Insomnia is a common disorder, where the patient has difficulty in sleeping. It has many causes and can make lives miserable. Many medicines have been developed, but new approaches are still needed.
Disease: Insomnia
Last update: June 2006
Intro
FAQ
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What is it?
Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder. People with insomnia: (1) have difficulty falling asleep; (2) often wake during the night; (3) wake up too early in the morning and (4) experience unrefreshing sleep. -
Who gets it?
Surveys have suggested that around 100 million people in the European Union suffer from some sort of insomnia. Insomnia tends to increase with age and affects women slightly more than men. It had many causes and makes lives miserable. -
What can be done about it?
Over the years, the pharmaceutical industry has introduced many different medications to help with insomnia. They are usually given for a short time only and after first treating any underlying health problems that are causing the sleeplessness. -
What does the future hold?
New medicines, based on the brain chemical melatonin, are being researched. Also, new forms of medicines are being developed. These should help people who find it hard to remain asleep.
Recently, researchers have discovered what they believe is the ësleep switch' in the brain. One part of this is active when asleep, the other when awake. It is hoped that new, selective, medicines may result from this exciting research.