Do you struggle with insomnia? Always ask your pharmacist for advice before using any over-the-counter sleep aids, as some products may not be suitable for you.
An estimated 25% of Canadians experience symptoms of insomnia. What are the causes and how can they be resolved to restore normal sleep?
Sleep disorders can manifest themselves in a host of different ways, including:
Insomnia is first and foremost a symptom, not a disease. Before considering treatment, we must first try to identify the causes.
Transient insomnia
Insomnia can be transient and situational. This is a temporary situation related to a one-time event. Most of the time, transient insomnia lasts only a few days. When things return to normal, insomnia goes away on its own. If it persists, it can be considered a more serious problem. It can be related to certain situations, such as:
Chronic insomnia
Insomnia is considered chronic when sleep difficulties occur at least 3 nights a week for more than 3 months. This can have far-reaching consequences, including a deterioration in well-being, functioning, and quality of life. If your insomnia persists and you don't understand its origin, we encourage you to seek the advice of a healthcare professional to try to clarify the situation, so that it can be resolved quickly.
Chronic insomnia can be caused by a number of factors or illnesses such as:
It is important to try to identify the causes of your insomnia so that you can receive appropriate treatment tailored to your situation.
After a night of insomnia, it's normal to experience uncomfortable symptoms such as fatigue, focusing or concentrating, irritability, anxiety, a of loss of energy or interest, and difficulty going about your daily activities.
Difficulty falling asleep, or fewer hours of sleep, is generally considered insomnia when it interferes with daily activities or causes a significant degree of discomfort or suffering.
Insomnia may be caused by medication. Here are a few examples of drugs that can cause this type of side effect:
Speak to your pharmacist if you feel that a medication you are taking is preventing you from getting a good night's sleep. They will be able to give you advice, and possibly suggest beneficial changes to your treatment.
In the event of insomnia, the first thing to do is to review lifestyle habits and aim for better sleep hygiene. Then, you can seek treatment for insomnia if the solutions you've implemented don't resolve the situation.
Insomnia treatment requires a rigorous assessment by a healthcare professional. It is based on identifying the factors involved, and then managing them. It's always preferable to resolve insomnia without resorting to medication, but this isn't always possible.
The use of prescription drugs should always be considered a last resort. The lowest effective dose should always be used, and for the shortest possible period of time. Some prescription drugs used to treat insomnia can be habit-forming or addictive. This dependence means that you need a higher dose to obtain the same long-term effects. This is why their use should always be considered with caution.
Over-the-counter medications are also available, such as those containing diphenhydramine. These products should be used to treat transient insomnia, not long-term insomnia.
Natural products, such as melatonin, valerian and passionflower, are also an interesting option, as the risks of side effects or dependence are generally lower. Always ask your pharmacist for advice before using any over-the-counter sleep aids, as some products may not be suitable for you.
There are a number of non-drug methods that can help you improve the quality of your sleep:
Getting a good night's sleep has a significant impact on our health and provides us with the energy we need to function. During sleep, our bodies perform various functions:
|
Age group |
Recommended hours of sleep per day |
|
0 to 2 months |
16.5 to 18.5 |
|
2 to 12 months |
14 to 15 |
|
12 to 18 months |
13 to 15 |
|
18 months to 3 years |
12 to 14 |
|
3 to 5 years |
11 to 13 |
|
5 to 12 years |
9 to 11 |
|
Adolescents |
8.5 to 9.5 |
|
Adults |
7 to 9 |
Don’t hesitate to speak to your pharmacist if you have questions about your sleep.
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