What is the best medication for severe insomnia?
Disease description:
Recently, my insomnia has been very severe. I always can't fall asleep, and even when I'm tired, it's difficult to fall asleep. This has been recurring for over a week. If this continues, I'll eventually develop neurasthenia. Doctor, what is the best medication for severe insomnia?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Lv Zhiqin
The treatment of severe insomnia should be combined with individual circumstances. There is no absolute "best" medication, but commonly used medications include the following categories:
1. Benzodiazepine receptor agonists: such as Estazolam, Alprazolam, and Lorazepam. These medications have sedative-hypnotic effects and can effectively improve symptoms of severe insomnia. However, it should be noted that long-term use may lead to dependency, and these medications should be used under a doctor's guidance.
2. Non-benzodiazepine medications: such as Eszopiclone, Zopiclone, and Zolpidem. These medications have less disruption to sleep structure and cause milder side effects, making them safer and more commonly used in clinical practice. They also have sedative-hypnotic effects, and withdrawal symptoms or rebound insomnia are less pronounced after discontinuation.
3. Melatonin receptor agonists: such as Ramelteon. These medications improve sleep by regulating the melatonin system and may be effective for certain types of insomnia.
4. Antidepressant medications: if the patient experiences significant anxiety and depression, antidepressants such as Mirtazapine and Doxepin can be used. These medications help improve mood and also aid in improving sleep.
If insomnia severely affects quality of life, timely medical consultation is recommended.
