Hypnotic drugs induce sleep [ 1 ] , used in the treatment of insomnia and in surgical anesthesia . Because drugs in this class generally produce dose-dependent effects, ranging from anxiolysis to production of unconsciousness, they are often referred to collectively as sedative-hypnotic drugs. more

Hypnotic drugs induce sleep [ 1 ] , used in the treatment of insomnia and in surgical anesthesia . Because drugs in this class generally produce dose-dependent effects, ranging from anxiolysis to production of unconsciousness, they are often referred to collectively as sedative-hypnotic drugs. [ 2 ] Often the treatment of insomnia will not begin with drugs at all. Since many hypnotic drugs are habit-forming, a physician will usually recommend alternative sleeping patterns, sleep hygiene , and exercise before prescribing medication for sleep, due to a large number of factors known to disturb the human sleep pattern. Hypnotic medication when prescribed should be used for the shortest period of time. [ 3 ] The benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic medications also have a number of side effects such as daytime fatigue, motor vehicle crashes, cognitive impairments and falls and fractures. Elderly people are more sensitive to these side effects and a meta analysis found that the risks generally outweigh any marginal benefits of hypnotics in the elderly. [ 4 ] less