Treating Sleep Disorders

For nearly everyone who has been diagnosed with sleep apnea, the conversation quickly turns to possible treatment options. The most commonly used one is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), but what is CPAP? Take a moment to learn about the basic components of CPAP.

In some settings, it may be advantageous to use an alternative to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) called bilevel or BiPAP. What is BiPAP and when is it most often used?

If you experience difficulties staying or falling asleep or in obtaining sleep of restorative quality -- common symptoms of insomnia -- you may be interested in learning more about sleeping pills. There are over-the-counter and prescription medications available, and a little research may help you to find the best option. Learn more with an...

Learn what rozerem is, including its use in the treatment of insomnia. This article describes its indications for use, how it may work, who should not use it, what the potential side effects are, and what safety monitoring should occur.

Learn what provigil is, including its use in the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness. This article describes its indications for use, how it may work, who should not use it, what the potential side effects are, and what safety monitoring should occur.

Learn what diphenhydramine is, including its use in the treatment of insomnia. This article describes its indications for use, how it may work, who should not use it, what the potential side effects are, and what safety monitoring should occur.

Learn what nuvigil is, including its use in the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness. This article describes its indications for use, who should not use it, what the potential side effects are, and what safety monitoring should occur.

Millions of us couldn’t survive without our morning cup of coffee, and it is clear that caffeine benefits include improved attentiveness and counteracting the effects of poor sleep. Caffeine is the most commonly used stimulant in the world, but what exactly is it?

For those who suffer from circadian rhythm insomnia, as may occur in advanced or delayed sleep phase syndrome, the use of light and behavioral therapy may be helpful. Learn more about these options.

Caffeine use may be just the thing you need to get through your day, but it can also have significant adverse consequences and disrupt your sleep. The use of caffeine may cause short-term problems. Moreover, if you have used it chronically, an abrupt discontinuation may cause you discomfort as you suffer from withdrawal. Learn about this...

Sleep restriction, a behavioral therapy, may be just the treatment you need to fix your insomnia. Learn about how spending too much time in bed may be ruining your sleep. Then follow a few simple steps to correct it.

Learn what Silenor is, including its use in the treatment of insomnia. This article describes its indications for use, how it may work, who should not use it, what the potential side effects are, and what safety monitoring should occur.

For those who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, the next step will be to establish treatment, and if this includes continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) you may wonder how to choose a CPAP mask. The options available to you are numerous, but before becoming overwhelmed you can follow a few simple guidelines.

If you use a CPAP machine to treat your sleep apnea, you may have problems with mouth breathing that may need to be corrected with the use of a chinstrap. Learn what a chinstrap is and whether or not you should use one.

Some people who use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to treat their sleep apnea have great difficulties with mouth breathing, but there are multiple fixes that may be helpful in preventing mouth breathing with CPAP.

Whether it is working in a hospital setting, as a night manager at a hotel, in a 24-hour convenience store, or at a late-night diner, there are countless professions that may keep you at work overnight. These night shifts can be hard on the body, and if you don't adjust your sleep schedule adequately you may quickly find yourself suffering from insomnia and sleep deprivation. Find out how you can…

Learn what Lunesta is, including its use in the treatment of insomnia. This article describes its indications for use, how it works, who should not use it, what the potential side effects are, and what safety monitoring should occur.

Learn what Sonata is, including its use in the treatment of insomnia. This article describes its indications for use, how it works, who should not use it, what the potential side effects are, and what safety monitoring should occur.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a highly effective treatment for sleep apnea. It is not tolerated by everyone, and early compliance predicts long-term use. Learn how newer models of CPAP can monitor and record your compliance.

Learn what Trazodone is, including its use in the treatment of insomnia. This article describes its indications for use, how it works, who should not use it, what the potential side effects are, and what safety monitoring should occur.

Learn what Ambien is, including its use in the treatment of insomnia. This article describes its indications for use, how it works, who should not use it, what the potential side effects are, and what safety monitoring should occur.

Just as many good sleep habits relate to establishing a routine of familiarity, it may be possible to incorporate aromatherapy into your bedtime ritual to help treat insomnia.

Learn about some of the general treatments available for various sleep disorders.

It is not uncommon to have troubles tolerating continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) when you first start using it. Share your experiences on how you managed to overcome the problems tolerating your CPAP to treat your sleep apnea.

Learn several ways to counter your circadian rhythm and treat jet lag, including: the use of melatonin, light box therapy, or shifting your sleep pattern before you leave.

For those who are unable to tolerate continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to treat their obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), what surgery options exist? There are a handful of surgical options, but they may be of limited effectiveness and may not be for everyone.

Learn what Ritalin is, including its use in the treatment of ADHD, narcolepsy, and chronic fatigue syndrome. This article describes its history, the indications for use, how it works, how the body processes it, who should not use it, what the potential side effects are, and what safety monitoring should occur.

Learn the step-by-step process for cleaning and maintaining your CPAP equipment.

The most common treatment of sleep apnea is CPAP, but it may not be tolerated by everyone. For those with moderate disease, researchers describe an alternative: learning the circular breathing technique needed to play an aboriginal musical instrument called the didgeridoo.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine provides a wealth of information about some of the more common treatment options for various sleep disorders. This is a fantastic resource!

The American Academy of Family Physicians provides a brief description of the issues surrounding the use of melatonin.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) describes some of the more common side effects of sleep drugs.

The American Sleep Apnea Association provides some guidance on how to choose a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine for the treatment of sleep apnea.

This article answers more than a dozen of the most common questions associated with using CPAP to treat sleep apnea.

What are the available treatment options for sleep apnea and what is the best option for me? What is CPAP and how does it work? Are there other options besides CPAP? What are the benefits of treatment?

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that may be effective in treating some sleep problems including jet lag, insomnia, and circadian rhythm sleep disorders.

Treatment of restless legs syndrome (RLS) depends somewhat on the frequency of symptoms and there are many options, including medications as well as lifestyle changes. Learn about some of these options.

Learn what estazolam is, including its use in the treatment of insomnia. This article describes its indications for use, how it may work, who should not use it, what the potential side effects are, and what safety monitoring should occur.

Learn what restoril is, including its use in the treatment of insomnia. This article describes its indications for use, how it may work, who should not use it, what the potential side effects are, and what safety monitoring should occur.

Learn what halcion is, including its use in the treatment of insomnia. This article describes its indications for use, how it may work, who should not use it, what the potential side effects are, and what safety monitoring should occur.

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and advised to use CPAP, you may be overwhelmed about how to choose a mask and be left wondering: what are nasal pillows? This style of CPAP mask may be just the interface you need to overcome certain problems tolerating CPAP, such as claustrophobia and air leaks.

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, you have likely been prescribed continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and may have found a mask that you prefer. Describe why you prefer your CPAP mask or read about the preferences of others.

Learn what Mirapex is, including its use in the treatment of restless legs syndrome. This article describes its indications for use, how it may work, who should not use it, what the potential side effects are, and what safety monitoring should occur.

Learn what Requip is, including its use in the treatment of restless legs syndrome (RLS). This article describes its indications for use, how it may work, who should not use it, what the potential side effects are, and what safety monitoring should occur.

If bed bugs have invaded your sleeping space you may want to learn how to treat their bites and, more importantly, how to get rid of them. The elimination of bed bugs may be difficult, however, and you may discover that it might not be worth it.

If bed bugs have invaded your sleeping space you may want to learn how to treat their bites and, more importantly, how to get rid of them. The elimination of bed bugs may be difficult, however, and you may discover that it might not be worth it.

Learn about the prescription medication gabapentin, sold under the brand name Neurontin, which can effectively treat the uncomfortable sensations that occur in restless legs syndrome (RLS).

If you have decided to pursue phototherapy to treat your circadian rhythm disorder or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), you may question how to choose a light box. There are several important factors to consider, including safety features, technical specifications, and cost.

If you have purchased a light box for phototherapy to treat your circadian rhythm disorder or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), you likely made the selection after careful consideration. Which light box did you choose? What features or options did you look for? How much did it cost? What do you wish you had considered before purchasing it?...

If you suffer from one of the circadian rhythm disorders, including seasonal affective disorder, you may wonder: what is light box therapy? This unique, non-pharmacological treatment is sometimes called phototherapy and may be just what you need to sleep better and feel more alert during the day. Learn more about it.

Some people are unable to tolerate phototherapy with a light box because of its side effects or simply cannot afford them. If you suffer from circadian rhythm disorders or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), you may still need to find an acceptable treatment. Fortunately, there are alternative treatments to light box phototherapy.

p If you have been advised to use a a href="http://sleepdisorders.about.com/od/sleepdisorderstreatment/a/What-Is-Light-Box-Therapy.htm" light box /a to treat your circadian rhythm disorder or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), you may wonder if there are any potential side effects with light box therapy. Fortunately, there are very few side...

Sleep Scents - What Scents Help You Sleep

If you suffer from nightmares, you no doubt wonder how to diagnose their cause -- and what nightmare treatments may be available. Learn more about these options.

The prescription medication prazosin -- sold under the brand name of Minipress -- is a prescribed drug used to treat nightmares in the setting of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Learn more about this medication.

It is not infrequent for oxygen therapy to be used in sleep apnea, especially when concern for the disorder is first raised, but should oxygen be used to treat the condition? Sleep apnea is the most common cause of sleep-disordered breathing, but in some settings oxygen use may actually do more harm than good. Learn more about this.

The pharmaceutical drug sodium oxybate or gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) -- sold under the brand name of Xyrem -- is a prescription medication that can treat the excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy associated with narcolepsy. Learn more about Xyrem.

Bedwetting, or sleep enuresis, is a common condition that persists into childhood for many children. For parents who are hesitant to use medications, there are a number of behavioral treatments available that can effectively treat bedwetting. Learn more about the options.

The prescription medication desmopressin (sometimes called DDAVP) is a drug that mimics a naturally occurring hormone in the body and is used to treat nocturnal enuresis, or bedwetting, and other conditions.

Bladder training is a behavioral treatment that may be effective in eliminating bedwetting (or enuresis). Bladder training seeks to increase the capacity of the bladder in children and reduce the chance of accidents overnight.

If your child has a problem with bedwetting, or enuresis, it might be due to the amount of fluids that they are drinking, especially late in the day. In this scenario, fluid management might be helpful in treating the bedwetting.

One of the behavioral treatments that may be effective in treating bedwetting, or enuresis, motivational therapy is a bedwetting solution for committed children and parents. Learn more about motivational therapy for bedwetting.

Stopping bed wetting can be one of the most trying struggles in parenting younger children. Share your frustrations with others and learn from the experiences and techniques of those parents who have succeeded.

Bedwetting alarms may be the most effective long-term behavioral therapy for bedwetting. Bedwetting alarms work through a response called conditioning, and they may be best employed in motivated children.

There are various causes of snoring, and one of the most common is nasal congestion. In this situation, the use of decongestants and nasal steroids may be helpful in alleviating snoring. Learn more about these options.

You probably recognize if you need to lose some weight, but how might weight loss improve your sleep? And how much weight do you need to lose? From snoring to sleep apnea, weight loss can have significant benefits and lead to better rest.

If you have sleep apnea due to excessive weight, you may question whether weight loss medications might be helpful for your condition. Learn whether this option will improve your sleep disorder.

If you are looking for ways to stop snoring, you may be interested in learning how nasal dilators may help improve your breathing during sleep.

If the cause of your obstructive sleep apnea relates to excessive weight, including morbid obesity, weight loss through bariatric surgery may be able to improve your sleep problem.

Snoring often results when the tissue in the nose, throat, or soft palate at the back of the mouth vibrates as air passes. One possible solution would logically involve stabilizing these tissues to reduce the vibration. The pillar procedure attempts to do just that. Learn more about this treatment option.

If you are not sleeping enough and are enduring the effects of sleep deprivation, you might be interested in learning some of the treatment options available for this condition. Learn 10 treatments that might improve your symptoms from sleep deprivation.

For individuals who suffer from snoring or sleep apnea, one possible treatment is the use of various oral appliances.

If you are interested in learning about alternative medicines that may help with your insomnia, you may wish to learn what valerian is and how it might affect your sleep.

For those who experience the nagging symptoms of restless legs syndrome (RLS), treatment with a handful of medications can be a godsend, yet sometimes these can cause a phenomenon called augmentation. What is augmentation in RLS and how can it be addressed?

If you have insomnia and are looking for an alternative prescription medication that works on the body’s natural sleep hormone called melatonin, you may be interested in learning about Rozerem. How is Rozerem different from other sleeping pills? What are some of the common side effects of using Rozerem? Learn the answers with the help of...

You may have heard others talk about using a light box to treat their sleep disorders, but what is a light box and what conditions respond best to light therapy? Are there alternatives to purchasing an expensive light box? Learn the answers with the help of UpToDate, a resource for health care providers and patients alike.

Difficulty falling or staying asleep, cardinal symptoms of insomnia, may respond to relaxation and biofeedback techniques. Before turning to sleeping pills, explore whether these methods might help you to sleep better. What is the best method for relaxation? How does biofeedback work? Learn the answers with the help of UpToDate, a resource for...

Insomnia may be difficult to tolerate and if you aren’t interested in taking sleeping pills, you may be seeking other treatment options. Difficulty falling or staying asleep can be overcome with behavioral treatment options, including something called stimulus control therapy. What is stimulus control therapy? How does it relate to general...

If you suffer from a chronic difficulty falling or staying asleep, you may be interested in learning about the use of sleeping pills to treat your insomnia. One class of prescription medications used to induce sleep is the benzodiazepines. What are benzodiazepines? What medications are included in this category? Who should not use benzodiazepine...

For those who have difficulty sleeping due to insomnia, there may come a point when you are interested in investigating the use of sleeping pills to treat your condition. There are two major classes of prescription medication for sleep: benzodiazepines and nonbenzodiazepines. What are nonbenzodiazepines? What medications are included in this...

Melatonin is a popular supplement used to treat difficulties sleeping, but what are the actual conditions for which it might be helpful? How is melatonin made in the body and what should you consider if you take it in a supplement form? Learn the answers with the help of UpToDate, a resource for health care providers and patients alike.

If you find yourself experiencing symptoms of restless legs syndrome (RLS), you may be interested in learning about your treatment options. How is restless legs treated? Are there daytime activities that might improve your RLS symptoms? What are the prescription medications that are used to treat restless legs? Learn the answers with the help of...

If you suffer from difficulties sleeping that are characteristic of insomnia, you may be interested in learning about some alternative treatment options. What alternative treatments for insomnia are available? Are over-the-counter supplements like valerian root effective? What role does aromatherapy have in treating insomnia? Are any of the...

If you are having trouble falling asleep at your desired bedtime, a common symptom of insomnia, what role could a treatment called chronotherapy have? How is chronotherapy done? Where is the best place to undergo chronotherapy? Learn the answers with the help of UpToDate, a resource for health care providers and patients alike.

Prolonged insomnia may seem likely to unravel your very sanity, but when should you actually seek therapy as a treatment option? How can the anxiety associated with insomnia become self-destructive? Are there other behavioral changes that can improve your insomnia? What is the difference between cognitive therapy and cognitive behavioral...

For those who suffer from the sometimes self-perpetuating ailment of insomnia, it might be helpful to finally break this cycle through a treatment called sleep restriction. What is sleep restriction? How does sleep restriction break the cycle of insomnia? What are the steps needed to restrict your sleep? Learn the answers with the help of...

What is a neti pot?

How should I take melatonin?

Sleep paralysis is a frightening experience. It may leave you seeking a treatment. How is sleep paralysis treated? Learn how to prevent these episodes with simple lifestyle changes or even medication.

Intermezzo is the first sleeping pill designed to target middle-of-the-night awakenings without adverse morning side effects. What are the uses of this medication, how does Intermezzo work, and what are common or serious side effects? Learn more about the sleep aid called Intermezzo and whether it is the right prescription drug to treat your...

If you wish to pursue a surgical treatment option for your obstructive sleep apnea, you may be interested in learning about the use of a hypoglossal nerve stimulator. How does the hypoglossal nerve stimulator work? Learn about how this surgically implanted device can treat your sleep apnea.

If you have difficulty treating your obstructive sleep apnea with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), you may be seeking other options. Learn about an alternative oral appliance called a tongue stabilizing device and how this might help treat your sleep apnea.