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Treatments for Insomnia

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The treatment and management of insomnia depends on its severity and underlying cause. Transient or intermittent insomnia may not need treatment since it lasts only a few days. When treatment is needed it may involve lifestyle changes, medications, and other treatments.

The first step in treating insomnia is to identify and treat any underlying medical or psychological problems. The ultimate goal is to achieve a normal and restorative pattern of sleep.

Treatment may involve the following:

Lifestyle changes
Medications
Other treatments
Complementary and alternative treatments
REFERENCES:

Buysse DJ. Insomnia. JAMA. 2013;309(7):706-716.

Insomnia. Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: https://familydoctor.org/condition/insomnia. Updated July 2017. Accessed March 7, 2018.

Insomnia. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/insomnia. Accessed March 7, 2018.

Insomnia. National Sleep Foundation website. Available at: https://sleepfoundation.org/insomnia/home. Accessed March 7, 2018.

Insomnia in adults. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114839/Insomnia-in-adults. Updated June 5, 2017. Accessed March 7, 2018.

Last reviewed March 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Monica Zangwill, MD, MPH  Last Updated: 3/15/2015