Comments for consumers

This page/column contains information which may be of interest to consumers. The information is based on articles which appear in Australian Prescriber. As Australian Prescriber is written for health professionals, you should discuss any issues raised by this page/column with your doctor or pharmacist. They will be able to give a more detailed answer to your questions by reading the main article.

Australian Prescriber is unable to comment on individual cases or give second opinions.

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Australian Prescriber Vol. 31 No. 6 2008

Insomnia and sleeping tablets (2008)

Many people complain they do not get enough sleep. There is often a reason why they are not sleeping. For example, they could be anxious, stressed or depressed.

We need less sleep as we get older, so lack of sleep is not always a problem. If it is a problem try and fix the underlying cause or talk to your doctor.

Sleeping tablets are often not the answer to a lack of sleep. It is helpful if the bedroom is quiet and to have a regular bedtime. The side effects of sleeping tablets may be more of a problem than the lack of sleep. Some sleeping tablets give you a hangover the next day and can affect memory.

If sleeping tablets are prescribed they should ideally only be used occasionally and for a short time. When they are taken every night they do not work so well and patients can become addicted to them.

There has been media interest in some of the unusual side effects of sleeping tablets. Sleepwalking, eating while asleep and driving while asleep have been associated with a medicine called zolpidem. Although these side effects are uncommon, they show why sleeping tablets should be avoided if possible.

For more information on zolpidem and getting to sleep without medicines, see the fact sheet prepared by the National Prescribing Service.