Relaxation Training and Biofeedback. Relaxation training includes breathing and guided imagery techniques. Progressive muscle relaxation is another technique for inducing sleep that works well for many people. It takes about 10 minutes to perform:
- Focus on one specific muscle group at a time. Most people start with the muscles in one foot. Inhale and tense the foot muscles for about 8 seconds. (Do this gently. It is not intended to cause severe pain or muscle contractions.)
- Relax the foot, and let it become loose and limp. Stay relaxed for 15 seconds, then repeat with the other foot.
- Move up to the next muscle group and repeat the sequence, doing one side of the body at a time. Move progressively from each foot and leg up through the abdomen and chest, to each hand and arm, then to the neck, shoulders, and face.
Biofeedback may be combined with relaxation techniques. Biofeedback involves being monitored with an electroencephalogram (EEG), a device that measures brain waves. Patients are given feedback to recognize certain states of tension or sleep stages so that they can either avoid or repeat them voluntarily.
Paradoxical Intention and Sleep Restriction Therapies. Paradoxical intention is a type of cognitive technique that aims to conquer anxiety about insomnia by forcing the patient to stay awake. Not trying to fall asleep may help relieve performance anxiety associated with sleep.
Sleep restriction therapy is similar to paradoxical intention. It involves limiting the time spent in bed to the number of hours that are typically actually spent asleep. Eventually the sleep loss helps some people fall asleep faster and spend more time asleep. As sleep improves, the hours spent in bed are increased.
Drug Therapy
In general, the following considerations are important regarding the use of medications for the treatment of insomnia:
- Underlying mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression, should be addressed first.
- Behavioral or psychologic techniques can actually correct insomnia, while prolonged use of sleeping pills can only produce temporary improvement.
- Non-benzodiazepine sedative hypnotics may be better tolerated than benzodiazepines and have less risk of dependency. These medicines, however, may be associated with potentially severe allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis and facial swelling (angioedema). These drugs may also cause hazardous or strange behaviors, such as driving, making phone calls, or eating while asleep. If you need to take one of these prescription drugs, start with as low a dose as possible.
- For adults over age 60 years, studies suggest that the risks of sedative hypnotics may far outweigh their benefits. Sleep medications increase the risks for falls, depression, and memory loss in older patients. Elderly patients should generally start sleep medications at lower doses than younger patients.
- As a general rule, do not take either prescription nor non-prescription sleeping pills on consecutive days or for more than 2 - 4 days a week.
- If insomnia is still a problem after stopping the drug and continuing with good sleep hygiene, this pattern can be repeated again, but for only up to 4 weeks.
- Medication should be withdrawn gradually, and the patient should be aware of the possibility of rebound insomnia after stopping medication.
- Alcohol intensifies the side effects of all sleeping medication and should be avoided.
- If chronic insomnia is a companion to depression or anxiety, treating these problems first may be the best approach.
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Review Date: 06/11/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M.,
Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
