by John Dewey
Introduction
The light from the moon casts long shadows across your bedroom wall. Your spouse breathes softly beside you. You are wide awake once again at four a.m. Your frustration grows the longer you lie awake. You wonder how you will be able to function at work tomorrow with so little rest. Use our Medication Checklist to find out how much you already know about your medicine. Then get the answers you need in our Drug Library.
Sleep Disorders What is it?
Sleep disorders can be temporary or long-term problems and can affect the quantity or quality of sleep achieved. There are four recognized types of sleeping disorders:
- Extrinsic sleep disorders, caused by something outside of the body such as drug use or a poor sleep environment
- Intrinsic sleep disorders, caused by something within the body such as a physical or psychological ailment
- Circadian rhythm sleep disorders, which are disruptions in your regular daily biological clock such as jet lag or work shift changes
- Parasomnias, characterized by unusual physical occurrences during sleep such as sleepwalking, grinding teeth or bed-wetting
The National Institutes of Mental Health has identified three broad categories of insomnia. These include:
- Transient - insomnia lasting fewer than three days
- Short-term - lasting three days to three weeks
- Chronic - lasting more than three weeks
There are many elements about the mechanisms of sleep and wakefulness that scientists do not understand. What is known is that sleep is primarily controlled by two systems in the brain: one that induces sleep, and sleep-related processes, and one that regulates sleep within a 24-hour cycle. This cycle, which corresponds to periods of light and darkness, is known as the circadian rhythm cycle. Researchers are discovering that this cycle a process controlled by genes that are found in living creatures ranging from the lowly fruit fly to human beings. Use our Pill Images to check the color, shape, and size and be sure you got the right medication.
Researchers know that as human beings we go through a variety of stages that can be measured by brain wave patterns. This includes a stage in which our eyes move rapidly, where it is assumed we are dreaming. This stage of sleep is therefore known as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Sleep disorders result from either internal abnormalities or external disturbances to these cycles. The feeling of having had enough sleep, or sleep satiety, is related to whether one has gone through all of the cycles of sleep, including both dreamless and REM sleep. We cycle through these stages multiple times per night.
The ongoing study of sleep disorders spans many medical fields, including neuroscience, genetics, physiology and psychology. Some of the mechanisms that play a role in sleep disorders are the subject of study at The National Center for Sleep Disorders Research. This center is situated within the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. Research includes the study of the genes that play a role in narcolepsy (a condition characterized by brief attacks of deep sleep), how sleep disturbances affect the immune system, and the role of sleep/wake cycles in triggering heart attacks.
Sleep Disorders Who has it?
Insomnia is the most prevalent sleep complaint among adults in America. Sleep apnea, a disruption of breathing during sleep, affects nearly 12 million people in the U.S. More than one billion dollars are spent each year on sleep medications in the United States. Compare your technique with the methods recommended in our Using Medicine section.
Sleep Disorders What are the risk factors?
Most short-term sleep disorders are caused by one or more of the following factors:
- lifestyle changes, such as marriage or retirement
- stressful situations, such as the death of a loved one or job pressure
- physical disorders
- environment
- medical conditions - especially those producing pain
- psychiatric conditions such as depression
- drug use (including alcohol, nicotine, or caffeine)
- environments that are not conducive to sleep
Women, especially those who are postmenopausal, are more likely to suffer from sleep disorders than men. However, laboratory studies show that men are more likely to experience disrupted sleep patterns than women. Visit our Cautionary Drugs section to learn more about medications that may be poor choices for seniors.
Sleep Disorders What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of sleep disorders include:
- difficulty or inability to fall asleep
- awaking early from sleep
- easy disruption of sleep
- fatigue or sleepiness
- anxiety
- lack of concentration
- irritability
Drug therapy in combination with good sleep hygiene (click on the Helping Yourself box) may be helpful for short-term management of insomnia.
Over-the-counter sleep aids that contain diphenhydramine (Benadryl), an antihistamine, may be helpful for short-term bouts of insomnia. Because the body can grow accustomed to antihistamine sleep aids, they often lose their effectiveness the more you take them. If you experience continued bouts of insomnia you should talk to your doctor to see if prescription medications are needed. Benzodiazepines are commonly used for the management of sleep disorders. Short-acting benzodiazepines are less likely than long-acting benzodiazepines to be associated with drowsiness or sluggishness the next morning. Benzodiazepines are only available with a prescription. They are controlled substances and do carry a potential for addiction if used inappropriately.
Other drugs used in the management of insomnia include unique agents called non-benzodiazepine sedative hypnotics. Examples include Ambien (zolpidem), Sonata (zaleplon), and Lunesta (eszopiclone).
Drug classes also considered sedative hypnotics are barbiturates and sedating antihistamines. The non-benzodiazepines and barbiturates are also controlled substances due to the potential for addiction.
A new class of sedative hypnotics has recently been introduced to the market. Rozerem (ramelteon),is a melatonin receptor agonist which mimics the body?s natural sleep promoting hormone, melatonin. This drug class is unique because it works with the body?s natural circadian rhythm to promote sleep. These melatonin receptor agonists do not carry an addiction potential.
Natural remedies have been used for years to treat sleep disorders. One of the most popular "natural" remedies for insomnia has been melatonin, which can be obtained at most pharmacies and health food stores. Melatonin is a hormone that is known to be involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness. It has been shown that the ingestion of melatonin prior to bedtime will help individuals fall asleep. However, scientific data have failed to confirm that melatonin is useful in maintaining sleep.
Herbal products such as valerian, chamomile, kava kava, and others have also been promoted as natural remedies for insomnia. However, the effectiveness and safety of these products has not been documented in large clinical trials.
Make a personal Emergency Contact and Medication Member Newsletter Subcribe so important information is easy to find in an emergency.
Don't be afraid to contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions, if a medication doesn't seem to be working, or if you have problems with a medication or treatment decision. Your doctor and pharmacist are there to help ensure your safety.
Sincerely, John Dewey 1-305-396-0986
jonhdewey@pharmacyhealthcareexpress.com To Your Success:
www.pharmacyhealthcareexpress.com
www.pharmacyhealthcareexpress.e-trusted.com
John Dewey
johndewey@pharmacyhealthcereexpress.com
----------
No comments:
Post a Comment