotics are:

Zolpidem (Ambien)
Zaleplon (Sonata)
Eszoicolone (Lunesta)
Ramelteon (Rozerem)

Most of these can become habit-forming. Only take these medicines while under the care of a provider. You will likely be started with the lowest dose possible.

While taking these medicines:

Try not to take the sleeping pills more than 3 days per week.
DO NOT stop these medicines suddenly. You may have symptoms of withdrawal and have more trouble falling asleep.
DO NOT take other medicines that can cause you to become drowsy or sleepy.

Side effects of these medicines include:

Feeling drowsy or dizzy during the day
Becoming confused or having problems remembering
Balance problems
In rare cases, behaviors such as driving, making phone calls, or eating -- all while asleep

Before taking birth control pills, cimetidine for heartburn, or medicines used to treat fungus infections, tell your provider you are also taking sleeping pills.

Other Medicines for Sleep

Some depression medicines can also be used at lower doses at bedtime, because they make you drowsy.

Your body is less likely to become dependent on these medicines. Your provider will prescribe these drugs and monitor you while you are on them.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Side effects to watch out for include:

Confusion or feeling extreme joy (euphoria)
Increased nervousness
Problems focusing, performing, or driving
Addiction/dependency on medicines for sleep
Morning drowsiness
Increased risk for falls in older adults
Problems with thinking or memory in older adults

Alternative Names

Benzodiazepines; Sedatives; Hypnotics; Sleeping pills; Insomnia - medicines; Sleep disorder - medicines

References

Chokroverty S, Avidan AY. Sleep and its disorders. In: Daroff RB, Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, eds. Bradley's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 102.

Krystal AD. Pharmacologic treatment of insomnia: other medications. In: Kryger M, Roth T, Dement WC, eds. Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 88.

Walsh JK, Roth T. Pharmacologic treatment of insomnia: benzodiazepine receptor agnosists. In: Kryger M, Roth T, Dement WC, eds. Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 87.

Review Date 4/15/2018

Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.