What are the best sleep medications for insomnia?

Up to experience , and sleeplessness affects more than how you feel or function from day to day. It can increase your risk of long-term health conditions, like heart disease and dementia.

If you鈥檝e tried insomnia treatments like and without much improvement, you might be considering sleep medication. But there are some things to keep in mind before you start. , a platform for medication savings, went through all your insomnia treatment options, along with their side effects and risks, so you can choose the best one for you.

Key takeaways:

There are many different types of prescription and over-the-counter sleep medications. Some are better at helping you fall asleep, while others can help you stay asleep.
The best sleep medication for you depends on the type of sleep troubles you have, your age, and your other medical conditions and medications.
Sleep medications come with serious risks and are meant for short-term use. Taking them long term may lead to dependence and other health problems in some cases.
Side effects of sleep medications include memory problems, falls, and even death. So it鈥檚 important to understand the risks before you start taking one.

Which prescription sleep medications are best for insomnia?

The following categories are to help treat insomnia or sleeplessness. It鈥檚 important to work closely with a healthcare professional to choose the best one for you. This is because all the medications below:

Have their own specific and serious risks and aren鈥檛 safe for everyone.
Should be taken for the shortest amount of time possible. Your healthcare team can help monitor how you respond to treatment and how long it鈥檚 safe for you to take the medication.
Work in slightly different ways, depending on the type of sleep problems you have. For example, most sleep medications help you fall asleep rather than stay asleep.

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The term 鈥溾€� refers to a group of medications that have a sedative effect and are commonly used for sleeplessness. They aren鈥檛 intended for daily, long-term use. Common examples include (Ambien) and . They can be taken and usually start working within an hour. Some can last for about eight hours.

For people who wake up in the middle of the night, another option is , a low dose of zolpidem that . Its effects only last for a few hours and is meant for people who wake up halfway through the night and only have about four hours left until they need to get up.

Longer-acting Z-drugs are sometimes prescribed to help people who wake up too early. This is because they last longer in the body. But this also means they may cause more of a hangover sensation the next morning, including drowsiness, grogginess, or a headache. Examples include zolpidem ER (Ambien CR) and (Lunesta).

Side effects: These medications are associated with and risks that you should be aware of before taking them:

They can be habit forming and have a risk of misuse.
Long-term use is linked to an .
Some research has linked them to an , but the research is still inconclusive.
Some people experience hallucinations and vivid while taking them.
While the drug is active in your system, you may perform dangerous activities , like cooking or driving.

Benzodiazepines

are a well-known treatment for anxiety. Their sedative effect can also help people with sleeplessness. But like Z-drugs, they aren鈥檛 intended for regular, long-term use.

Some shorter-acting benzodiazepines, such as or (Halcion), are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat insomnia. Those that are approved for anxiety, such as (Klonopin), might be prescribed when both anxiety and insomnia are issues.

Examples of benzodiazepines that are longer-acting include and (Restoril).

Side effects: The are similar to those of Z-drugs:

They have a high risk of dependence and misuse, even more than Z-drugs.
Long-term use can lead to serious , like delirium and seizures.
Dizziness, confusion, and is a particular concern for older adults.
Research also connects them to short-term memory loss and an .

Ramelteon (Rozerem)

(Rozerem) is a melatonin receptor agonist. It works in the same area of your body as melatonin, the body鈥檚 , to help promote sleep. It works in a to melatonin. This means it鈥檚 better at helping you fall asleep than helping you stay asleep.

Side effects: are generally mild, and it isn鈥檛 habit forming. Common side effects include dizziness, nausea, and next-day drowsiness. Very rarely, people taking ramelteon have reported worsening depression and thoughts of suicide.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, you鈥檙e not alone, and help is available. Call the at 988, or text 鈥淗OME鈥� to 741-741 to reach the .

Trazodone

is an antidepressant. But because it causes drowsiness as a side effect, some healthcare professionals prescribe it off-label at a low dose to help people fall asleep more easily.

Side effects: Common include daytime sleepiness, dry mouth, and dizziness when standing up too quickly. It isn鈥檛 habit forming, but there鈥檚 also a rare but very serious risk of a painful, prolonged erection () in men who take trazodone.

Doxepin (Silenor)

(Silenor) is a that鈥檚 FDA approved to treat insomnia. When used for sleeplessness, it鈥檚 recommended to take of 3 to 6 milligrams. Larger dosages of 10 milligrams or more are approved to treat depression and anxiety.

Side effects: Doxepin isn鈥檛 habit forming, but it does have a number of to consider:

Dry mouth
Constipation
Dizziness
Increased blood pressure or heart rate
Increased risk of falls, especially in older adults

Orexin receptor antagonists

Orexin receptor antagonists (ORAs) are a newer class of sleep medications. They work by blocking , a natural chemical that tells your body it鈥檚 time to wake up. ORAs include (Belsomra) and (Dayvigo).

Side effects: Clinical studies ORAs to be habit forming like other sleep medications. Some people may engage in dangerous activities while sleeping, like walking, driving, or eating. If any of these happen to you, talk to your prescriber about whether an ORA is the best match for your insomnia.

Over-the-counter medications for treating insomnia

are plentiful. But just like prescription sleep medications, it鈥檚 important to consider them with caution. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that people when treating chronic insomnia. But when used sparingly, OTC sleep aids may be an alternative if you don鈥檛 want to take prescription sleep medications.

Most OTC medications for insomnia contain one of the ingredients listed below.

Diphenhydramine

, the active ingredient in Benadryl, is an that鈥檚 found in OTC sleep aids under different names, such as ZzzQuil. Most people who take diphenhydramine get very drowsy within an hour of taking it. It鈥檚 not recommended to take diphenhydramine for sleep for in a row.

Side effects: Diphenhydramine can , such as dizziness, dry mouth, and memory issues. Some research suggests that it鈥檚 linked to an . If you鈥檙e over 65 years of age, you should avoid diphenhydramine because you may have a greater risk of serious side effects, including falls.

Doxylamine

, the active ingredient in most Unisom products, is also an antihistamine. , it stays in your body longer. As with other OTC options, you shouldn鈥檛 take it regularly.

Side effects: Doxylamine has to diphenhydramine and is also not recommended if you鈥檙e over 65 years old.

Melatonin

is the hormone that your body produces as the sun goes down, helping you fall asleep. Many people think of OTC melatonin supplements as a natural way to help with sleeplessness. While it as other sleep medications, researchers are still studying whether it鈥檚 .

Side effects: Since melatonin is considered a supplement, it isn鈥檛 regulated like prescription sleep medications. This means there鈥檚 less information about its possible side effects and long-term safety. There have been reports of people because some bottles contain more melatonin than the label advertises.

Most people seem to tolerate melatonin well. Still, it can cause next-day drowsiness, nausea, and headaches. Some people also experience vivid dreams on nights when they take it.

Natural sleep supplements

In addition to prescription sleep medications and OTC sleep aids, some people prefer supplements as a more . But keep in mind that natural doesn鈥檛 necessarily mean they鈥檙e safer. Like melatonin, these products aren鈥檛 regulated like prescription medications. Before you take a sleep supplement, it鈥檚 important to understand its potential risks and medication interactions.

Examples of that have some research behind them include:

Magnesium: Some studies suggest that and stay asleep. But it can have some side effects, like nausea and diarrhea. If you have kidney problems, you may need to avoid magnesium.
Tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP): Tryptophan is an amino acid that鈥檚 broken down into 5-HTP. The body uses 5-HTP to make serotonin and melatonin. Some people take these supplements .
L-theanine: is an amino acid found naturally in tea leaves. As a supplement, it鈥檚 generally well tolerated and may cause fewer side effects than others on this list.
Cannabidiol (CBD): CBD is one of the active ingredients in cannabis. It doesn鈥檛 cause a high like other active ingredients in the plant. But some research suggests .
Chamomile: For centuries, people have been drinking chamomile tea to help with sleep. Even though modern research is lacking, many people report that it helps them sleep. It鈥檚 less clear whether its active ingredient, apigenin, is helpful as a supplement.聽

When should you take sleep medications?

Take your prescribed medication right before you plan to go to bed. Many people feel its effects of their dose.

Any of these medications can cause a 鈥渉angover鈥� effect the next morning. You might feel groggy or drowsy or have a headache. This is especially true if you wake up before the medication has fully worn off. To lower this risk, make sure you have at least seven to eight hours available for sleep after taking your medication. One exception is sublingual zolpidem, which you can take if you have at least four hours left to sleep.

Risks with sleep medications

Some of the risks of each sleep medication were covered above. But there are a few general precautions to keep in mind, no matter which medication you take.

They can be habit forming

If you take sleep medications every night, your body and mind can become dependent on them to sleep. And the longer you take them, the harder it might be to stop. It can be very difficult to stop taking them if you鈥檝e been taking them for a while.

Older adults should be extra careful

Sleep medications can be particularly . Older adults may have more intense side effects from these medications and may be more likely to become physically dependent on them. Some side effects, like falls, can also have bigger consequences for older adults.

Don鈥檛 mix them with other medications or alcohol

If you drink alcohol or take other , like opioids or muscle relaxers, you should avoid taking sleep medications if possible. Mixing medications such as zolpidem, , and eszopiclone with or other sedating medications is dangerous, and can even be fatal.

Make sure your prescriber knows about all the medications you take, including those prescribed by other healthcare professionals you see.

Frequently asked questions

What is the first-line sleep medication for the elderly?

First-line treatment for is cognitive behavioral therapy rather than sleep medication. If someone over 65 years old needs prescription sleep medication, it鈥檚 usually best to first try low doses of non-habit-forming options, like orexin receptor antagonists (suvorexant or lemborexant), melatonin receptor agonists (ramelteon), or doxepin. A melatonin supplement may also be a good option for some people.

Which medication treats shift work sleep disorder (SWSD)?

Medications that treat are often aimed at helping people stay awake during their shifts. Examples include (Nuvigil) and (Provigil). To help with sleep, strategic light exposure, melatonin supplements, and environmental interventions (like blackout curtains), are often the first-line approaches.

What is the strongest over-the-counter sleep medication?

Antihistamines like diphenhydramine and doxylamine are typically considered the strongest over-the-counter sleep medications. But this means they also come with greater risks, like dizziness, daytime drowsiness, and memory problems.

The bottom line

Insomnia is a common problem, and it can have a significant impact on your life and health. The most effective and safest ways to treat insomnia include good sleep habits and cognitive behavioral therapy. If you think you may need sleep medication, it鈥檚 important to work closely with your healthcare team to choose the safest option for you. Sleep medications come with serious risks, like dependence, potentially dangerous sleep behaviors, and even memory loss. It鈥檚 best to take these medications over the short term to minimize the health risks.

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