Prescription Insomnia Medications

There are several prescription medications for insomnia your doctor can prescribe to you. However, you should treat prescribed medications as a last resort because if they're taken for long periods of time, they could have unhealthy side effects.

Nonbenzodiazepine sedatives may be the medications prescribed to you by your doctor to treat this sleep disorder. There types of pills may include: Ambien, Sonata, or Lunesta.

Zolpidem, better known as Ambien, is in a class of medicine that affects the central nervous system. This medication causes muscle relaxation and sedation and has an anti-anxiety property. The drug has been proven to put users to sleep faster and keep them asleep throughout the night. In most cases, Zolpidem is not prescribed for more than 10 days because it can be addictive, lose the effectiveness, and worsen your insomnia altogether.

Sonata is medically referred to as zaleplon and also used for sedation. This common prescription medication for treating insomnia comes with its share of side effects as well though. Some of these include: stomach ache, muscle pain, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, and amnesia. Zaleplon can also have a potential abuse problem and can be an addictive medication.

Prescription Medications for Insomnia
Like the previous two prescription medications for insomnia mentioned, Lunesta also has a medical name and it's called eszopiclone. Eszopiclone stands alone by the fact that it is safe effective for up to six months and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The results for this drug can be dependency to sleep, loss of coordination, and dizziness.

Another alternative medicine that your doctor may prescribe to you is Ramelteon, which is more commonly known as Rozerem. This particular type of prescription medication stimulates the melatonin receptors. Melatonin is a substance that is secreted in your brain to help you regulate your sleep and wake cycles. As you get older, the amount of melatonin your body produces decreases. The FDA has approved this medication for insomnia causing difficulty to fall asleep.