Now, if you’re at the point where you’ve read everything you can get your hands on about lifestyle changes and over-the-counter options and YOU NEED SOME HELP! Please keep reading…
You’re ready to talk to your doctor about prescription medications, so get ready to chat! We’ll go through the different options so you can figure out which one will work best for you.
1. sleep aids: These include Lunesta, Ambien, Rozerem and Sonata; specifically they make people fall asleep. Ambien and Sonata are available generically.
two. Anti-anxiety medications: Benzodiazepines (such as Xanax and Restoril, both of which are available generically) can be used short-term to help with anxiety and sleep problems; they work by “relaxing” the person and making them sleepy.
3. Antidepressants: If the anxiety continues, some antidepressants (such as Paxil or Celexa) can also work as an anti-anxiety medication; some specific ones like Elavil, Trazodone and Serzone also have a side effect of causing drowsiness.
So there are classes of medications that can help… now which ones are best for you? Things to think about: Are you having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep or both? Do you just have trouble sleeping or is it because your mind is racing?
1. Do you have trouble falling asleep?
– Ambien (zolpidem) or Sonata (zaleplon)
– Halcion (triazolam)
2. Do you have trouble waking up in the middle of the night?
– Prosom (estazolam)
– Restoril (temazepam)
3. Do you have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep?
– Ambien CR (zolpidem)
– Lunesta (scoplicone)
– Desyrel (trazodone)
– Serzone (nefazodone)
– Elavil (amitriptyline)
Now you’re ready to have a real discussion with your doctor about what will work best for you!