Hypnotics and Sleep Medications at College

There are several types of medications used to help with sleep:

• Antihistamines, which are found in many cold preparations, can be purchased over the counter, and are very popular and minimally effective. Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is one of the most common.
• Barbiturates are an older, less-safe class of medications no longer in frequent use.
• Benzodiazepines (as described in the anxiety section) such as Restoril (temazepam) and Dalmane (flurazepam) are very popular for short-term use with the same caveats about tolerance and addictive potential.
• Ambien (zolpidem) and Sonata (zaleplon) are newer medications that have become very popular and seem to be effective. Their long-term addictive potential is unclear at this time.
• Some of the antidepressants, particularly Desyryl (trazodone), seem to be effective sleep medications, but can have more side effects.

Key Points About Hypnotics and Sleep Medications

• Long-term use can cause one to develop tolerance and make the medication less effective.
• Some people experience "rebound" or difficulty sleeping when they stop taking a sleep medication.
• Some of the preparations are shorter acting (two hours) versus longer acting (eight hours), so it's important to choose a preparation that matches the symptoms. For example, if the problem is falling asleep, a shorter-­ acting preparation may be the more appropriate choice, whereas if the problem is waking intermittently through the night, a longer-acting preparation is ­ probably a better choice.
• Sleep medications often interact with other drugs, so the prescribing doctor must know about any other medication your child is taking.
• Sleep medications can affect cognitive function and memory.