Review of available drugs and non-pharmacological strategies used to treat insomnia

Abstract

Insomnia is one of the most prevalent sleep disorders occurring worldwide among the adult population. Prolonged lack of proper nightly rest can have a significant impact not only on the psychological individual well-being but also on their overall somatic health. Due to said problem’s frequent occurrence it is important that every clinician has a basic knowledge of available treatment options for insomnia. Currently, both pharmacological options as well as non-pharmacological approaches can be implemented to improve sleep quality. When choosing a specific treatment method, one must consider the patient's health factors such as comorbidities, age, chronically used medications, and financial resources. Nowadays the first recommended line of treating insomnia is focused on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), behavioral changes, and patient education in matters of sleep hygiene. In certain cases, it may be beneficial to implement hypnotic drugs, of which non-benzodiazepine benzodiazepine receptor agonists (non-BZRA) have relatively highest numbers of studies dedicated to testing their efficacy and safety. In patients with coexisting psychiatric disorders, certain antidepressants may play a significant role in sleep disorders management. Despite the prevalence of sleep disorders in the general population there still exists a need to conduct more comprehensive studies directly comparing distinct groups of hypnotic drugs – both their safety profile as well as their efficacy in treating insomnia.