A 2010 survey in the "Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine" indicated that 30 percent of people experience insomnia. This paper revealed that the presence of sleep disorders was associated with decreases in health quality. A 2009 study in the "Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging" showed that people with sleep disturbances report lower life satisfaction. Given these findings, it's not surprising that the 2008 edition of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) "The 50 Most Prescribed Drugs" included several sleep-enhancing medications. These five drugs can be classified by the symptom they were designed to treat.
Anxiety
The first three of AARP's Top 50 drugs affecting sleep were designed to treat anxiety. These medications―alprazolam, clonazepam and lorazepam―are called anxiolytics. Anxiety disorders such as panic attacks are typically associated with poor sleep. A 2002 study in the "Journal of Psychiatric Research" showed that 100 percent of people diagnosed with both posttraumatic stress disorder and panic disorder experience insomnia. In addition, 96 percent of these patients have disturbing nightmares.
Alprazolam, clonazepam, and lorazepam belong to a class of drugs called "benzodiazepines".These medications are potent sleep promoters. For instance, a 2009 experiment in "International Clinical Psychopharmacology" indicated that both alprazolam and lorazepam were effective at reducing anxiety and improving sleep in generalized anxiety disorder.
Depression
The fourth Top 50 drug promoting sleep was designed to treat depression. This medication―trazodone―is an antidepressant. People with depressive conditions like seasonal affective disorder (SAD) often report sleep difficulties. A 2005 paper in "Biological Psychiatry" revealed that SAD patients had later bed times and less-efficient sleep. These disturbances also made the patients less active in the daytime.
Trazodone is part of a group of medications known as tetracyclics, and these drugs enhance sleep. A 2009 report in "Psychiatry" showed that trazodone decreased depression scores and increased sleep quality in major depressive disorder. Interestingly, the positive effects of trazodone appeared during the first week of treatment.
Insomnia
The final Top 50 drug facilitating sleep was designed to treat insomnia. This medication―zolpidem―is a hypnotic. Insomnia conditions including jet lag disorder are usually associated with sleep deprivation and daytime sleepiness. A 2009 review in "Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease" stated that jet lag results from a mismatch between clock time and body time. Such a difference causes insomnia and malaise.
Zolpidem is referred to as a nonbenzodiazepine drug, which enhances sleep. A 2001 study in "Sleep Medicine" showed that zolpidem improved sleep quality in transatlantic travelers experiencing jet lag. Zolpidem does not, however, achieve its effect by changing internal time. A 1995 paper in "Sleep" indicated that nonbenzodiazepine enhanced deep sleep without altering biological rhythms.
References
- "Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine"; Sleep...; C. M. Baldwin et al.; April 15, 2010
- "Journal of Nutrition, Health, & Aging"; Sleep disturbance...; M. Lee et al.; June 2009
- "AARP Bulletin Today": The 50 Most Prescribed Drugs
- "Journal of Psychiatric Research"; Effects of...; G. A. Leskin et al.; November 2002
- "International Clinical Psychopharmacology"; Efficacy...; S. A. Montgomery et al., July 2009
