Hypnotic

Last updated
Hypnotic
Drug class
Stilnoct2.JPG
Zolpidem tablets, a common but potent hypnotic used for insomnia.
Class identifiers
Synonyms Sedative; Somnifacient; Soporific; Sleeping pill; Sleep aid; Sedative–hypnotic; Hypnotica
Use Insomnia, hypersomnia, narcolepsy
Mechanism of action Various
Biological target Various
Chemical class Various
Legal status
Legal status
  • Variable
In Wikidata

A hypnotic (from Greek Hypnos, sleep [1] ), also known as a somnifacient or soporific, and commonly known as sleeping pills, are a class of psychoactive drugs whose primary function is to induce sleep [2] and to treat insomnia (sleeplessness). Some hypnotics are also used to treat narcolepsy and hypersomnia by improving sleep at night and thereby reducing daytime sleepiness. [3] [4] Certain hypnotics can be used to treat non-restorative sleep and associated symptoms in conditions like fibromyalgia as well. [5] [4] [6] [7]

Contents

This group of drugs is related to sedatives . Whereas the term sedative describes drugs that serve to calm or relieve anxiety, the term hypnotic generally describes drugs whose main purpose is to initiate, sustain, or lengthen sleep. Because these two functions frequently overlap, and because drugs in this class generally produce dose-dependent effects (ranging from anxiolysis to loss of consciousness), they are often referred to collectively as sedative–hypnotic drugs. [8]

Hypnotic drugs are regularly prescribed for insomnia and other sleep disorders, with over 95% of insomnia patients being prescribed hypnotics in some countries. [9] Many hypnotic drugs are habit-forming and—due to many factors known to disturb the human sleep pattern—a physician may instead recommend changes in the environment before and during sleep, better sleep hygiene, the avoidance of caffeine and alcohol or other stimulating substances, or behavioral interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), before prescribing medication for sleep. When prescribed, hypnotic medication should be used for the shortest period of time necessary. [10]

Among individuals with sleep disorders, 13.7% are taking or prescribed nonbenzodiazepines (Z-drugs), while 10.8% are taking benzodiazepines, as of 2010, in the USA. [11] Early classes of drugs, such as barbiturates, have fallen out of use in most practices but are still prescribed for some patients. In children, prescribing hypnotics is not currently acceptable—unless used to treat night terrors or sleepwalking. [12] Elderly people are more sensitive to potential side effects of daytime fatigue and cognitive impairment, and a meta-analysis found that the risks generally outweigh any marginal benefits of hypnotics in the elderly. [13] A review of the literature regarding benzodiazepine hypnotics and Z-drugs concluded that these drugs have adverse effects, such as dependence and accidents, and that optimal treatment uses the lowest effective dose for the shortest therapeutic time, with gradual discontinuation to improve health without worsening of sleep. [14]

Falling outside the above-mentioned categories, the neurohormone melatonin and its analogues (e.g., ramelteon) serve a hypnotic function. [15]

Types

GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines can be useful for short-term treatment of insomnia. Their use beyond 2 to 4 weeks is not recommended due to the risk of dependence. It is preferred that benzodiazepines be taken intermittently and at the lowest effective dose. They improve sleep-related problems by shortening the time spent in bed before falling asleep, prolonging sleep time, and reducing wakefulness. [16] [17] Like alcohol, benzodiazepines are commonly used to treat insomnia in the short-term (both prescribed and self-medicated), but worsen sleep in the long-term. While benzodiazepines can put people to sleep (i.e., inhibit NREM stage 1 and 2 sleep), while asleep, the drugs disrupt sleep architecture by decreasing sleep time, delaying time to REM sleep, and decreasing deep slow-wave sleep (the most restorative part of sleep for both energy and mood). [18] [19] [20]

Other drawbacks of hypnotics, including benzodiazepines, are possible tolerance to their effects, rebound insomnia, and reduced slow-wave sleep and a withdrawal period typified by rebound insomnia and a prolonged period of anxiety and agitation. [21] [22] The list of benzodiazepines approved for the treatment of insomnia is similar among most countries, but which benzodiazepines are officially designated as first-line hypnotics prescribed for the treatment of insomnia can vary distinctly between countries. [17] Longer-acting benzodiazepines, such as nitrazepam and diazepam, have residual effects that may persist into the next day and are, in general, not recommended. [16]

It is not clear whether the newer nonbenzodiazepine (Z-drug) hypnotics are better than the short-acting benzodiazepines. The efficacy of these two groups of medications is similar. [16] [22] According to the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, indirect comparison indicates that side effects from benzodiazepines may be about twice as frequent as from nonbenzodiazepines. [22] Some experts suggest using nonbenzodiazepines preferentially as a first-line long-term treatment of insomnia. [17] However, the UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) did not find any convincing evidence in favor of Z-drugs. A NICE review pointed out that short-acting Z-drugs were inappropriately compared in clinical trials with long-acting benzodiazepines. There have been no trials comparing short-acting Z-drugs with appropriate doses of short-acting benzodiazepines. Based on this, NICE recommended choosing the hypnotic based on cost and the patient's preference. [16]

Older adults should not use benzodiazepines to treat insomnia unless other treatments have failed to be effective. [23] When benzodiazepines are used, patients, their caretakers, and their physician should discuss the increased risk of harms, including evidence which shows twice the incidence of traffic collisions among driving patients, as well as falls and hip fracture for all older patients. [9] [23]

Their mechanism of action is primarily at GABAA receptors. [24]

Nonbenzodiazepines

Nonbenzodiazepines (Z-drugs) are a class of psychoactive drugs that are "benzodiazepine-like" in nature. Nonbenzodiazepine pharmacodynamics are almost entirely the same as benzodiazepine drugs, and therefore entail similar benefits, side effects, and risks. Nonbenzodiazepines, however, have dissimilar or different chemical structures, and are unrelated to benzodiazepines on a molecular level. [25] [26]

Examples include zopiclone (Imovane), eszopiclone (Lunesta), zaleplon (Sonata), and zolpidem (Ambien). Since the generic names of all drugs of this type start with Z, they are often referred to as Z-drugs. [27]

Research on nonbenzodiazepines is new and conflicting. A review by a team of researchers suggests the use of these drugs for people who have trouble falling asleep (but not staying asleep), [note 1] as next-day impairments were minimal. [28] The team noted that the safety of these drugs had been established, but called for more research into their long-term effectiveness in treating insomnia. Other evidence suggests that tolerance to nonbenzodiazepines may be slower to develop than with benzodiazepines.[ failed verification ] A different team was more skeptical, finding little benefit over benzodiazepines. [29]

Barbiturates

Barbiturates are drugs that act as central nervous system depressants, and can therefore produce a broad spectrum of effects, from mild sedation to total anesthesia. They are also effective as anxiolytics, hypnotics, and anticonvulsant effects; however, these effects are somewhat weak, preventing barbiturates from being used in surgery in the absence of other analgesics. They have dependence liability, both physical and psychological. Barbiturates have now largely been replaced by benzodiazepines in routine medical practice – such as in the treatment of anxiety and insomnia – mainly because benzodiazepines are significantly less dangerous in overdose. However, barbiturates are still used in general anesthesia, for epilepsy, and for assisted suicide. The principal mechanism of action of barbiturates is believed to be positive allosteric modulation of GABAA receptors. [30] Barbiturates are derivatives of barbituric acid. Examples include amobarbital, pentobarbital, phenobarbital, secobarbital, and sodium thiopental.

Quinazolinones

Quinazolinones are also a class of drugs that function as hypnotics/sedatives that contain a 4-quinazolinone core. Examples of quinazolinones include cloroqualone, diproqualone, etaqualone (Aolan, Athinazone, Ethinazone), mebroqualone, afloqualone (Arofuto), mecloqualone (Nubarene, Casfen), and methaqualone (Quaalude). This class of drugs has been largely discontinued and is no longer used clinically.

Neurosteroids

Oral progesterone (Prometrium) metabolizes into neurosteroids including allopregnanolone and pregnanolone which act as potent GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators. [31] [32] [33] As a result, oral progesterone can dose-dependently produce side effects including dizziness, drowsiness, sedation, somnolence, fatigue, anxiety reduction, euphoria, and cognitive impairment. [34] [35] [36] For this reason, oral progesterone is often taken at night before bed. [37] Oral progesterone taken before bed has been found to improve multiple sleep outcomes in clinical studies. [38] [39] Zuranolone is a synthetic analogue of allopregnanolone that likewise acts as a GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator but is orally active. [40] It is under development for the treatment of insomnia and is in phase 3 clinical trials for this indication as of September 2025. [41] [42]

Others

Other GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators with hypnotic effects include alcohol (ethanol), chloral hydrate, urethane (ethyl carbamate), isoflurane, allopregnanolone (brexanolone), and propofol, among others. [43] [44]

GABAA receptor agonists

The GABAA receptor agonist gaboxadol (THIP; LU-2-030), a synthetic derivative of the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and an analogue of the alkaloid muscimol, underwent formal clinical development for the treatment of insomnia and reached phase 3 clinical trials for this indication in the 1990s and 2000s. [45] [46] [47] It was found to effectively improve sleep onset and duration in people with insomnia. [45] In addition, and unlike other hypnotics like benzodiazepines, gaboxadol improved slow wave sleep, preserved sleep architecture, and did not suppress REM sleep. [45] Moreover, in contrast to benzodiazepines, tolerance did not appear to develop to gaboxadol's hypnotic effects. [45]

The development of gaboxadol was discontinued in 2007. [47] [48] [49] This was due to high rates of psychiatric and hallucinogenic effects in drug users at supratherapeutic doses, failure of a 3-month efficacy trial, and other cited reasons. [47] [48] [50] Moreover, there was tension concerning hypnotics in the pharmaceutical industry at the time owing to bizarre reports of zolpidem (Ambien)-induced delirium that emerged in the media in 2006, which may have made the developer of gaboxadol more concerned about potential liability issues. [47] According to journalist Hamilton Morris, the discontinuation of gaboxadol's late-stage development may have deprived people with insomnia access to an effective, safe, and non-addictive treatment. [47] There has been some further study of gaboxadol as a hypnotic by David Nutt and colleagues following the discontinuation of its development. [51] [52]

Muscimol, the compound from which gaboxadol was derived, is a naturally occurring constituent of Amanita mushrooms such as Amanita muscaria (fly agaric) and is a potent GABAA receptor agonist similarly. [53] [54] However, muscimol is less selective, more toxic, and far less-researched than gaboxadol. [53] [55] [54] [56] Muscimol is reported to induce sleep in humans in addition to its well-known hallucinogenic effects that occur at sufficiently high doses. [53] [57] The drug shows similar effects on sleep in rodents as gaboxadol. [58] [54] [45] By the mid-2020s, microdosing of muscimol and Amanita mushrooms for claimed therapeutic benefits, the most prominently cited of which is improved sleep, has become increasingly prominent. [53] [59] [60]

GABAB receptor agonists

The GABAB receptor agonist sodium oxybate (SXB; Xyrem), also known as γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), has hypnotic and sleep-improving effects. [3] [61] [5] It robustly increases slow wave sleep (deep sleep), decreases sleep fragmentation, and improves rapid eye movement (REM) sleep consolidation, all whilst preserving physiological sleep architecture. [3] [61] [5] [62] The drug is approved and clinically used in the treatment of narcolepsy and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). [3] [4] Narcolepsy is associated with poor sleep, and sodium oxybate improves sleep quality and stability in the condition, in turn reducing symptoms like daytime sleepiness and cataplexy. [3] [62] The robust enhancement of slow wave sleep by sodium oxybate is unusual and potentially advantageous relative to other hypnotics. [63] [6] [64] In addition, unlike the case of many other hypnotics, tolerance does not appear to develop to the hypnotic effects of sodium oxybate. [65] [4]

Sodium oxybate also completed formal clinical development for fibromyalgia. [5] [66] This condition has very high rates of non-restorative sleep (unrefreshing sleep) that may be directly involved in its symptoms. [67] [68] [6] [69] Sodium oxybate improved sleep in fibromyalgia and showed moderate effectiveness in treating multiple symptoms across the condition including pain and fatigue. [5] However, despite its effectiveness, sodium oxybate was ultimately not approved for treatment of fibromyalgia owing mostly to concerns about possible misuse. [5] Sodium oxybate has also been investigated and been of interest to improve sleep and associated symptoms in other conditions with sleep disruption, such as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID, which also have high rates of non-restorative sleep. [4] [69] [67] [70] In addition, sodium oxybate was limitedly studied to improve insomnia in people with depression or bipolar disorder. [4] However, it was reported to paradoxically disrupt sleep and induce narcolepsy-like changes in these individuals. [4] Moreover, concerns about misuse have limited use of sodium oxybate for other medical conditions. [71] GHB has also garnered a reputation as a date-rape drug, although the actual prevalence of this appears to be much lower than popular perception. [72] [72]

The GABAB receptor agonist baclofen has also been more limitedly investigated for improvement of sleep and has been found to be effective in enhancing sleep similarly to sodium oxybate. [69] [73] [74] However, in people with narcolepsy, baclofen and sodium oxybate both improved sleep but only sodium oxybate reduced daytime sleepiness. [74] In any case, research in this area is limited, and there remains significant interest in baclofen in the potential treatment of sleeping problems. [73] [69] Unlike sodium oxybate, baclofen is not a controlled substance and has much less or no misuse potential. [74] [75] Baclofen and sodium oxybate have been found to activate the GABAB receptor differently, which is thought to underlie the differences in their effects. [74] Another difference between baclofen and sodium oxybate is that baclofen has a much longer elimination half-life and duration of action in comparison (half-life 3–4 hours versus 0.5–1.0 hours, respectively). [73] [76] [75]

GABA reuptake inhibitors

The GABA transporter 1 (GAT-1) and GABA reuptake inhibitor tiagabine (Gabitril) is approved and clinically used as an anticonvulsant. [77] It has also been used off-label in the treatment of anxiety disorders and other conditions. [78] The drug increases γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in the brain and has been found to improve sleep, including by increasing slow wave sleep (deep sleep). [77] [64] In addition, tiagabine has been reported to make sleep feel more restorative and to improve several cognitive outcomes. [77] [64] The drug has an elimination half-life of 5 to 8 hours. [79]

Melatonin receptor agonists

Melatonin, the hormone produced in the pineal gland in the brain and secreted in dim light and darkness, among its other functions, promotes sleep in diurnal mammals. [80] It activates the melatonin MT1 and MT2 receptors to produce beneficial effects on sleep, therefore being used exogenously for mild insomnia. [81] A small improvement in sleep onset and total sleep time by using melatonin has been shown in recent systematic reviews. [82] Synthetic analogues of melatonin, or melatonin receptor agonists, have also been made. Among these, ramelteon and tasimelteon are used for sleep disorders. Agomelatine is an antidepressant of this class, with some studies also reporting an effect on sleep. [83]

Histamine H1 receptor antagonists

Antihistamines, also known as histamine H1 receptor antagonists, are a class of drugs that inhibit action at histamine H1 receptors. They are clinically used to alleviate allergic reactions including allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and urticaria, which are mediated by histamine.[ citation needed ] First-generation antihistamines, such as doxylamine (Unisom) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl), often cause sedation as a side effect, which can be utilized to treat insomnia. Some antihistamines, such as doxylamine, are available for purchase over-the-counter (OTC) in some countries and can be used for the occasional relief of insomnia. [84] Many sedating antihistamines also have anticholinergic activity that can produce side effects like cognitive impairment. [85] [86] Low-dose doxepin (Silenor) is approved by the FDA for the treatment of insomnia. [87] Non-selective hypnotics that possess histamine H1 receptor antagonism include the antidepressants amitriptyline, high-dose doxepin, trazodone, and trimipramine; the antipsychotics olanzapine and quetiapine; and the antihistamines hydroxyzine, promethazine, and cyproheptadine, among others. [85] [88] [89] [90] Second-generation antihistamines such as cetirizine and loratadine produce much less if any sedation due to a greatly reduced capacity to cross the blood–brain barrier. [91]

Orexin receptor antagonists

Orexin receptor antagonists are drugs that block the orexin OX1 and/or OX2 receptors, hence reducing the wakefulness-promoting effects of the orexin system and inducing sleep. [92] Non-selective orexin receptor antagonists including suvorexant, lemborexant, and daridorexant and selective orexin OX2 receptor antagonists like seltorexant have been shown in clinical studies to improve sleep onset, sleep duration, and sleep quality. [93] [94] [95]

Serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonists

Serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonists such as ritanserin, ketanserin, eplivanserin, volinanserin, nelotanserin, and pimavanserin have been studied and developed to improve sleep. [96] [97] They do not improve sleep onset, but have been found to increase slow wave sleep (deep sleep) and reduce nighttime awakenings. [96] [97] Conversely, improvement in subjective sleep ratings have been more mixed. [96] Ultimately no selective serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonists have completed development and achieved marketing approval for treatment of insomnia. [96] The only selective serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonist to be approved for any indication is pimavanserin for treatment of Parkinson's disease psychosis. [97] Besides selective serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonists however, many non-selective agents used as hypnotics show serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonism, for instance antidepressants like trazodone, mirtazapine, and amitriptyline and antipsychotics like quetiapine and olanzapine. [98] [99] [100] [88]

Gabapentinoids

Gabapentinoids, also known as α2δ subunit-containing voltage-gated calcium channel ligands, include drugs like gabapentin, pregabalin, and gabapentin enacarbil. [101] They have been found to increase slow wave sleep (deep sleep) in people with insomnia and healthy individuals. [102] [99] However, they do not appear to improve sleep onset. [102] The gabapentinoid atagabalin (PD-0200390) was under formal development for treatment of insomnia, but development was discontinued following unsatisfactory clinical trial results. [102] PD-0299685 is another gabapentinoid that was under development for the treatment of insomnia, specifically that related to menopausal symptoms, but its development was discontinued similarly. [103] [104]

Cannabinoids

Cannabinoids, or cannabinoid receptor agonists, such as the δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) found in cannabis, have been found to be effective in improving sleep in healthy people and in people with insomnia. [105] [106] They have been found to improve sleep onset, sleep duration, and sleep quality. [105] [106] Cannabidiol (CBD), which acts differently than other cannabinoids like THC, is not effective in improving sleep on the other hand. [105] Zenivol is a cannabis extract which is approved for the treatment of insomnia in Germany. [107] [106]

α1- and β-adrenergic receptor antagonists

The α1-adrenergic receptor antagonist prazosin is used off-label to treat insomnia, nightmares, and poor sleep quality in people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). [108] [109] [110] [111] It is clinically effective for this purpose. [109] [110] [111] However, the drug is also an antihypertensive agent and can lower blood pressure, thereby producing side effects like dizziness and orthostatic hypotension. [108] Certain non-selective hypnotics such as trazodone and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) like amitriptyline and trimipramine are also α1-adrenergic receptor antagonists. [102] [112] [113] The combination of prazosin and the centrally-penetrant beta blocker (β-adrenergic receptor antagonist) timolol has been found to be synergistic in producing sedative and hypnotic effects in animals. [102] [114] Conversely, timolol alone produced no such effects. [102] [114] Centrally active beta blockers like propranolol and metoprolol on their own are not effective or clinically used as hypnotics and have actually been associated with insomnia as a side effect. [115] [116] [117] Certain beta blockers like labetalol and carvedilol also block the α1-adrenergic receptor to varying extents and have been associated with somnolence as a side effect. [88] [118] [119] However, these two beta blockers have also been associated with insomnia similarly to selective beta blockers. [88]

α2-Adrenergic receptor agonists

α2-Adrenergic receptor agonists like clonidine can improve sleep and may be useful in the treatment of insomnia. [102] [120] [121] An example of this is in the treatment of insomnia in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), for instance due stimulant therapy. [120] [121] [122] Similarly to clonidine, the α2-adrenergic receptor agonist dexmedetomidine has sedative and hypnotic effects and is used to produce sedation in hospital settings. [123] The sleep induced by dexmedetomidine is said to closely resemble natural sleep. [123] [124] [125] The selective α2A-adrenergic receptor agonist tasipimidine (ODM-105) is under development for the treatment of insomnia and is in phase 2 clinical trials for this indication as of October 2024. [126] [127] α2-Adrenergic receptor agonists can produce hypotension and bradycardia as side effects, which has limited their use. [128] [123] Activation of the α2A-adrenergic receptor is thought to be responsible for most of the physiological effects of the α2-adrenergic receptors, including hypotension. [126] On the other hand, the preferential α2A-adrenergic receptor agonist guanfacine appears to show less sedation and hypotension than clonidine. [129]

Serotonin precursors

The serotonin precursors tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP; oxitriptan) are available as over-the-counter supplements. [130] [131] They are often used to produce sleepiness and treat insomnia. [130] [131] However, little to no clinical data exist to support their use or effectiveness. [130]

Multiple mechanisms

Antidepressants

Some antidepressants have hypnotic and/or sedative effects. [102] These include the serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI) trazodone, [132] tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) such as amitriptyline, [133] doxepin, [134] and trimipramine, [135] and tetracyclic antidepressants (TeCAs) like mirtazapine [136] [137] and mianserin. [138] [102] These agents produce their hypnotic and sedative effects via multiple mechanisms of action that may include histamine H1 receptor antagonism, serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonism, and α1-adrenergic receptor antagonism. [102] Some hypnotic antidepressants, such as trazodone and mirtazapine, have been shown to enhance slow wave sleep, which may be due to serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonism. [77]

Antipsychotics

Certain typical antipsychotics (first-generation) like chlorpromazine and atypical antipsychotics (second-generation) including clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, ziprasidone, and zotepine may have sedative and/or hypnotic effects and have been used in the treatment of insomnia. [139] [140] However, the most commonly used agents for insomnia are quetiapine and olanzapine. [102] [141] They are thought to produce these effects via multiple mechanisms of action, including histamine H1 receptor antagonism, serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonism, α1-adrenergic receptor antagonism, and/or dopamine D2 receptor antagonism. [102] [139] While some of these drugs are frequently prescribed for insomnia, such use is not recommended unless the insomnia is due to an underlying mental health condition treatable by antipsychotics as the risks frequently outweigh the benefits. [142] [143] Some of the more serious adverse effects have been observed to occur at the low doses used for this off-label prescribing, such as dyslipidemia and neutropenia, [144] [145] [146] [147] and a recent network meta-analysis of 154 double-blind, randomized controlled trials of drug therapies vs. placebo for insomnia in adults found that quetiapine had not demonstrated any short-term benefits in sleep quality. [148]

Herbal supplements

Some herbal supplements, including valerian, kava, chamomile, lavender, passion flower, and hops among others, are purported to have hypnotic effects and are used to treat sleeping problems, but little to no clinical data are available to support their use. [149] [150] [151] [130] [152]

Other drugs

Various other types of drugs have also been found to produce hypnotic-type effects in scientific research. [102] Examples include histamine H3 receptor agonists like α-methylhistamine, BP 2.94, GT-2203 (VUF-5296), and SCH-50971, [153] adenosine A1 and A2A receptor agonists like adenosine and YZG-331, [154] [102] [155] and dopamine D1 receptor receptor antagonists like NNC 01-0687 (ADX-10061, CEE-03-310, NNC-687). [156] [157]

Comparative effectiveness

A major systematic review and network meta-analysis of medications for the treatment of insomnia was published in 2022. [94] It found a widely varying range of effect sizes (standardized mean difference or SMD) in terms of clinical effectiveness for insomnia. [94] The assessed medications and their effect sizes included benzodiazepines (e.g., temazepam, triazolam, many others) (SMDs 0.58 to 0.83), Z-drugs (eszopiclone, zaleplon, zolpidem, zopiclone) (SMDs 0.03 to 0.63), sedative antidepressants and antihistamines (doxepin, doxylamine, trazodone, trimipramine) (SMDs 0.30 to 0.55), the antipsychotic quetiapine (SMD 0.07), orexin receptor antagonists (daridorexant, lemborexant, seltorexant, suvorexant) (SMDs 0.23 to 0.44), and melatonin receptor agonists (melatonin, ramelteon) (SMDs 0.00 to 0.13). [94] The certainty of evidence varied and ranged from high to very low depending on the medication. [94] Certain medications often used as hypnotics, including the antihistamines diphenhydramine, hydroxyzine, and promethazine and the antidepressants amitriptyline and mirtazapine among others, were not included in analyses due to insufficient data. [94]

Risks

The use of sedative medications in older people generally should be avoided. These medications are associated with poorer health outcomes, including cognitive decline, fall, and bone fractures. [158] Sedatives and hypnotics should also be avoided in people with dementia, according to the clinical guidelines known as the Medication Appropriateness Tool for Comorbid Health Conditions in Dementia (MATCH-D). [159] The use of these medications can further impede cognitive function for people with dementia, who are also more sensitive to side effects of medications.[ citation needed ] Some hypnotics, such as low-dose doxepin, melatonin receptor agonists, and orexin receptor antagonists, may be safer and more appropriate in older adults however. [160]

History

Le Vieux Seducteur by Charles Motte [fr].
(A corrupt old man tries to seduce a woman by urging her to take a hypnotic draught in her drink) A corrupt old man tries to seduce a woman by urging Wellcome L0034228.jpg
Le Vieux Séducteur by Charles Motte  [ fr ].
(A corrupt old man tries to seduce a woman by urging her to take a hypnotic draught in her drink)

Hypnotica was a class of somniferous drugs and substances tested in medicine of the 1890s and later. These include urethan, acetal, methylal, sulfonal, paraldehyde, amylenhydrate, hypnon, chloralurethan, ohloralamid, or chloralimid. [161]

Research about using medications to treat insomnia evolved throughout the last half of the 20th century. Treatment for insomnia in psychiatry dates back to 1869, when chloral hydrate was first used as a soporific. [162] Barbiturates emerged as the first class of drugs in the early 1900s, [163] after which chemical substitution allowed derivative compounds. Although they were the best drug family at the time (with less toxicity and fewer side effects), they were dangerous in overdose and tended to cause physical and psychological dependence. [164] [165] [166]

During the 1970s, quinazolinones [167] and benzodiazepines were introduced as safer alternatives to replace barbiturates; by the late 1970s, benzodiazepines emerged as the safer drug. [162]

Benzodiazepines are not without their drawbacks; substance dependence is possible, and deaths from overdoses sometimes occur, especially in combination with alcohol or other depressants. Questions have been raised as to whether they disturb sleep architecture. [168]

Nonbenzodiazepines or Z-drugs like zolpidem were introduced in the 1990s and 2000s. Although it is clear that they are less toxic than barbiturates, their predecessors, comparative efficacy over benzodiazepines has not been established. Such efficacy is hard to determine without longitudinal studies. However, some psychiatrists recommend these drugs, citing research suggesting they are equally potent with less potential for abuse. [25]

Orexin receptor antagonists like suvorexant were introduced in the 2010s and 2020s. [169]

See also

Notes

  1. Because the drugs have a shorter elimination half life they are metabolized more quickly: nonbenzodiazepines zaleplon and zolpidem have a half-life of 1 and 2 hours (respectively); for comparison, the benzodiazepine clonazepam has a half-life of about 30 hours. This makes the drug suitable for sleep-onset difficulty, but the team noted sustained sleep efficacy was unclear.

References

  1. "Definition of HYPNOTIC". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  2. "Dorlands Medical Dictionary:hypnotic". Mercksource.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-11.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Mayer G (May 2012). "The use of sodium oxybate to treat narcolepsy". Expert Rev Neurother. 12 (5): 519–529. doi:10.1586/ern.12.42. PMID   22550980.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Broughton, Roger (2015). "Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (Sodium Oxybate): From the Initial Synthesis to the Treatment of Narcolepsy–Cataplexy and Beyond". Sleep Medicine. New York, NY: Springer New York. pp. 557–571. doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-2089-1_63. ISBN   978-1-4939-2088-4 . Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Staud R (August 2011). "Sodium oxybate for the treatment of fibromyalgia". Expert Opin Pharmacother. 12 (11): 1789–1798. doi:10.1517/14656566.2011.589836. PMID   21679091.
  6. 1 2 3 Moldofsky H (March 2008). "The significance, assessment, and management of nonrestorative sleep in fibromyalgia syndrome". CNS Spectr. 13 (3 Suppl 5): 22–26. doi:10.1017/s1092852900026808. PMID   18323770.
  7. Moldofsky, Harvey (2015). "Nonrestorative Sleep, Musculoskeletal Pain, Fatigue in Rheumatic Disorders, and Allied Syndromes: A Historical Perspective". Sleep Medicine. New York, NY: Springer New York. pp. 423–431. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2089-1_48 . ISBN   978-1-4939-2088-4. PMC   7122008 .
  8. Brunton LL, Parker K, Lazo KL, Buxton I, Blumenthal D (2006). "17: Hypnotics and Sedatives". Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics (11th ed.). The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. ISBN   978-0-07-146804-6 . Retrieved 2014-02-06.
  9. 1 2 National Prescribing Service (2 February 2010). "NPS News 67: Addressing hypnotic medicines use in primary care". Archived from the original on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  10. Mendels J (September 1991). "Criteria for selection of appropriate benzodiazepine hypnotic therapy". The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 52. 52 (Suppl): 42–46. PMID   1680126.
  11. Kaufmann CN, Spira AP, Alexander GC, Rutkow L, Mojtabai R (June 2016). "Trends in prescribing of sedative-hypnotic medications in the USA: 1993-2010". Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety. 25 (6): 637–645. doi:10.1002/pds.3951. PMC   4889508 . PMID   26711081.
  12. Gelder M, Mayou R, Geddes J (2005). Psychiatry (3rd ed.). New York: Oxford. p. 238.
  13. Glass J, Lanctôt KL, Herrmann N, Sproule BA, Busto UE (November 2005). "Sedative hypnotics in older people with insomnia: meta-analysis of risks and benefits". BMJ. 331 (7526): 1169. doi:10.1136/bmj.38623.768588.47. PMC   1285093 . PMID   16284208.
  14. "What's wrong with prescribing hypnotics?". Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin. 42 (12): 89–93. December 2004. doi:10.1136/dtb.2004.421289. PMID   15587763. S2CID   40188442.
  15. Zhdanova IV (February 2005). "Melatonin as a hypnotic: pro". Sleep Medicine Reviews. 9 (1): 51–65. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2004.04.003. PMID   15649738.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "Technology Appraisal Guidance 77. Guidance on the use of zaleplon, zolpidem and zopiclone for the short-term management of insomnia" (PDF). National Institute for Clinical Excellence. April 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2009-07-26.
  17. 1 2 3 Ramakrishnan K, Scheid DC (August 2007). "Treatment options for insomnia". American Family Physician. 76 (4): 517–526. PMID   17853625.
  18. Ashton H (May 2005). "The diagnosis and management of benzodiazepine dependence". Current Opinion in Psychiatry. 18 (3): 249–255. doi:10.1097/01.yco.0000165594.60434.84. PMID   16639148. S2CID   1709063.
  19. Morin CM, Bélanger L, Bastien C, Vallières A (January 2005). "Long-term outcome after discontinuation of benzodiazepines for insomnia: a survival analysis of relapse". Behaviour Research and Therapy. 43 (1): 1–14. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2003.12.002. PMID   15531349.
  20. Poyares D, Guilleminault C, Ohayon MM, Tufik S (2004-06-01). "Chronic benzodiazepine usage and withdrawal in insomnia patients". Journal of Psychiatric Research. 38 (3): 327–334. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2003.10.003. PMID   15003439.
  21. Maiuro RD (13 December 2009). Handbook of Integrative Clinical Psychology, Psychiatry, and Behavioral Medicine: Perspectives, Practices, and Research. Springer Publishing Company. pp. 128–30. ISBN   978-0-8261-1094-7.
  22. 1 2 3 Buscemi N, Vandermeer B, Friesen C, Bialy L, Tubman M, Ospina M, et al. (June 2005). "Manifestations and management of chronic insomnia in adults". Evidence Report/Technology Assessment (125). Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: 1–10. doi:10.1037/e439752005-001. PMC   4781279 . PMID   15989374.
  23. 1 2 American Geriatrics Society. "Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question". Choosing Wisely: an initiative of the ABIM Foundation . American Geriatrics Society. Retrieved August 1, 2013., which cites
  24. Olsen RW, Betz H (2006). "GABA and glycine". In Siegel GJ, Albers RW, Brady S, Price DD (eds.). Basic Neurochemistry: Molecular, Cellular and Medical Aspects (7th ed.). Elsevier. pp. 291–302. ISBN   978-0-12-088397-4.
  25. 1 2 Wagner J, Wagner ML, Hening WA (June 1998). "Beyond benzodiazepines: alternative pharmacologic agents for the treatment of insomnia". The Annals of Pharmacotherapy. 32 (6): 680–691. doi:10.1345/aph.17111. PMID   9640488. S2CID   34250754.
  26. Siriwardena AN, Qureshi Z, Gibson S, Collier S, Latham M (December 2006). "GPs' attitudes to benzodiazepine and 'Z-drug' prescribing: a barrier to implementation of evidence and guidance on hypnotics". The British Journal of General Practice. 56 (533): 964–967. PMC   1934058 . PMID   17132386.
  27. Ryba, Nicole; Rainess, Rebecca (2020). "Z-drugs and Falls: A Focused Review of the Literature". The Senior Care Pharmacist. 35 (12): 549–554. doi:10.4140/tcp.n.2020.549. PMID   33258763.
  28. Benca RM (March 2005). "Diagnosis and treatment of chronic insomnia: a review". Psychiatric Services. 56 (3): 332–343. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.56.3.332. PMID   15746509. Evidence for the utility of currently available nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics points to their primary efficacy as sleep-onset, rather than as sleep-maintenance, agents. Once again, longer-term randomized, double-blind, controlled studies that demonstrate the efficacy of these agents have not been performed, but safety over the longer term has been demonstrated in open-label studies, with minimal evidence of rebound phenomena. By comparison with benzodiazepines, there has been less evidence of subjective and objective next-day residual effects associated with zolpidem or subjective next-day impairment with zaleplon, even when the latter has been delivered in the middle of the night.
  29. Wagner J, Wagner ML, Hening WA (June 1998). "Beyond benzodiazepines: alternative pharmacologic agents for the treatment of insomnia". The Annals of Pharmacotherapy. 32 (6): 680–691. doi:10.1345/aph.17111. PMID   9640488. S2CID   34250754. New developments in benzodiazepine receptor pharmacology have introduced novel nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics that provide comparable efficacy to benzodiazepines. Although they may possess theoretical advantages over benzodiazepines based on their unique pharmacologic profiles, they offer few, if any, significant advantages in terms of adverse effects.
  30. Löscher W, Rogawski MA (December 2012). "How theories evolved concerning the mechanism of action of barbiturates". Epilepsia. 53 (Suppl 8): 12–25. doi: 10.1111/epi.12025 . PMID   23205959. S2CID   4675696.
  31. Goletiani NV, Keith DR, Gorsky SJ (2007). "Progesterone: review of safety for clinical studies". Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 15 (5): 427–444. doi:10.1037/1064-1297.15.5.427. PMID   17924777.
  32. Piette PC (November 2020). "The pharmacodynamics and safety of progesterone". Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 69: 13–29. doi:10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2020.06.002. PMID   32739288.
  33. Bäckström T, Das R, Bixo M (February 2022). "Positive GABAA receptor modulating steroids and their antagonists: Implications for clinical treatments". J Neuroendocrinol. 34 (2) e13013. doi:10.1111/jne.13013. PMID   34337790.
  34. Wang-Cheng R, Neuner JM, Barnabei VM (2007). Menopause. ACP Press. p. 97. ISBN   978-1-930513-83-9.
  35. Bergemann N, Ariecher-Rössler A (27 December 2005). Estrogen Effects in Psychiatric Disorders. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 179. ISBN   978-3-211-27063-9.
  36. Bäckström T, Bixo M, Johansson M, Nyberg S, Ossewaarde L, Ragagnin G, Savic I, Strömberg J, Timby E, van Broekhoven F, van Wingen G (2014). "Allopregnanolone and mood disorders". Prog. Neurobiol. 113: 88–94. doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2013.07.005. PMID   23978486. S2CID   207407084.
  37. Stein DG (June 2005). "The case for progesterone". Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1052 (1): 152–169. Bibcode:2005NYASA1052..152S. doi:10.1196/annals.1347.011. PMID   16024758.
  38. Nolan BJ, Liang B, Cheung AS (March 2021). "Efficacy of Micronized Progesterone for Sleep: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trial Data". J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 106 (4): 942–951. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgaa873. PMID   33245776.
  39. Mirkin S (August 2018). "Evidence on the use of progesterone in menopausal hormone therapy". Climacteric. 21 (4): 346–354. doi:10.1080/13697137.2018.1455657. PMID   29630427.
  40. Marecki R, Kałuska J, Kolanek A, Hakało D, Waszkiewicz N (2023). "Zuranolone - synthetic neurosteroid in treatment of mental disorders: narrative review". Front Psychiatry. 14 1298359. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1298359 . PMC   10729607 . PMID   38116383.
  41. Kim WJ, Kim HS (March 2024). "Emerging and upcoming therapies in insomnia". Transl Clin Pharmacol. 32 (1): 1–17. doi:10.12793/tcp.2024.32.e5. PMC   10990727 . PMID   38586124.
  42. "Biogen/SAGE Therapeutics". AdisInsight. 22 September 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  43. Lu J, Greco MA (April 2006). "Sleep circuitry and the hypnotic mechanism of GABAA drugs". J Clin Sleep Med. 2 (2): S19 –S26. doi:10.5664/jcsm.26527. PMID   17557503.
  44. Pleuvry, Barbara J (2004). "Anxiolytics and hypnotics". Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine. 5 (8): 252–256. doi:10.1383/anes.5.8.252.43294 . Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  45. 1 2 3 4 5 Wafford KA, Ebert B (February 2006). "Gaboxadol--a new awakening in sleep". Curr Opin Pharmacol. 6 (1): 30–36. doi:10.1016/j.coph.2005.10.004. PMID   16368265.
  46. Sorbera, L.A.; Castaner, J.; Silvestre, J.S. (2004). "Gaboxadol". Drugs of the Future. 29 (5): 0449. doi:10.1358/dof.2004.029.05.803754 . Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  47. 1 2 3 4 5 Morris, Hamilton (2013). "Gaboxadol, by Hamilton Morris". Harper's Magazine. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  48. 1 2 "Merck, Lundbeck scrap insomnia drug after trials". Reuters. 9 August 2007. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  49. "Merck & Co and Lundbeck's sleep drug terminated in Phase III". PharmaTimes. 29 March 2007. Retrieved 30 September 2025. The firms said they are discontinuing studies of the because data from recently-completed Phase III studies suggest that the overall clinical profile for gaboxadol in insomnia does not support further development. As a result of this new information, Merck and Lundbeck added that they will not file gaboxadol with the US Food and Drug Administration, or any other regulatory agencies worldwide, and are terminating the project.
  50. https://web.archive.org/web/20071017080433/https://www.lundbeck.com/investor/Presentations/Teleconference/Teleconference_gaboxadol_20070328.pdf
  51. Nutt DJ (March 2025). "Drug development in psychiatry: 50 years of failure and how to resuscitate it". Lancet Psychiatry. 12 (3): 228–238. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00370-5. PMID   39952266.
  52. Nutt D, Wilson S, Lingford-Hughes A, Myers J, Papadopoulos A, Muthukumaraswamy S (January 2015). "Differences between magnetoencephalographic (MEG) spectral profiles of drugs acting on GABA at synaptic and extrasynaptic sites: a study in healthy volunteers". Neuropharmacology. 88: 155–163. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.08.017. PMID   25195191.
  53. 1 2 3 4 Rivera-Illanes D, Recabarren-Gajardo G (September 2024). "Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Muscimol". ACS Chem Neurosci. 15 (18): 3257–3269. doi:10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00304. PMID   39254100.
  54. 1 2 3 Johnston GA (October 2014). "Muscimol as an ionotropic GABA receptor agonist" (PDF). Neurochem Res. 39 (10): 1942–1947. doi:10.1007/s11064-014-1245-y. PMID   24473816. We now know that muscimol is a potent agonist at GABAA receptors, a potent partial agonist at GABAC receptors and inactive at GABAB receptors. Unlike bicuculline and TPMPA, it does not distinguish between GABAA and GABAC receptors. It is a weak inhibitor/substrate of GABA uptake and not a substrate for GABA transaminase [18–21].
  55. Frølund B, Ebert B, Kristiansen U, Liljefors T, Krogsgaard-Larsen P (August 2002). "GABA(A) receptor ligands and their therapeutic potentials". Curr Top Med Chem. 2 (8): 817–832. doi:10.2174/1568026023393525. PMID   12171573. The fact that muscimol is a non-specific GABAA receptor agonist [38, 39], a substrate for the GABA-metabolizing enzyme, GABA transaminase [40], and moreover a neurotoxin, makes the compound therapeutically less valuable. [...] Further conformational restriction of the GABA structural element in muscimol has been achieved by incorporating the amino group into a piperidine ring leading to the bicyclic analogue, THIP, a specific GABAA agonist [11]. THIP has been shown to be devoid of the neurotoxic properties of muscimol and, in contrast to muscimol, is metabolically stable.
  56. Morris H (9 January 2018). "A Fungal Fairy Tale". Hamilton's Pharmacopeia . Season 2. Episode 7. Vice Media. Viceland.
  57. Stebelska K (August 2013). "Fungal hallucinogens psilocin, ibotenic acid, and muscimol: analytical methods and biologic activities". Ther Drug Monit. 35 (4): 420–442. doi:10.1097/FTD.0b013e31828741a5. PMID   23851905.
  58. Krogsgaard-Larsen P, Frølund B, Liljefors T, Ebert B (October 2004). "GABA(A) agonists and partial agonists: THIP (Gaboxadol) as a non-opioid analgesic and a novel type of hypnotic". Biochem Pharmacol. 68 (8): 1573–1580. doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2004.06.040. PMID   15451401.
  59. Savickaitė E, Laubner-Sakalauskienė G (2025). "Emerging Risks of Amanita Muscaria: Case Reports on Increasing Consumption and Health Risks". Acta Med Litu. 32 (1): 182–189. doi:10.15388/Amed.2025.32.1.23. PMC   12239171 . PMID   40641545.
  60. Hartwig J, Kendrick J, Ahmad G, Cook J, Matthews DB, Sharma P (2025). "Exploring User Experiences with Amanita muscaria: A Thematic Analysis of Reddit Online Forum Discussions". Subst Use Misuse. 60 (7): 952–961. doi:10.1080/10826084.2025.2476141. PMID   40057818. The commonly reported reason for Amanita muscaria use was to improve sleep.
  61. 1 2 Swick TJ (August 2011). "Sodium oxybate: a potential new pharmacological option for the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome". Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 3 (4): 167–178. doi:10.1177/1759720X11411599. PMC   3382678 . PMID   22870476. In addition SXB has been shown to robustly increase slow wave sleep and decrease sleep fragmentation. Several large clinical trials have demonstrated SXB's ability to statistically improve pain, fatigue and a wide array of quality of life measurements of patients with fibromyalgia.
  62. 1 2 Roth T, Dauvilliers Y, Bogan RK, Plazzi G, Black J (February 2024). "Effects of oxybate dose and regimen on disrupted nighttime sleep and sleep architecture". Sleep Med. 114: 255–265. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2023.12.015. PMID   38244463.
  63. Dijk DJ (June 2010). "Slow-wave sleep deficiency and enhancement: implications for insomnia and its management". World J Biol Psychiatry. 11 Suppl 1: 22–28. doi:10.3109/15622971003637645. PMID   20509829. It is well established that benzodiazepines and to a lesser extent the Z-drugs, like zolpidem and zopiclone, suppress SWA and low-frequency EEG activity in the EEG during nonREM sleep and enhance high-frequency activity, in particular in the frequency range of sleep spindles (Lancel 1999). However, several compounds have been shown to increase SWS including, GAT-1 inhibitors, such as tiagabine (Mathias et al. 2001), GABA-A agonists such as gaboxadol, which bind to the extrasynaptic GABA-A receptor (Walsh et al. 2007; Dijk et al. 2009b), GABA-B modulators, such as GHB (Pardi and Black 2006) and 5HT 2A antagonists such as seganserin and eplivanserin (Dijk et al. 1989a; Landolt et al. 1999).
  64. 1 2 3 Zhang Y, Gruber R (March 2019). "Can Slow-Wave Sleep Enhancement Improve Memory? A Review of Current Approaches and Cognitive Outcomes". Yale J Biol Med. 92 (1): 63–80. PMC   6430170 . PMID   30923474.
  65. Scharf MB (August 2006). "Sodium oxybate for narcolepsy". Expert Rev Neurother. 6 (8): 1139–1146. doi:10.1586/14737175.6.8.1139. PMID   16893342.
  66. Spaeth M, Bennett RM, Benson BA, Wang YG, Lai C, Choy EH (June 2012). "Sodium oxybate therapy provides multidimensional improvement in fibromyalgia: results of an international phase 3 trial". Ann Rheum Dis. 71 (6): 935–942. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2011-200418. PMC   3371223 . PMID   22294641.
  67. 1 2 Wilkinson K, Shapiro C (June 2012). "Nonrestorative sleep: symptom or unique diagnostic entity?". Sleep Med. 13 (6): 561–569. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2012.02.002. PMID   22560828.
  68. Stone KC, Taylor DJ, McCrae CS, Kalsekar A, Lichstein KL (August 2008). "Nonrestorative sleep". Sleep Med Rev. 12 (4): 275–288. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2007.12.002. PMID   18539057.
  69. 1 2 3 4 Lee, Elliott K; Auger, R. Robert (23 April 2024). "Sleep and Long COVID—A Review and Exploration of Sleep Disturbances in Post Acute Sequelae of SARS-COV-2 (PASC) and Therapeutic Possibilities". Current Sleep Medicine Reports. 10 (2): 169–180. doi:10.1007/s40675-024-00299-4. ISSN   2198-6401 . Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  70. Spitzer AR, Broadman M (2010). "Treatment of the narcoleptiform sleep disorder in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia with sodium oxybate". Pain Pract. 10 (1): 54–59. doi:10.1111/j.1533-2500.2009.00334.x. PMID   20629967.
  71. Busardò FP, Kyriakou C, Napoletano S, Marinelli E, Zaami S (December 2015). "Clinical applications of sodium oxybate (GHB): from narcolepsy to alcohol withdrawal syndrome". Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 19 (23): 4654–4563. PMID   26698265.
  72. 1 2 Felmlee MA, Morse BL, Morris ME (January 2021). "γ-Hydroxybutyric Acid: Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Toxicology". AAPS J. 23 (1) 22. doi:10.1208/s12248-020-00543-z. PMC   8098080 . PMID   33417072.
  73. 1 2 3 Brown MA, Guilleminault C (2011). "A review of sodium oxybate and baclofen in the treatment of sleep disorders". Curr Pharm Des. 17 (15): 1430–1435. doi:10.2174/138161211796197098. PMID   21476957.
  74. 1 2 3 4 Wellendorph P, Gauger SJ, Andersen JV, Kornum BR, Solbak SM, Frølund B (July 2025). "International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. CXX. γ-Hydroxybutyrate protein targets in the mammalian brain-beyond classic receptors". Pharmacol Rev. 77 (4) 100064. doi:10.1016/j.pharmr.2025.100064. PMID   40449125.
  75. 1 2 Kent CN, Park C, Lindsley CW (June 2020). "Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Baclofen". ACS Chem Neurosci. 11 (12): 1740–1755. doi:10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00254. PMID   32436697.
  76. Kothare, Sanjeev V.; Kaleyias, Joseph (2010). "Pharmacotherapy of Narcolepsy: Focus on Sodium Oxybate". Clinical Medicine Insights: Therapeutics. 2 CMT.S1087. doi: 10.4137/CMT.S1087 . ISSN   1179-559X.
  77. 1 2 3 4 Walsh JK (April 2009). "Enhancement of slow wave sleep: implications for insomnia". J Clin Sleep Med. 5 (2 Suppl): S27–32. doi:10.5664/jcsm.5.2S.S27. PMC   2824211 . PMID   19998872.
  78. Schwartz TL, Nihalani N (October 2006). "Tiagabine in anxiety disorders". Expert Opin Pharmacother. 7 (14): 1977–1987. doi:10.1517/14656566.7.14.1977. PMID   17020423.
  79. Brodie MJ (1995). "Tiagabine pharmacology in profile". Epilepsia. 36 Suppl 6: S7 –S9. doi:10.1111/j.1528-1157.1995.tb06015.x. PMID   8595791.
  80. Arendt J, Skene DJ (February 2005). "Melatonin as a chronobiotic". Sleep Medicine Reviews. 9 (1): 25–39. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2004.05.002. PMID   15649736.
  81. Liu, Jiabei; Clough, Shannon J.; Hutchinson, Anthony J.; Adamah-Biassi, Ekue B.; Popovska-Gorevski, Marina; Dubocovich, Margarita L. (2016). "MT1 and MT2 Melatonin Receptors: A Therapeutic Perspective". Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology. 56: 361–383. doi:10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-010814-124742. ISSN   1545-4304. PMC   5091650 . PMID   26514204.
  82. Low, Tian Ling; Choo, Faith Nadine; Tan, Shian Ming (2020). "The efficacy of melatonin and melatonin agonists in insomnia - An umbrella review". Journal of Psychiatric Research. 121: 10–23. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.10.022. ISSN   1879-1379. PMID   31715492. S2CID   207949129.
  83. Williams WP, McLin DE, Dressman MA, Neubauer DN (September 2016). "Comparative Review of Approved Melatonin Agonists for the Treatment of Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorders". Pharmacotherapy. 36 (9): 1028–41. doi:10.1002/phar.1822. PMC   5108473 . PMID   27500861.
  84. Culpepper, Larry; Wingertzahn, Mark A. (2015). "Over-the-Counter Agents for the Treatment of Occasional Disturbed Sleep or Transient Insomnia: A Systematic Review of Efficacy and Safety". The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders. 17 (6). doi:10.4088/PCC.15r01798. ISSN   2155-7772. PMC   4805417 . PMID   27057416.
  85. 1 2 Vande Griend JP, Anderson SL (2012). "Histamine-1 receptor antagonism for treatment of insomnia". J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 52 (6): e210 –e219. doi:10.1331/JAPhA.2012.12051. PMID   23229983.
  86. Nerush MO, Shevyrin VA, Golushko NI, Moskalenko AM, Rosemberg DB, De Abreu MS, Yang LE, Galstyan DS, Lim LW, Demin KA, Kalueff AV (November 2024). "Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Deliriant Antihistaminic Drugs". ACS Chem Neurosci. 15 (21): 3848–3862. doi:10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00505. PMID   39404616.
  87. "Pharmacotherapy for insomnia in adults". www.uptodate.com. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  88. 1 2 3 4 Van Gastel A (September 2022). "Drug-Induced Insomnia and Excessive Sleepiness". Sleep Med Clin. 17 (3): 471–484. doi:10.1016/j.jsmc.2022.06.011. PMID   36150808.
  89. Ekambaram V, Owens J (January 2021). "Medications Used for Pediatric Insomnia". Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 30 (1): 85–99. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2020.09.001. PMID   33223070.
  90. Badr B, Naguy A (October 2022). "Cyproheptadine: a psychopharmacological treasure trove?". CNS Spectr. 27 (5): 533–535. doi:10.1017/S1092852921000250. PMID   33632345.
  91. Slater, J. W.; Zechnich, A. D.; Haxby, D. G. (1999). "Second-generation antihistamines: a comparative review". Drugs. 57 (1): 31–47. doi:10.2165/00003495-199957010-00004. ISSN   0012-6667. PMID   9951950. S2CID   46984477.
  92. Mieda, Michihiro; Tsujino, Natsuko; Sakurai, Takeshi (2013). "Differential roles of orexin receptors in the regulation of sleep/wakefulness". Frontiers in Endocrinology. 4: 57. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2013.00057 . ISSN   1664-2392. PMC   3656340 . PMID   23730297.
  93. Kishi T, Ikuta T, Citrome L, Sakuma K, Hatano M, Hamanaka S, Nishii Y, Iwata N (June 2025). "Comparative efficacy and safety of daridorexant, lemborexant, and suvorexant for insomnia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis". Transl Psychiatry. 15 (1) 211. doi:10.1038/s41398-025-03439-8. PMC   12187915 . PMID   40555730.
  94. 1 2 3 4 5 6 De Crescenzo F, D'Alò GL, Ostinelli EG, Ciabattini M, Di Franco V, Watanabe N, et al. (July 2022). "Comparative effects of pharmacological interventions for the acute and long-term management of insomnia disorder in adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis". Lancet. 400 (10347): 170–184. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00878-9 . hdl: 11380/1288245 . PMID   35843245. S2CID   250536370.
  95. Mesens S, Krystal AD, Melkote R, Xu H, Pandina G, Saoud JB, Luthringer R, Savitz A, Drevets WC (August 2025). "Efficacy and Safety of Seltorexant in Insomnia Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial". JAMA Psychiatry. 82 (10): 967–976. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2025.1999. PMC   12351464 . PMID   40802194.
  96. 1 2 3 4 Vanover KE, Davis RE (2010). "Role of 5-HT2A receptor antagonists in the treatment of insomnia". Nat Sci Sleep. 2: 139–150. doi: 10.2147/nss.s6849 . PMC   3630942 . PMID   23616706.
  97. 1 2 3 Monti, Jaime M.; Torterolo, Pablo; Spence, David Warren; Pandi-Perumal, Seithikurippu R. (6 November 2017). "Selective Serotonin 5-HT2A Receptor Antagonists and Inverse Agonists Specifically Promote Slow Wave Sleep (Stage N3) in Man". Sleep and Vigilance. 2 (1): 23–31. doi:10.1007/s41782-017-0024-7. ISSN   2510-2265 . Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  98. Schwartz TL, Goradia V (October 2013). "Managing insomnia: an overview of insomnia and pharmacologic treatment strategies in use and on the horizon". Drugs Context. 2013 212257. doi:10.7573/dic.212257. PMC   3884958 . PMID   24432044.
  99. 1 2 DeMartinis NA, Winokur A (February 2007). "Effects of psychiatric medications on sleep and sleep disorders". CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 6 (1): 17–29. doi:10.2174/187152707779940835. PMID   17305551.
  100. Dujardin S, Pijpers A, Pevernagie D (September 2022). "Prescription Drugs Used in Insomnia". Sleep Med Clin. 17 (3): 315–328. doi:10.1016/j.jsmc.2022.06.001. PMID   36150797.
  101. Athavale A, Murnion B (December 2023). "Gabapentinoids: a therapeutic review". Aust Prescr. 46 (4): 80–85. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2023.025. PMC   10751078 . PMID   38152314.
  102. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Atkin T, Comai S, Gobbi G (April 2018). "Drugs for Insomnia beyond Benzodiazepines: Pharmacology, Clinical Applications, and Discovery". Pharmacol Rev. 70 (2): 197–245. doi:10.1124/pr.117.014381. PMID   29487083.
  103. Lewis V (November 2009). "Undertreatment of menopausal symptoms and novel options for comprehensive management". Curr Med Res Opin. 25 (11): 2689–2698. doi:10.1185/03007990903240519. PMID   19775194. PD-299685: A nonhormonal agent related to the alpha-2-delta receptor binding, PD-299685, is currently under development for the treatment of menopausal hot flushes and insomnia.
  104. "PD 0299685". AdisInsight. 5 November 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  105. 1 2 3 da Silva GH, Barbosa EC, de Lima FR, Barroso DC, Paez LE, Guimarães FB, Lança SB, de Faria SB, Petrucci AB, Garbacka A, Walsh JH (August 2025). "Effectiveness of cannabinoids on subjective sleep quality in people with and without insomnia or poor sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised studies". Sleep Med Rev. 84 102156. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2025.102156. PMID   40929927.
  106. 1 2 3 Lavender I, McGregor IS, Suraev A, Grunstein RR, Hoyos CM (August 2022). "Cannabinoids, Insomnia, and Other Sleep Disorders". Chest. 162 (2): 452–465. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2022.04.151. PMID   35537535. The most robustly designed study to date examined the safety and efficacy of the cannabinoid formulation ZTL101 (D9-THC 10 mg, CBN 1 mg, and CBD 0.5 mg) relative to placebo in a sample of 23 patients with chronic insomnia disorder.11 Participants self-administered ZTL-101 one hour prior to bedtime for 2 weeks, with the option to double the dose after the fourth night (52% of participants increased the dose). ZTL-101 improved subjective sleep quality by 5.1 points (95% CI, –7.3 to –2.9) on the Insomnia Severity Index and improved self-reported sleep-onset latency, total sleep time, subjective sleep quality, and feelings of rest upon waking. Actigraphy measures indicated reduced wake following sleep onset and increased total sleep time; however, no differences in polysomnography indexes were observed.11 Headaches, xerostomia, dizziness, and "feeling abnormal" were reported more frequently with active treatment (n = 17) than with placebo (n = 4), but these adverse events were self-limiting and did not persist upon wake.
  107. "Cannabidiol/tetrahydrocannabinol". AdisInsight. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  108. 1 2 Krystal AD (December 2015). "New Developments in Insomnia Medications of Relevance to Mental Health Disorders". Psychiatr Clin North Am. 38 (4): 843–860. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2015.08.001. PMC   5972036 . PMID   26600112.
  109. 1 2 Mendes TP, Pereira BG, Coutinho ES, Melani MS, Neylan TC, Berger W (January 2025). "Factors impacting prazosin efficacy for nightmares and insomnia in PTSD patients - a systematic review and meta-regression analysis". Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 136 111253. doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2025.111253. PMID   39828080.
  110. 1 2 Lappas AS, Glarou E, Polyzopoulou ZA, Goss G, Huhn M, Samara MT, Christodoulou NG (July 2024). "Pharmacotherapy for sleep disturbances in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): A network meta-analysis". Sleep Med. 119: 467–479. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2024.05.032. PMID   38795401.
  111. 1 2 Maher MJ, Rego SA, Asnis GM (2006). "Sleep disturbances in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder: epidemiology, impact and approaches to management". CNS Drugs. 20 (7): 567–590. doi:10.2165/00023210-200620070-00003. PMID   16800716.
  112. Feighner JP (1999). "Mechanism of action of antidepressant medications". J Clin Psychiatry. 60 Suppl 4: 4–11, discussion 12–3. PMID   10086478.
  113. Everitt H, Baldwin DS, Stuart B, Lipinska G, Mayers A, Malizia AL, Manson CC, Wilson S (May 2018). "Antidepressants for insomnia in adults". Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 (5) CD010753. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010753.pub2. PMC   6494576 . PMID   29761479.
  114. 1 2 Berridge CW, España RA (2000). "Synergistic sedative effects of noradrenergic alpha(1)- and beta-receptor blockade on forebrain electroencephalographic and behavioral indices". Neuroscience. 99 (3): 495–505. doi:10.1016/s0306-4522(00)00215-3. PMID   11029541.
  115. Eddin LE, Preyra R, Ahmadi F, Jafari A, Omrani MA, Muanda FT (February 2025). "β-Blockers and risk of neuropsychiatric disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis". Br J Clin Pharmacol. 91 (2): 325–337. doi:10.1111/bcp.16361. PMC   11773113 . PMID   39658346.
  116. Cojocariu SA, Maștaleru A, Sascău RA, Stătescu C, Mitu F, Leon-Constantin MM (February 2021). "Neuropsychiatric Consequences of Lipophilic Beta-Blockers". Medicina (Kaunas). 57 (2): 155. doi: 10.3390/medicina57020155 . PMC   7914867 . PMID   33572109.
  117. Danjou P, Puech A, Warot D, Benoit JF (April 1987). "Lack of sleep-inducing properties of propranolol (80 mg) in chronic insomniacs previously treated by common hypnotic medications". Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2 (2): 135–140. doi:10.1097/00004850-198704000-00007. PMID   3298418.
  118. Richards JR, Hollander JE, Ramoska EA, Fareed FN, Sand IC, Izquierdo Gómez MM, Lange RA (May 2017). "β-Blockers, Cocaine, and the Unopposed α-Stimulation Phenomenon". J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 22 (3): 239–249. doi:10.1177/1074248416681644. PMID   28399647.
  119. Pagel, J. F.; Pandi-Perumal, Seithikurippu R.; Monti, Jaime M. (2018). "Treating insomnia with medications". Sleep Science and Practice. 2 (1) 5. doi: 10.1186/s41606-018-0025-z . ISSN   2398-2683. The complaints of tiredness, fatigue and daytime sleepiness (2–4.3%) associated with beta-blocker use may occur secondary to disturbed sleep or direct action of the drug. Beta-blocking drugs with vasodilating properties (e.g. carvedilol, labetalol) are also associated with reported fatigue and somnolence (3–11%). [...] Prazosin, a norepinephine antagonist, has demonstrated value in treating insomnia associated with PTSD nightmares (Raskind et al. 2003). Clonidine is sometimes utilized to treat the agitation and insomnia that result from using amphetamines to treat AD/HD in pediatric patients (Ming et al. 2011).
  120. 1 2 Anand S, Tong H, Besag FM, Chan EW, Cortese S, Wong IC (June 2017). "Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy of Drugs for Treating Behavioural Insomnia in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review with Methodological Quality Assessment". Paediatr Drugs. 19 (3): 235–250. doi:10.1007/s40272-017-0224-6. PMID   28391425.
  121. 1 2 Mammarella V, Randazzo L, Romano S, Breda M, Bruni O (June 2025). "Pharmacological management for insomnia in children and adolescents with autism and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder". Expert Opin Pharmacother. 26 (9): 1079–1098. doi:10.1080/14656566.2025.2508277. PMID   40400273.
  122. Nguyen M, Tharani S, Rahmani M, Shapiro M (March 2014). "A review of the use of clonidine as a sleep aid in the child and adolescent population". Clin Pediatr (Phila). 53 (3): 211–216. doi:10.1177/0009922813502123. PMID   24027233.
  123. 1 2 3 Weerink MA, Struys MM, Hannivoort LN, Barends CR, Absalom AR, Colin P (August 2017). "Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Dexmedetomidine". Clin Pharmacokinet. 56 (8): 893–913. doi:10.1007/s40262-017-0507-7. PMC   5511603 . PMID   28105598.
  124. Nelson LE, Lu J, Guo T, Saper CB, Franks NP, Maze M (February 2003). "The alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist dexmedetomidine converges on an endogenous sleep-promoting pathway to exert its sedative effects". Anesthesiology. 98 (2): 428–436. doi: 10.1097/00000542-200302000-00024 . PMID   12552203. S2CID   5034487.
  125. Huupponen E, Maksimow A, Lapinlampi P, Särkelä M, Saastamoinen A, Snapir A, et al. (February 2008). "Electroencephalogram spindle activity during dexmedetomidine sedation and physiological sleep". Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica. 52 (2): 289–294. doi:10.1111/j.1399-6576.2007.01537.x. PMID   18005372. S2CID   34923432.
  126. 1 2 Lehtimäki J, Jalava N, Unkila K, Aspegren J, Haapalinna A, Pesonen U (May 2022). "Tasipimidine-the pharmacological profile of a novel orally active selective α2A-adrenoceptor agonist". Eur J Pharmacol. 923 174949. doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.174949. PMID   35405115.
  127. "Tasipimidine". AdisInsight. 28 October 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  128. Khan ZP, Ferguson CN, Jones RM (February 1999). "alpha-2 and imidazoline receptor agonists. Their pharmacology and therapeutic role". Anaesthesia. 54 (2): 146–165. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2044.1999.00659.x. PMID   10215710.
  129. Arnsten AF, Jin LE (March 2012). "Guanfacine for the treatment of cognitive disorders: a century of discoveries at Yale". Yale J Biol Med. 85 (1): 45–58. PMC   3313539 . PMID   22461743.
  130. 1 2 3 4 Meolie AL, Rosen C, Kristo D, Kohrman M, Gooneratne N, Aguillard RN, Fayle R, Troell R, Townsend D, Claman D, Hoban T, Mahowald M (April 2005). "Oral nonprescription treatment for insomnia: an evaluation of products with limited evidence". J Clin Sleep Med. 1 (2): 173–187. doi:10.5664/jcsm.26314. PMID   17561634.
  131. 1 2 Boman B (March 1988). "L-tryptophan: a rational anti-depressant and a natural hypnotic?". Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 22 (1): 83–97. doi:10.1080/00048678809158946. PMID   3285826.
  132. Haria M, Fitton A, McTavish D (April 1994). "Trazodone. A review of its pharmacology, therapeutic use in depression and therapeutic potential in other disorders". Drugs & Aging. 4 (4): 331–355. doi:10.2165/00002512-199404040-00006. PMID   8019056. S2CID   265772823.
  133. "Levate (amitriptyline), dosing, indications, interactions, adverse effects, and more". Medscape Reference. WebMD. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  134. Hajak G, Rodenbeck A, Voderholzer U, Riemann D, Cohrs S, Hohagen F, et al. (June 2001). "Doxepin in the treatment of primary insomnia: a placebo-controlled, double-blind, polysomnographic study". The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 62 (6): 453–463. doi:10.4088/JCP.v62n0609. PMID   11465523.
  135. Joint Formulary Committee (2013). British National Formulary (BNF) (65 ed.). London, UK: Pharmaceutical Press. ISBN   978-0-85711-084-8.[ page needed ]
  136. Hartmann PM (January 1999). "Mirtazapine: a newer antidepressant". American Family Physician. 59 (1): 159–161. PMID   9917581.
  137. Jindal RD (2009). "Insomnia in patients with depression: some pathophysiological and treatment considerations". CNS Drugs. 23 (4): 309–329. doi:10.2165/00023210-200923040-00004. PMID   19374460. S2CID   22052011.
  138. Wakeling A (April 1983). "Efficacy and side effects of mianserin, a tetracyclic antidepressant". Postgraduate Medical Journal. 59 (690): 229–231. doi:10.1136/pgmj.59.690.229. PMC   2417496 . PMID   6346303.
  139. 1 2 Fang F, Sun H, Wang Z, Ren M, Calabrese JR, Gao K (September 2016). "Antipsychotic Drug-Induced Somnolence: Incidence, Mechanisms, and Management". CNS Drugs. 30 (9): 845–867. doi:10.1007/s40263-016-0352-5. PMID   27372312.
  140. Leucht S, Cipriani A, Spineli L, Mavridis D, Orey D, Richter F, et al. (September 2013). "Comparative efficacy and tolerability of 15 antipsychotic drugs in schizophrenia: a multiple-treatments meta-analysis". Lancet. 382 (9896): 951–962. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60733-3. PMID   23810019. S2CID   32085212.
  141. Modesto-Lowe V, Harabasz AK, Walker SA (May 2021). "Quetiapine for primary insomnia: Consider the risks". Cleve Clin J Med. 88 (5): 286–294. doi:10.3949/ccjm.88a.20031. PMID   33941603.
  142. Maglione M, Maher AR, Hu J, Wang Z, Shanman R, Shekelle PG, Roth B, Hilton L, Suttorp MJ (2011). Off-Label Use of Atypical Antipsychotics: An Update. Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, No. 43. Rockville: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. PMID   22973576.
  143. Coe HV, Hong IS (May 2012). "Safety of low doses of quetiapine when used for insomnia". The Annals of Pharmacotherapy. 46 (5): 718–722. doi:10.1345/aph.1Q697. PMID   22510671. S2CID   9888209.
  144. Højlund M (2022-09-12). Low-dose Quetiapine: Utilization and Cardiometabolic Risk (Ph.D. thesis). University of Southern Denmark. doi:10.21996/mr3m-1783.
  145. Højlund M, Andersen K, Ernst MT, Correll CU, Hallas J (October 2022). "Use of low-dose quetiapine increases the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events: results from a nationwide active comparator-controlled cohort study". World Psychiatry. 21 (3): 444–451. doi:10.1002/wps.21010. PMC   9453914 . PMID   36073694.
  146. Pillinger T, McCutcheon RA, Vano L, Mizuno Y, Arumuham A, Hindley G, et al. (January 2020). "Comparative effects of 18 antipsychotics on metabolic function in patients with schizophrenia, predictors of metabolic dysregulation, and association with psychopathology: a systematic review and network meta-analysis". The Lancet. Psychiatry. 7 (1): 64–77. doi:10.1016/s2215-0366(19)30416-x. PMC   7029416 . PMID   31860457.
  147. Yoshida K, Takeuchi H (March 2021). "Dose-dependent effects of antipsychotics on efficacy and adverse effects in schizophrenia". Behavioural Brain Research. 402 113098. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.113098 . PMID   33417992. S2CID   230507941.
  148. De Crescenzo F, D'Alò GL, Ostinelli EG, Ciabattini M, Di Franco V, Watanabe N, et al. (July 2022). "Comparative effects of pharmacological interventions for the acute and long-term management of insomnia disorder in adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis". Lancet. 400 (10347): 170–184. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00878-9 . hdl: 11380/1288245 . PMID   35843245. S2CID   250536370.
  149. Wheatley D (July 2005). "Medicinal plants for insomnia: a review of their pharmacology, efficacy and tolerability". J Psychopharmacol. 19 (4): 414–421. doi:10.1177/0269881105053309. PMID   15982998.
  150. Leach MJ, Page AT (December 2015). "Herbal medicine for insomnia: A systematic review and meta-analysis". Sleep Med Rev. 24: 1–12. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2014.12.003. PMID   25644982.
  151. Verma K, Singh D, Srivastava A (August 2022). "The Impact of Complementary and Alternative Medicine on Insomnia: A Systematic Review". Cureus. 14 (8) e28425. doi: 10.7759/cureus.28425 . PMC   9509538 . PMID   36176875.
  152. Valente V, Machado D, Jorge S, Drake CL, Marques DR (May 2024). "Does valerian work for insomnia? An umbrella review of the evidence". Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 82: 6–28. doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.01.008. PMID   38359657.
  153. Thakkar MM (February 2011). "Histamine in the regulation of wakefulness". Sleep Med Rev. 15 (1): 65–74. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2010.06.004. PMC   3016451 . PMID   20851648.
  154. Lazarus M, Chen JF, Huang ZL, Urade Y, Fredholm BB (2019). "Adenosine and Sleep". Handb Exp Pharmacol. 253: 359–381. doi:10.1007/164_2017_36. PMID   28646346.
  155. Tang B, Yu Y, Yu F, Fang J, Wang G, Jiang J, Han Q, Shi J, Zhang J (June 2022). "The mechanism study of YZG-331 on sedative and hypnotic effects". Behav Brain Res. 428 113885. doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2022.113885. PMID   35398229.
  156. Monti JM, Monti D (April 2007). "The involvement of dopamine in the modulation of sleep and waking". Sleep Med Rev. 11 (2): 113–133. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2006.08.003. PMID   17275369.
  157. Eder DN, Zdravkovic M, Wildschiødtz G (2003). "Selective alterations of the first NREM sleep cycle in humans by a dopamine D1 receptor antagonist (NNC-687)". J Psychiatr Res. 37 (4): 305–312. doi:10.1016/s0022-3956(03)00007-4. PMID   12765853.
  158. Xu, Chong; Leung, Janice Ching Nam; Shi, Jiaying; Lum, Dawn Hei; Lai, Francisco Tsz Tsun (February 2024). "Sedative-hypnotics and osteoporotic fractures: A systematic review of observational studies with over six million individuals" . Sleep Medicine Reviews. 73 101866. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2023.101866. PMID   37926010.
  159. Citation error. See the inline comment on how to fix it. [ verification needed ]
  160. León-Barriera R, Chaplin MM, Kaur J, Modesto-Lowe V (January 2025). "Insomnia in older adults: A review of treatment options". Cleve Clin J Med. 92 (1): 43–50. doi:10.3949/ccjm.92a.24073. PMID   39746731.
  161. Pacific Record of Medicine and Surgery - Volume 5 - Page 36 1890
  162. 1 2 Shorter E (2005). "Benzodiazepines". A Historical Dictionary of Psychiatry. Oxford University Press. pp. 41–2. ISBN   978-0-19-517668-1 . Retrieved 2014-02-06.
  163. "Barbiturates". Archived from the original on 2007-11-07. Retrieved 2007-10-31.
  164. Whitlock FA (June 1975). "Suicide in Brisbane, 1956 to 1973: the drug-death epidemic". The Medical Journal of Australia. 1 (24): 737–743. doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.1975.tb111781.x. PMID   239307. S2CID   28983030.
  165. Johns MW (1975). "Sleep and hypnotic drugs". Drugs. 9 (6): 448–478. doi:10.2165/00003495-197509060-00004. PMID   238826. S2CID   38775294.
  166. Jufe GS (July–August 2007). "[New hypnotics: perspectives from sleep physiology]". Vertex. 18 (74): 294–299. PMID   18265473.
  167. Voegtle MM, Marzinzik AL (July 2004). "Synthetic Approaches Towards Quinazolines, Quinazolinones and Quinazolinediones on Solid Phase". QSAR & Combinatorial Science. 23 (6): 440–459. doi:10.1002/qsar.200420018. ISSN   1611-020X.
  168. Barbera J, Shapiro C (2005). "Benefit-risk assessment of zaleplon in the treatment of insomnia". Drug Safety. 28 (4): 301–318. doi:10.2165/00002018-200528040-00003. PMID   15783240. S2CID   24222535.
  169. Muehlan C, Roch C, Vaillant C, Dingemanse J (December 2023). "The orexin story and orexin receptor antagonists for the treatment of insomnia". J Sleep Res. 32 (6) e13902. doi:10.1111/jsr.13902. PMID   37086045.

Further reading