Posted on 09/22/2024 7:49:00 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
A new study has shown that seniors taking sleeping pills can significantly reduce their dependence on the medications and improve their sleep with a simple intervention.
The study evaluated whether specially designed information packages mailed directly to their homes could help people reduce their need for sleeping pills, while also helping them get a better sleep.
The study involved three groups: two that received different information packages (Sleepwell or EMPOWER) and a control group that didn't receive anything by mail.
People enrolled in the YAWNS NB study were taking prescribed sleeping pills, including benzodiazepines (e.g., lorazepam (Ativan)) or z-drugs (e.g., zopiclone (Imovane)). There were 565 study participants, who averaged 72 years of age and 11 years of sleeping pill use.
The information packages were designed to promote a change in behavior and initiate the switch from relying on sleeping pills to learning about and using sleep—enhancing techniques to treat insomnia. Each package encouraged study participants to meet with their health-care professional and included information on the dangers of sleeping pills and how to safely reduce and stop them. The Sleepwell package also described cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI) and showed how to access it.
The researchers found that more people receiving the Sleepwell package stopped or reduced their use of sleeping pills compared to the other two groups. About 26% in the Sleepwell group stopped taking sleeping pills altogether by six months. For EMPOWER, the rate was 20% and in the control group it was 7.5%.
In addition to reducing their use of sleeping pills, people in the Sleepwell group slept better and had less daytime sleepiness compared to the other groups.
"Our study shows that participants safely stopped sleeping pills even though many had been taking them for years," said Dr. Andrea Murphy.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
It seems the Cognitive Behavioral therapy helped.
This Sleepwell information was provided in the write up, but the videos may be the main items available to US citizens.
Sleep pill dependent?? Try Fentanyl. It puts you to sleep and keeps you asleep.
The article never does clearly state what techniques are directly beneficial to getting a good night’s sleep.
I guess you have to keep buying more company materials to know what’s in it.
Some techniques I can guess about.
i barely get any sleep with pills, that’s why i take them
I include a link to that information below the article.
There’s also a bit more at the link I edited out.
Thank you.
‘scuse me. Benzos are NOT a sleeping pill. Thats like saying cocaine is a substitute for coffee.
I discovered that my snoring was pretty bad. I used a phone app called SnoreLab to confirm it. I soon bought a CPAP through a private sale and my quality of sleep immediately became normal. I recently bought a new VPAP with humidifier (again thru private sale). I cant wait to use it. Will keep my CPAP for a backup. My CPAP has a water container to counter dryness but its a lame design. This new one I’m expecting will make my sleep even better. My advice, get one and use the nasal pillow. At least try it. I find mine very comfortable. They pay for themselves. A poor nights sleep makes for much lost productivity in many ways.
People do use them for sleeping:
https://www.medicinenet.com/benzodiazepines_sleep-inducing-oral/article.htm
They are sedatives. They’re very commonly prescribed to help with sleep, along with antihistamines like hydroxyzine, diphenhydramine, and promethazine (originally developed as an antihistamine).
Hypnotics like zolpidem and eszopiclone were made to help one sleep, but all of the above are habit-forming.
I was on zolpidem for over a decade due to dialysis and renal function interfering with my ability to sleep, but at a certain point it just wasn’t helping anymore. I quit cold turkey.
I didn’t get more than ten minutes of sleep at a time for nine days straight, and now I almost sleep normally. Sometimes I have to take something, because my circadian rhythm is backwards - I’m awake at night and sleep during the day. It’s why my work shift is 14:00-22:00.
I tell people starting hypnotics for the first time not to if they can avoid it. Try literally anything else first - I had some seriously bizarre side-effects, and it eventually stopped helping me sleep.
I’m a hospitalist-certified pharmacy tech, by the way. I fill these all the time.
For some reason, sleeping pills don’t work for me. Not even the prescription strength.
I have taken that and I never had a problem with it.
It's non- narcotic puts me to sleep very gently and I wake up with none of that heavy-headed feeling.
I work a eight hour shift in the ER.
I start at four in the afternoon and clock out at 12:30 am.
My body's clock couldn't get use to the weird, ‘’in today, out tomorrow'' routine.
Some people addict to benzos
Some people addict to alcohol.
Many do not.
The addict problems are obvious. The normative occasional users are not.
And there are many.
Working with this issue of sleep I wonder how many were terrified from using occasional medication and over 6 months or a year in a great sleep deficit. Chronic poor sleep over time particularly in the elderly can lead to functional decline and at time psychosis.
antihistamines like hydroxyzine, diphenhydramine, and promethazine (originally developed as an antihistamine).
.......
There are major issues with regular antihistamine use as a sleep aid. Concerns about cognitive deterioration.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.