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Insomnia



NHS Choices Syndication

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Insomnia

Causes of insomnia

Insomnia can be caused by many different things, including stress, underlying health conditions, and alcohol or drug misuse.

The causes of insomnia are discussed in more detail below.

Stress

Some people develop insomnia in response to a stressful event, and it continues even when the stress has been resolved. This is because they have become used to associating the sleeping environment with being alert.

Worrying about things, such as work and health, is likely to keep you awake at night. Worrying about not being able to fall asleep can also stop you from actually falling asleep, creating a ‘vicious circle’.

Psychiatric problems

Underlying psychiatric problems can often affect a person’s sleeping patterns. For example:

Health conditions

Insomnia can also be caused by underlying physical conditions including:

Alcohol and drug misuse

Drinking too much alcohol and taking drugs can affect a person’s sleeping pattern.

Stimulants, such as nicotine and drinking too much caffeine (contained in tea, coffee and energy drinks) can also affect your sleep.

Medication

Some prescribed treatments or medicines available over-the-counter can cause insomnia. These include:

Jet lag

A disturbed sleep pattern is one of the most common symptoms of jet lag.

After a long-haul flight, you may find it difficult to sleep at the correct times. For example, you may be awake at night and sleep during the day.

Published Date
2013-12-13 12:14:18Z
Last Review Date
2013-12-09 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2015-12-09 00:00:00Z
Classification
Antidepressants,Anxiety,Anxiety-related conditions,Asthma,Depression,Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease,Heart and vascular diseases,Insomnia,Irritable bowel syndrome,Managing addictions,Mental health conditions,Mental health specialists,Parkinson's disease,Schizophrenia,Sleep disorders

Insomnia – NHS Choices

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Insomnia 

Introduction 

Insomnia

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Insomnia is difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep for long enough to feel refreshed the next morning, even though you’ve had enough opportunity to sleep.
This video gives expert information about the condition, such as what causes or maintains it and different opportunities to deal with it. Also find out how Jane manages her insomnia.

Media last reviewed: 13/06/2014

Next review due: 13/06/2016

Sleep stages

Sleep is a natural state of unconsciousness that enables your body to rest.

While asleep, your body goes through different sleep stages in a cycle that lasts about 90 minutes. You may go through five cycles in a night. The sleep stages are:

  • drowsiness
  • light sleep
  • deep sleep
  • dreaming, also known as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep

Moodzone: sleep problems

Dr Chris Williams explains what you can do to give yourself the best chance of a good night’s sleep. This podcast is one of an eight-part series for Moodzone

Insomnia is difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep for long enough to feel refreshed the next morning, even though you’ve had enough opportunity to sleep.

Most people experience problems sleeping at some point in their life. It’s thought that a third of people in the UK have episodes of insomnia. It tends to be more common in women and more likely to occur with age.

It’s difficult to define what normal sleep is because everyone is different. Your age, lifestyle, environment and diet all play a part in influencing the amount of sleep you need. 

The most common symptoms of insomnia are:

  • difficulty falling asleep
  • waking up during the night
  • waking up early in the morning
  • feeling irritable and tired and finding it difficult to function during the day

Read more about the symptoms of insomnia.

What causes insomnia?

Stress and anxiety are common causes of insomnia, but it can also be caused by conditions such as depression, schizophrenia or asthma, some medications, and alcohol or drug misuse.

Read more about the causes of insomnia.

What to do

There is a range of things you can do to help you get to sleep, such as:

  • avoiding caffeine later in the day
  • avoiding heavy meals late at night
  • setting regular times to wake up
  • using thick curtains or blinds, an eye mask and earplugs to stop you being woken up by light and noise

This is often referred to as ‘good sleep hygiene’.

Relaxation can also help. Try taking a warm bath an hour before you go to bed or listening to calming music.

Read more self-help tips for insomnia.

When to see your GP

See your GP if you’re finding it difficult to get to sleep or to stay asleep, and it’s affecting your daily life.

Fatigue due to insomnia can affect your mood and create relationship problems with loved ones and work colleagues.

Your GP may ask you about your sleeping routines, your daily alcohol and caffeine consumption, and your general lifestyle habits, such as diet and exercise.

They will also check your medical history for any illness or medication that may be contributing to your insomnia.

Sleep diary

Your GP may also suggest that you keep a sleep diary. This will help them and you to gain a better understanding of your sleep patterns. It can also help to decide which method of treatment to use.

You should keep a sleep diary for a minimum of two weeks, recording information such as:

  • the time you go bed
  • how long it takes you to get to sleep
  • the number of times you wake up in the night
  • what time it is when you wake up
  • episodes of daytime tiredness and naps
  • what time you eat meals, consume alcohol, take exercise and when you are stressed

Treating insomnia

The first step in treating insomnia is to identify and treat any underlying health condition, such as anxiety, that may be causing your sleep problems. 

Your GP will probably discuss things you can do at home (see above) which may help to improve your sleep.

In some cases, cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) may be recommended. CBT-I is a type of talking therapy that can help you avoid the thoughts and behaviours affecting your sleep.

Sleeping tablets are a treatment of last resort and are often only used in the short-term with the smallest possible dose. Although they can sometimes relieve the symptoms of insomnia, they don’t treat the cause. If you have long-term insomnia, it’s unlikely that sleeping tablets will help.

Read more about treating insomnia.

Page last reviewed: 09/12/2013

Next review due: 09/12/2015

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Comments

The 4 comments posted are personal views. Any information they give has not been checked and may not be accurate.

suzyqi said on 18 February 2013

i get four hour’s sleep a night if im really lucky i care for my mum so even i do get to sleep i wake far to easy it’s starting to make my life really bad i cry for no reason get upset over anything and fall out with my boyfriend for no reason i can’t carry on this way i know that sleeping tablet’s are not the answer but i have tryed all the self help things and thay dont work i really don’t know what more i can do or how much more i can take

Report this content as offensive or unsuitable

ML12 said on 05 October 2012

hove12 please don’t try to take your life again. I cant pretend to know what your going through but that is not the answer. Please speak to someone, a friend, a counsellor, even me…..If you start believing you can get better, you will.

Report this content as offensive or unsuitable

hove12 said on 17 September 2012

There is no real help on the NHS. 12 years ago I went to see my GP about severe insomnia. When he heard the problem he looked so disinterested he actually started re-aranging his desk papaers and didn’t keep eye contact. He advised a hot bath before bed and milky drink. My insomnia was much to bad to be helped by that. After 8 years of not having 1 goods night sleep I developed a mental and physical illness. All I wanted was some sleep tablets 12 years ago. My life is now in ruins as i have lost almost everything. The NHS needs to offer help for severe insomnia not just a weeks worth of sleep tablets.

Report this content as offensive or unsuitable

Maria de Suecia said on 18 November 2011

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water. Drink 1 hour before sleep to alkalize your blood.

This cured my life wrecking years long insomnia over night.

Eat an alkalizing diet so acidity does not deplete minerals.

Magnesium is essential.

Report this content as offensive or unsuitable

Tiredness and fatigue

What makes you tired and how to boost your energy, with self-help tips and an energy diet

Living with insomnia

Find out what easy lifestyle changes you can make to improve your sleep

Why lack of sleep is bad for your health

Sleep deprivation can have profound consequences for your mental and physical health

Children’s sleep

Get advice on dealing with common sleep problems affecting babies, children and teenagers


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NHS Choices Syndication

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Insomnia

Introduction

Insomnia is difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep for long enough to feel refreshed the next morning, even though you’ve had enough opportunity to sleep.

Most people experience problems sleeping at some point in their life. It’s thought that a third of people in the UK have episodes of insomnia. It tends to be more common in women and more likely to occur with age.

It’s difficult to define what normal sleep is because everyone is different. Your age, lifestyle, environment and diet all play a part in influencing the amount of sleep you need. 

The most common symptoms of insomnia are:

  • difficulty falling asleep
  • waking up during the night
  • waking up early in the morning
  • feeling irritable and tired and finding it difficult to function during the day

Read more about the symptoms of insomnia.

What causes insomnia?

Stress and anxiety are common causes of insomnia, but it can also be caused by conditions such as depression, schizophrenia or asthma, some medications, and alcohol or drug misuse.

Read more about the causes of insomnia.

What to do

There is a range of things you can do to help you get to sleep, such as:

  • avoiding caffeine later in the day
  • avoiding heavy meals late at night
  • setting regular times to wake up
  • using thick curtains or blinds, an eye mask and earplugs to stop you being woken up by light and noise

This is often referred to as ‘good sleep hygiene’.

Relaxation can also help. Try taking a warm bath an hour before you go to bed or listening to calming music.

Read more self-help tips for insomnia.

When to see your GP

See your GP if you’re finding it difficult to get to sleep or to stay asleep, and it’s affecting your daily life.

Fatigue due to insomnia can affect your mood and create relationship problems with loved ones and work colleagues.

Your GP may ask you about your sleeping routines, your daily alcohol and caffeine consumption, and your general lifestyle habits, such as diet and exercise.

They will also check your medical history for any illness or medication that may be contributing to your insomnia.

Sleep diary

Your GP may also suggest that you keep a sleep diary. This will help them and you to gain a better understanding of your sleep patterns. It can also help to decide which method of treatment to use.

You should keep a sleep diary for a minimum of two weeks, recording information such as:

  • the time you go bed
  • how long it takes you to get to sleep
  • the number of times you wake up in the night
  • what time it is when you wake up
  • episodes of daytime tiredness and naps
  • what time you eat meals, consume alcohol, take exercise and when you are stressed

Treating insomnia

The first step in treating insomnia is to identify and treat any underlying health condition, such as anxiety, that may be causing your sleep problems. 

Your GP will probably discuss things you can do at home (see above) which may help to improve your sleep.

In some cases, cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) may be recommended. CBT-I is a type of talking therapy that can help you avoid the thoughts and behaviours affecting your sleep.

Sleeping tablets are a treatment of last resort and are often only used in the short-term with the smallest possible dose. Although they can sometimes relieve the symptoms of insomnia, they don’t treat the cause. If you have long-term insomnia, it’s unlikely that sleeping tablets will help.

Read more about treating insomnia.

 

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Published Date
2013-12-13 12:13:45Z
Last Review Date
2013-12-09 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2015-12-09 00:00:00Z
Classification
Depression,Insomnia,Mental health conditions


NHS Choices Syndication

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Insomnia

Self-help for insomnia

Insomnia can often be prevented by changing your daytime and bedtime habits or by improving your bedroom environment.

Making small changes may help you get a good night’s sleep. Try some of the methods below for at least three to four weeks.

Daytime habits

  • Set a specific time for getting up each day. Stick to this time, seven days a week, even if you feel you haven’t had enough sleep. This should help you sleep better at night.
  • Don’t take a nap during the day.
  • Take daily exercise, such as 30 minutes walking or cycling, at least four hours before you go to bed. This will allow your body temperature to cool down.

Bedtime habits

  • Stop drinking tea and coffee four hours before bedtime.
  • Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking. Like caffeine, alcohol and nicotine are also stimulants. Alcohol may make you sleepy at first but will wake you up when the effects have worn off.
  • Don’t eat a big meal or spicy foods just before bedtime. A small snack containing tryptophan (a natural sleep-promoting amino acid) may help, such as turkey, banana or fish.
  • Only go to bed when you’re feeling tired.
  • Try to create a bedtime routine, such as taking a bath and drinking a warm, milky drink every night. These activities will be associated with sleep and will cause drowsiness.
  • Don’t lie in bed feeling anxious about sleeping. Instead, get up and go to another room for a while and do something else, such as reading or watching television, before trying again.
  • Don’t watch the clock because it will only make you anxious.
  • Write a list of your worries and any ideas to solve them, then try to forget about it until the morning.

Bedroom environment

  • Use thick blinds or curtains or wear an eye mask if the early morning sunlight or bright streetlamps affect your sleep.
  • Wear ear plugs if noise is a problem.
  • Don’t use the bedroom for anything other than sleeping or sex. Don’t watch television, make phone calls, eat or work while you’re in bed.
  • Make sure your mattress is comfortable and that you have a pillow you like, plus adequate bed covers for the time of year.

When you find that you’re asleep for most of the time that you’re in bed, try going to bed 15 minutes earlier but make sure you get up at the same time in the morning.

Published Date
2013-12-13 12:37:49Z
Last Review Date
2013-12-09 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2015-12-09 00:00:00Z
Classification
Ear,Insomnia,Safe drinking,Sleep health


NHS Choices Syndication

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Insomnia

Symptoms of insomnia

The symptoms of insomnia depend on the type of sleeping problem you have.

In the UK, up to a third of people are thought to experience insomnia at some point each year. Symptoms can include:

  • lying awake for long periods at night before falling asleep
  • waking up several times during the night
  • waking up early in the morning and not being able to get back to sleep
  • feeling tired and not refreshed by sleep
  • not being able to function properly during the day and finding it difficult to concentrate
  • irritability

A lack of sleep can also affect your mood and cause tiredness and fatigue during the day.

How much sleep do I need?

It’s difficult to define what ‘normal sleep’ is because every individual is different. Many things influence the amount of sleep you need, including your age, lifestyle, diet and environment.

Most healthy adults sleep for about seven to nine hours a night. As you get older, it becomes more difficult to maintain that amount, even though you still need it.

When to visit your GP

You should consider speaking to your GP if a lack of sleep is affecting your daily life and you feel that it’s causing a problem.

Fatigue caused by insomnia can affect your mood and create problems with personal relationships and in the workplace.

Read more about simple methods that may help prevent insomnia.

Published Date
2013-12-13 12:14:04Z
Last Review Date
2013-12-09 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2015-12-09 00:00:00Z
Classification
Insomnia


NHS Choices Syndication

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Insomnia

Treating insomnia

The first step in treating insomnia is to find out whether the problem is being caused by an underlying medical condition.

If it is, once the condition has been treated, your insomnia may disappear without the need for further medical help.

Good sleep hygiene

Your GP will be able to advise you about what you can do at home to help you sleep. This is known as good sleep hygiene and includes:

  • establishing fixed times for going to bed and waking up (try to avoid sleeping in after a poor night’s sleep)
  • trying to relax before going to bed
  • maintaining a comfortable sleeping environment (not too hot, cold, noisy or bright)
  • avoiding napping during the day
  • avoiding caffeine, nicotine and alcohol late at night 
  • avoiding exercise within four hours of bedtime (although exercise in the middle of the day is beneficial)
  • avoiding eating a heavy meal late at night
  • avoiding watching or checking the clock throughout the night
  • only using the bedroom for sleeping and sex

Read more simple methods that may help prevent insomnia.

If you have long-term insomnia (lasting more than four weeks) your GP may: 

  • recommend cognitive and behavioural treatments
  • prescribe a short course of sleeping tablets for immediate relief or to manage a particularly bad period of insomnia; however, they aren’t recommended for long-term use 

Cognitive and behavioural treatments

The aim of cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours that may be contributing to your insomnia. It may be recommended if you’ve had sleep problems for more than four weeks.

CBT-I can include:

  • stimulus-control therapy – which aims to help you associate the bedroom with sleep and establish a consistent sleep/wake pattern
  • sleep restriction therapy – limiting the amount of time spent in bed to the actual amount of time spent asleep, creating mild sleep deprivation; sleep time is then increased as your sleeping improves
  • relaxation training – aims to reduce tension or minimise intrusive thoughts that may be interfering with sleep
  • paradoxical intention – you try to stay awake and avoid any intention of falling asleep; it’s only used if you have trouble getting to sleep, but not maintaining sleep
  • biofeedback – sensors connected to a machine are placed on your body to measure your body’s responses, such as muscle tension and heart rate; the machine produces pictures or sounds to help you control your breathing and body responses

CBT-I is sometimes carried out by a specially trained GP. Alternatively, you may be referred to a clinical psychologist.

You’ll usually have four or five sessions of CBT-I, each lasting about an hour. As part of the treatment you may be asked to keep a daily record of your sleep (a sleep diary).

In the UK, there are a number of places that provide specialist sleep services such as CBT-I. These include:

The website of the British Sleep Society (BSS) also has a post code search that you can use to find your nearest sleep centre.

Sleeping tablets

Sleeping tablets (hypnotics) are medications that encourage sleep. They may be considered:

  • if your insomnia symptoms are very severe
  • to help ease short-term insomnia
  • if the good sleep hygiene and cognitive and behavioural treatments mentioned above prove ineffective 

However, doctors are usually reluctant to prescribe sleeping tablets because although they help relieve the symptoms of insomnia, they don’t treat the cause.

If you have long-term insomnia, sleeping tablets are unlikely to help. Your doctor may consider referring you to a clinical psychologist to discuss other approaches to treatment.

Read more about why sleep medication only offers short-term relief.

You should be prescribed the smallest effective dose possible for the shortest time necessary (for no longer than a week). In some cases, you may be advised to only take the medication two or three nights a week, rather than every night.

Sleeping tablets can sometimes cause side effects, such as a feeling that you’re hungover and daytime drowsiness.

It’s best to take sleeping tablets at night, before you go to bed. Sometimes, particularly in older people, the hangover effects may last into the next day, so be cautious if it’s likely that you’ll be driving the next day (see below for more advice about driving).

It’s very easy to become dependent on sleeping tablets, even after a short-term course. Therefore, if you’re taking sleeping tablets regularly (every night), you should consider reducing them or stopping them altogether. Speak to your GP for advice.

Short-acting benzodiazepines or the newer ‘Z medicines’ (see below) are the preferred medicines for insomnia and are only available on prescription.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are tranquillisers that can reduce anxiety and promote calmness, relaxation and sleep.

These medicines should only be considered if you have severe insomnia or it’s causing extreme distress.

Benzodiazepines will make you feel sleepy and can lead to dependency. Therefore, only short-acting benzodiazepines (with short-lasting effects) should be used to treat insomnia. Temazepam is the benzodiazepine that’s often prescribed.

Benzodiazepines can have many potential side effects. See the link to temazepam above for a full list of possible side effects.

Z medicines

Z medicines are a newer type of short-acting medicines that work in a similar way to benzodiazepines. They include: 

  • zaleplon
  • zolpidem
  • zopiclone

Zaleplon

Zaleplon is licensed to treat people with insomnia who have difficulty falling asleep.

It should only be used at the lowest possible dose and for a maximum of up to two weeks.

Common side effects of zaleplon (affecting more than one in 100 people) include:

Less common side effects (affecting more than one in 1,000 people) include:

  • apathy (lack of interest)
  • balance and co-ordination problems
  • concentration problems
  • changed sense of smell
  • dizziness
  • hallucinations (seeing things that aren’t real)

Read more about zaleplon.

Zolpidem

Zolpidem is licensed for the short-term treatment of debilitating insomnia or where it’s causing severe stress.

It should only be used at the lowest possible dose and for a maximum of up to four weeks.

Common side effects of zolpidem include:

Less common side effects include confusion and double vision.

Read more about zolpidem.

Zopiclone

Zopiclone is licensed for the short-term treatment of insomnia including difficulty falling asleep, waking up during the night and long-term insomnia that’s debilitating or causing severe distress.

It should only be used at the lowest possible dose and for a maximum of up to four weeks.

Common side effects of zopiclone include:

  • dry mouth 
  • metallic taste in your mouth
  • sleepiness

Less common side effects include:

  • dizziness, nausea and vomiting
  • drowsiness
  • headaches

Read more about zopiclone.

Z medicines can also sometimes cause psychiatric reactions, such as anger, irritability, agitation, aggressiveness, delusion, nightmares and hallucinations.

You should stop taking your medication and see your GP immediately if you experience any of these psychiatric reactions.

There’s little difference between Z medicines and benzodiazepines. If one doesn’t work, swapping to another is unlikely to have a different effect.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance contains more about the use of zaleplon, zolpidem and zopiclone for the short-term management of insomnia (PDF, 83.3kb).

Antidepressants

Antidepressants are sometimes prescribed for people with insomnia, and can be particularly useful if a person also has a history of depression.

Melatonin (Circadin)

Medicines that contain melatonin have been shown to be effective in relieving insomnia for up to 26 weeks in elderly people.

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that helps regulate the sleep cycle (known as the circadian rhythm).

Circadin is the only medicine containing melatonin. It’s licensed to treat insomnia and is only available on prescription for people who are 55 years of age or over.

Circadin is designed as a short-term treatment for insomnia and shouldn’t be taken for more than three weeks. It’s not recommended for people with a history of kidney disease or liver disease.

Side effects of Circadin are uncommon but can include:

If you’re finding these side effects troublesome, stop taking Circadin and contact your GP.

Driving

If you have insomnia, it may affect your ability to drive. Medical conditions that cause sleepiness should be reported to the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

GOV.UK has more information about telling the DVLA about a medical condition or disability.

Published Date
2014-03-28 11:23:17Z
Last Review Date
2013-12-09 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2015-12-09 00:00:00Z
Classification
Anxiety,Benzodiazepines,Bipolar disorder,Cognitive behavioural therapy,Depression,DVLA,Insomnia,National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence,Sleep health,Sleeping pills

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