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Searching for the ideal hypnotic: Pharmacological treatment of Insomnia

Abstract:

Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty for the onset or maintenance of sleep, as well as shortening, fragmentation or bad quality of sleep, and feeling unrested the following day. Insomnia boasts a high prevalence in industrialized countries, and represents one of the most frequent chief complaints in primary care. Treatment involves pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic measures. Hypnotic drugs include a wide range of molecules, such as benzodiazepines, z compounds, antidepressants, antihistamines and several others, each with distinct pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties. Based on clinical and epidemiologic evidence, this review discusses the efficacy and safety of hypnotic drugs, with the objective of establishing the prototype of the ideal hypnotic for each type of insomnia, according to the specific needs of each kind of patient.