Posted by ed_uk2010 on August 19, 2014, at 13:34:28
In reply to Re: FDA Approves BELSOMRA® (suvorexant) for Sleep, posted by babbler20 on August 15, 2014, at 23:20:20
>20 minutes? Are you kidding me?
No, the effect of hypnotics on this time of sleep parameter often isn't very great. One of the benefits of conventional sleep aids such as the benzodiazepines is that they reduce anxiety, restlessness and distress during the night. In general, sleep aids should be avoided for patients who are not distressed by their insomnia, because they are not usually worthwhile. Reduction of distress is a major purpose for the prescription.
Hypnotics should not normally be Rxed in an attempt to improve daytime functioning, because they generally worsen it. This has been shown to happen very frequently even with short-acting hypnotics. The risk of car accidents etc. is increased, even in those who do not recognise that they are impaired.
Prescribing guidelines vary between countries. In the UK, night sedation is recommended for...
'the short-term treatment of insomnia in cases where it is severe, disabling or subjecting the individual to extreme distress'.
poster:ed_uk2010
thread:1069707
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20140815/msgs/1070013.html