You should always speak with your doctor before taking any medications for insomnia.The word insomnia comes from the Latin words in and somnus, meaning “without sleep” or “trouble sleeping.” Insomnia can be idiopathic (primary insomnia) or a symptom of several sleep, medical, and psychiatric disorders. Some of these medications can lead to dependence and risk of withdrawal. If these treatments are not effective, your doctor may consider prescribing sleep medications.Ĭhoosing appropriate insomnia medication for older adults requires a lot of consideration and care. Once you can sleep for at least 90% of the time you spend in bed, you can begin to go to sleep earlier. Based on your sleep diary notes, a doctor may tell you to restrict your time in bed each night until your sleep improves. Record your time asleep and awake, how long it takes to fall asleep each night, and other important patterns. Commit to waking up at the same time each morning and avoid napping during the day.If you're lying awake in bed for 20 minutes without feeling sleepy, you should get up and keep busy in another room until you feel tired again. Lying awake in bed can be harmful to a good night’s rest. Practice going to bed only when you’re tired.‌Your doctor may also recommend the following to help you sleep well at night: Try to avoid looking at your cell phone, working, playing video games, or watching TV in bed. You should use your bed only for sleeping. Ideally, your bedroom should be quiet, dark and at a temperature less than 75 degrees Fahrenheit (about 23 degrees Celsius). One of the first things your doctor might recommend is to create the most welcoming, peaceful bedroom environment possible. Chronic stress or stress that lasts for a long time.Caffeine or alcohol when consumed before bedtime.Lifestyle habits, such as napping or lack of physical activity.Mental illness, including depression and anxiety.Other health conditions, like dementia, Alzheimer’s, chronic pain, diabetes, or respiratory diseases.Other sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome.

Medications, including antidepressants, medicines to treat high blood pressure, or nasal decongestants.Normal changes in sleep patterns that occur with age.Many things can cause insomnia in older adults, including: Rely on sleeping pills or alcohol to fall asleep.Have difficulty concentrating during the day.Have difficulty staying awake when sitting still, watching TV, or driving.Feel irritable or sleepy during the day.Don’t feel refreshed after a night’s sleep.Have trouble getting back to sleep when awakened.Have trouble falling asleep even though you feel tired.However, if you experience any of the following symptoms regularly, you may be dealing with a sleep disorder like insomnia: In most cases, such sleep changes are normal and don’t indicate a sleep problem. You may also feel the need to sleep longer at night or take naps throughout the day. Symptoms of InsomniaĪside from becoming more “light sleepers” as we age, it’s common to want to go to sleep earlier in the evening and wake up earlier in the morning. Many people describe it as a feeling of never getting enough rest no matter how hard they try, leaving them groggy and sluggish during the day. This can make them more likely to wake up throughout the night, ultimately leaving them tired in the morning. Older people tend to experience less time in the 'slow-wave' NREM stage. A typical sleep cycle is divided into four stages: two stages of “light” non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, one stage of “slow-wave” or “heavy” NREM sleep, and a final stage of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep before the cycle begins again. When we have less of this hormone, we don't sleep as well. This is significant because melatonin regulates our sleep. For instance, aging adults produce less of a hormone called melatonin. Waking up multiple times in the middle of the nightĪs we get older, our bodies cannot process the sleep-wake systems as well.Some of the most common challenges with sleep as we age include: Some of these changes significantly affect our quality of sleep and sleep patterns. What Changes to Expect With Sleep as You AgeĪs we age, our bodies go through a lot of changes. Not getting enough sleep at night can cause daytime sleepiness and interfere with your daily activities. What is Insomnia?Ī person with insomnia has difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. Up to 48% of older adults experience symptoms of insomnia. Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders in seniors. As we age, this can become a greater problem. Everyone experiences an occasional restless night, but having trouble falling or staying asleep regularly can severely affect your health and well-being.

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