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Am Fam Physician. 2024;109(2):154-160

Related Editorial: Insomnia: Advancements and Limitations of Current Management Strategies

This clinical content conforms to AAFP criteria for CME.

Author disclosure: As this article was going to press, Dr. Matheson disclosed he was included on a just-approved grant proposal to Merck, maker of suvorexant. This grant proposal was submitted by the principal investigator, who is not an author of this article, without Dr. Matheson's knowledge and after he had submitted his manuscript. Merck had no involvement in the development of this article. See Editor's Note. The coauthors of this article, Dr. Brown and Dr. DeCastro, have no relevant financial relationships.

Insomnia affects 30% of the U.S. population, with 5% to 15% meeting criteria for chronic insomnia. It can negatively impact quality of life, decrease productivity, increase fatigue and drowsiness, and put patients at higher risk of developing other health problems. Initial treatment focuses on nonpharmacologic therapies such as cognitive behavior therapy, which improves negative thought patterns and behaviors through sleep restriction, stimulus control, and relaxation techniques. Other nonpharmacologic treatments include exercise, mindfulness, and acupuncture. If these approaches are ineffective, pharmacologic agents may be considered. Medications such as benzodiazepines and Z-drugs are often prescribed for insomnia but should be avoided, if possible, due to short- and long-term risks associated with their use. Melatonin receptor agonists are safer and well tolerated but have limited effectiveness. Dual orexin receptor antagonists are effective in patients who have sleep maintenance insomnia or difficulty with sleep onset. Evidence for the use of antihistamines to treat insomnia is generally lacking, but doxylamine is effective for up to four weeks.

Approximately 30% of the U.S. population reports experiencing insomnia, with 5% to 15% of the total population meeting the formal criteria for chronic insomnia.13 The American Academy of Sleep Medicine defines insomnia as impairment of the initiation, duration, consolidation, or quality of sleep that occurs despite adequate opportunity for sleep and results in some form of daytime impairment.4 Chronic insomnia is diagnosed when patients have symptoms at least three times a week for three months or longer.4,5 Insomnia can have a significant impact on a patient's quality of life, leading to decreased productivity, increased fatigue and drowsiness, and higher risk of developing other health problems.6,7

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