[Pharmacotherapy of sleep disorders]

Benzodiazepines and related drugs are the hypnotics of first choice. They shorten sleep latency, enhance sleep continuity and may prolong sleep duration. Their undesired effects include a persistent day-time sedation and ataxia when getting up at night. There is some risk of habit formation and dependence. For treating an acute insomnia, the prescription of hypnotics should be limited to a short duration (smallest package size), for treating chronic forms of insomnia they should have only an adjuvant role in therapy.