Drug treatment of insomnia: indications and newer agents

Insomnia is a symptom that should be treated according to the underlying etiology. It is more common in elderly individuals and in women. Common causes of insomnia include acute situational factors, psychiatric disorders, use of various medications and illicit drugs, and medical disorders that cause pain, dyspnea or nausea. Pharmacotherapy should be generally restricted to use of the benzodiazepines, imidazopyridines (zolpidem) and occasionally tricyclic antidepressants. As a rule, hypnotic drugs should be used for less than two weeks to one month.