Pharmacological treatment of insomnia-the benefits outweigh the risks?

The latest generation of mediations of insomnia, Zaleplon (Sonata), zolpidem (ambien), eszopiclone (Lunesta) and zopiclone (Imovane) or "Z" drugs that Act on specific sub-groups of the GABA receptor. They are called drugs for "non-benzodiazepine" that often but that name is misleading, there on the benzodiazepine receptor-GABA complex in the brain that bind benzodiazepines and alcohol. The difference is that bind to a different part of the same receptor complex. You have less dependence and had fewer side effects than older generations of benzodiazepine medications marketed and some argue that these drugs have less abuse potential than benzodiazepines.



However, no systematic studies have shown are effective as benzodiazepines, although it several times more. Fusion of data from three trials with a total of 96 patients showed no difference between, for example benzodiazepines and zopiclone time to fall asleep, although benzodiazepines slept 23 minutes in the patients treated. There is no difference between benzodiazepines and zopiclone in more (side effects). And no difference between different z drugs has been established for the safety and efficacy. General side effects for all of these drugs are nervousness, tiredness, headache, dizziness, nausea and memory impairment. There was no evidence so far that the risk of drug addiction is lower in the z classes of medications for insomnia, such as benzodiazepines.



They are the best Z-drugs? A recent study by the UK National Institute for clinical evidence (NICE) in the year 2004 showed no difference between different medications Z (Sonata, Lunesta, ambien or Imovane) efficiency day following invasion or risk cancellation or dependency. In addition, there is no benefit in terms of effectiveness and side effects of benzodiazepines. Now has a half-life (2.5 hours) much shorter ambien and Lunesta (6 hours) and is connected on the next day with less drowsiness is promoted. Lunesta is a pure "mirror" of the same molecule of zopiclone and his father seems designed to be a marketing effort to leave the negative marketing, increase traffic accidents with his study of zopiclone show (made before the last public z drugs). Until studies, in particular to the question, we must assume that all the z is finally drugs with a drive to increase accidents.



Sleepwalking is an alarming potential side effect, the patient experienced ambien. Ambien increase slow-wave sleep that sleepwalking was associated. 8 March 2006, reported that the New York Times several cases of people standing, walking around the House, the kitchen and come too. Cases of people who will get out of bed after taking ambien (sometimes with a glass of wine) and still in the car, were also reported incidents, absolutely no memory of what has past. Some people stood in the middle of the night and crashed his car in the parking lot and then attempted to, erased, automobile, then have no memories of what happens (remember Patrick Kennedy).



A man on a transatlantic flight took ambien with two glasses of wine. In sleep, tore his clothes and threatens to kill himself and others. Consequently, the aircraft had to make an emergency landing. Has not had any recollection of the accident.



Many alcohol, even a glass increases the risk of an accident of hiking dangerous sleep. Furthermore the sleepwalking was reported more frequently, probably for ambien insomnia medications because of the 85% of the market. It is quite possible that the same side effects of medications may bring other insomnia.



You can take one of these few days for you with a dry stamp of insomnia. But if you sleep cognitive behavioral therapy has shown, permanent Errors be better medicines and without side effects!