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- This medication is used for a short time to treat a certain type of sleep problem (insomnia) in adults who have trouble falling back asleep after waking up in the middle of the night. It helps you return to sleep faster so you can get a better night's rest.
People also ask
Can Intermezzo help you fall asleep faster?
Does Intermezzo reduce sleep latency after sleep apnea?
When should I use Intermezzo?
Intermezzo may help you fall asleep faster when you take it on an empty stomach. Call your healthcare provider if your insomnia worsens or is not better within 7 to 10 days. This may mean that there is another condition causing your sleep problem.
- Overview
- 1. Doxepin
- 2. Temazepam
- 3. Eszopiclone
- 4. Ramelteon
- 5. Suvorexant
- 6. Triazolam
- 7. Trazodone
- 8. Estazolam
- 9. Zaleplon
Various medications can help people fall asleep, stay asleep, or both, such as doxepin (Silenor) and Ramelteon (Rozerem). But, there may be some risks and side effects. Several are only for short-term use.
This article reviews 10 of the best medications a doctor may prescribe to help a person sleep. It also explores some nonmedical solutions for sleep issues.
Doxepin is a sleep aid with the brand name Silenor. Doctors may suggest people with insomnia use Silenor for up to 3 months. It may help a person fall asleep and stay asleep.
It is available as an immediate-release tablet in 3 and 6 milligram (mg) doses. A person should talk with a doctor about the best dose for their needs.
Doctors do not recommend Silenor for those taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors, a type of antidepressant, or people with glaucoma or urinary retention.
Silenor may cause side effects in some people. These can include:
•central nervous system (CNS) depression, where brain activity slows
•worsening depression or suicidal thoughts
Temazepam, which has the brand name Restoril, is a benzodiazepine. This kind of medication may cause dependency and addiction if a person misuses it.
Restoril is available by prescription for the short-term treatment of insomnia. The typical prescription length is 7–10 days. A doctor will generally reassess the person following this period to determine if an underlying cause is responsible for their insomnia.
People who are pregnant should not take Restoril.
Restoril can cause a variety of side effects, which may include one or more of the following:
•drowsiness
•fatigue
Eszopiclone (Lunesta) may help a person fall and stay asleep.
Lunesta is a controlled substance with a tendency to lead to misuse and dependency. A person may also experience diminishing effects or increased tolerance to the medication over time.
Though generally safe, reported side effects include:
•dizziness
•an unpleasant taste in the mouth
•viral infections
Ramelteon (Rozerem) may help a person fall asleep. Unlike other medications, a doctor may prescribe Rozerem for longer-term use.
This medication comes in a one-size dose of 8 mg. A person should not exceed a single dose daily.
Unlike many other sleep aids, Rozerem is not a controlled substance. It has a low likelihood of misuse or dependency. However, it can still cause side effects such as:
•drowsiness
•dizziness
•fatigue
Suvorexant (Belsomra) may help a person fall asleep and maintain sleep.
A person taking Belsomra has a risk of misusing the medication and developing dependency. Like other controlled substances, it can cause CNS impairments that can lead to trouble with driving and other activities.
It can also cause:
•worsening suicidal thoughts or depression
•complex sleep behaviors
•sleep paralysis
Doctors can prescribe triazolam (Halcion) for the short-term treatment of insomnia, typically for 7–10 days.
Because the medication has the potential for dependency and misuse, doctors do not recommend it as a long-term treatment for insomnia.
Common side effects may include:
•ataxia, or a lack of muscle coordination
•drowsiness
•dizziness
Trazodone (Desyrel) is a medication that modulates the neurotransmitter serotonin. Doctors typically use it to treat major depressive disorder. However, they may prescribe it off label to help a person fall asleep since one of its effects is drowsiness.
The typical starting dose is 150 mg daily, divided into two doses. Doctors may increase this to a maximum daily dose of 400 mg.
However, a doctor will likely prescribe a lower amount for sleep disturbances. A 25–100 mg dose may help a person fall and stay asleep with fewer side effects than traditional sleep aids.
Though they may be less likely at these lower doses, this medication can still cause side effects such as:
•edema, where the tissues of the body contain too much fluid
•drowsiness
Doctors can prescribe estazolam (Prosom) for the short-term treatment of insomnia. It may help with falling and staying asleep.
Prosom has a risk of misuse and dependency. Doctors typically prescribe it for short-term help with insomnia.
A doctor may prescribe 1 mg or 2 mg tablets for insomnia treatment.
Estazolam can cause reactions such as:
•loss of coordination
•drowsiness
Zaleplon, or Sonata, may be useful for the short-term treatment of insomnia. While it may help a person fall asleep, it does not help maintain sleep.
A person taking Sonata has some risk of dependency. It also has a high likelihood of misuse.
A typical adult dose is 10 mg, though some may find that 5 mg is sufficient.
Sonata can cause a variety of side effects, including:
•drowsiness
•dizziness
- How it works. Zolpidem may be used to help people sleep. Zolpidem induces sleep by enhancing the effects of GABA, a chemical transmitter in the brain. However, zolpidem's chemical structure is different from benzodiazepines.
- Upsides. May be used to help you get to sleep and stay asleep. Different forms of zolpidem are used for sleep initiation, sleep maintenance, or returning to sleep when a "middle-of-the-night" awakening is followed by difficulty getting back to sleep.
- Downsides. If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, take no other medication or have no other medical conditions, side effects you are more likely to experience include
- Bottom Line. Zolpidem induces sleep; however, longer-acting formulations may impair physical and mental capabilities the next day. May induce complex or dangerous sleep-related behaviors like "sleep-driving" which is worse with high doses or when zolpidem is combined with alcohol or other drugs that cause sleepiness.
You do not need to take Intermezzo with water; Do not take Intermezzo with or right after a meal. Intermezzo may help you fall back to sleep faster when you take it on an empty stomach; Do not take Intermezzo if you have consumed alcohol that day or before bed; Throw away the empty Intermezzo pouch in the morning
If you wake up in the middle of the night and have trouble falling asleep again, take this medication as directed by your doctor, usually only once a night if needed.
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Nov 29, 2021 · Intermezzo may help you fall asleep faster when you take it on an empty stomach. Call your health care provider if your insomnia worsens or is not better within 7 to 10 days. This may mean that there is another condition causing your sleep problem.
Nov 21, 2022 · Z-drugs and benzodiazepines. Z-drugs like zolpidem (Ambien) and zaleplon (Sonata) are commonly prescribed to help you fall asleep, especially if you don’t have chronic insomnia. They can be taken as needed and usually work within an hour. An interesting Z-drug option is sublingual zolpidem (Intermezzo).
