Antidepressants for the treatment of insomnia: folk remedies and special tablets

Depressive type insomnia is characterized by difficulty falling asleep or unproductive, interrupted sleep at night. It occurs as a result of a severe emotional state, apathy, and increased anxiety.

As a result of inadequate sleep, the patient's mood worsens even more, and a vicious circle is created. Therefore, the only adequate treatment for insomnia in depression is to combat the underlying disease. Treatment of depressive disorders is complex and lengthy, but after the patient’s emotional state improves, insomnia goes away automatically.

Depression and sleep disorders

The main cause of depressive disorders is prolonged exposure to stress. Nervous stress leads to feelings of anxiety, and sometimes neurasthenia and neuroses. The brain remains in an excited state for a long time, the nervous system is exhausted.

When it comes to bedtime, the brain is still activated, and this is the main cause of insomnia in depression. Before falling asleep, the patient turns around in bed for a long time, choosing a comfortable body position, followed by short, intermittent sleep, accompanied by nightmares. As a result of inadequate rest, drowsiness occurs during the day, which affects work activity and gives new reasons for worries.

Often in the morning such people get up too early in a difficult mood, and in some cases, on the contrary, they have difficulty waking up and are depressed for the first half of the day.

List of strong remedies

It is recommended to take medications for insomnia that have a powerful effect as prescribed by a doctor. This is due to the fact that they have a number of contraindications and side effects. The list of pills for sleep is impressive, but the medications most often used are Donormil, Melaxen and Valocordin.

Fluvoxamine

Trade name: Fevarin.

A modern drug that does not yet have generics. It perfectly restores sleep, which, however, can result in problems with awakening and drowsiness during the day. Approved for use in children, but only for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorders (obsessive states). And in principle, judging by the reviews of doctors, it is more effective for treating obsessive-compulsive disorders than depression. It also works well in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Not recommended for pregnant and lactating women.

You can drive a car no earlier than 2 weeks from the start of taking the drug - when the absence of side effects in the form of drowsiness is obvious.

Due to the fact that there are no generic versions of this antidepressant, it is not cheap: about 1000 rubles for 15 tablets.

Phenibut

Phenibut is a nootropic drug and is recommended for those who struggle with psycho-emotional stress. The drug has a weak tranquilizing effect. The main component of the tablets is aminophenylbutyric acid; it relieves anxiety and stress, but does not affect human performance.

The drug can be taken by both adults and children.

Indications for use include:

• anxiety-neurotic conditions;
• neurosis, psychopathy;
• insomnia, apathy;
• problems with the vestibular system;
• Meniere's disease.

Phenibut is taken for 2-3 weeks. If no strong side effects are identified, then the course is increased to 4-6 weeks.

Trazodone

Trade name: Trittiko.

Another relatively new antidepressant that does not yet have generics.

It normalizes sleep well and reduces anxiety. Unlike most antidepressants, it does not reduce sexual desire, but, on the contrary, enhances it.

Not recommended for children, pregnant or lactating women. May cause drowsiness, so you should only drive after several weeks of use, when the absence of side effects is obvious.

Phenazepam

Phenazepam is a strong tranquilizer. Treatment takes place only under the supervision of a doctor, since the reaction to the pills can be unpredictable. If you take the drug for a long time and uncontrollably, it can aggravate the problems and push the patient to commit suicide.

Phenazepam has a strong effect on the central nervous system, dulls the feeling of fear and anxiety. The substances in the drug affect the brain. This is reflected in a decrease in aggressiveness and nervousness.

Exceeding the dose prescribed by your doctor is dangerous.

The consequences of an overdose are manifested:

• retardation of movements;
• slurred speech;
• drowsiness;
• apathy;
• coma.

The course of taking pills should not exceed 2 weeks, otherwise addiction may develop. The drug itself is prescribed to patients in small doses. If the drug is abruptly discontinued, insomnia and depression may develop.

Donormil

( doxylamine succinate, 15 mg effervescent and regular tablets). Also available under the name Sonmil .

Prescription drug.

It is a blocker of H1 histamine receptors, and, essentially, an antihistamine. But it is not intended for the treatment of allergic diseases, but is used only for sleep disorders and insomnia. This is one of the best sleeping pills for relieving attacks of insomnia in young, healthy people who do not need to drive a car the next day

• Advantages : the effervescent tablet has a rapid effect, the drug reduces the time it takes to fall asleep and increases sleep time.

• Disadvantages: the drug has side effects characteristic of antihistamines: dry mouth, difficulty waking up, possible drowsiness during the day. In addition, the drug is not indicated for patients with impaired renal function of urine outflow, as well as with breathing disorders during sleep.

From reviews of Donormil: “The medicine turned out to be wonderful. I didn’t read the instructions and took two tablets at once on the first day. Ten minutes later I was already asleep. Having slept all night, I felt drowsy for the first half of the day. The next night I took one tablet, according to the instructions. I fell asleep half an hour later, my sleep was calm, and my awakening was refreshing.”

Afobazole

Afobazole is a mild-acting tranquilizer that is not addictive. It treats anxiety in adults that is caused by various factors. For example, when a person is worried about an upcoming operation, exam or other event. The product works well against mental disorders.

Afobazole is available in the form of tablets with the active substance fabomotizole. Starch, cellulose, and magnesium stearate help it cope with nerve diseases. The tablets are compatible with alcohol and do not cause intoxication.

Advantages of the drug:

• Relieves irritability.
• Eliminates tearfulness.
• Removes feelings of anxiety and restlessness.
• Relieves insomnia.
• Relieves any type of anxiety.
• Improves memory.

The positive effect appears a week after starting to take the pills.

Melaxen

In humans, melatonin regulates sleep-wake cycles and is the “sleep hormone.” Its task is to cause a drowsiness effect, which increases the chances of falling asleep. In addition, melatonin has a moderate sedative (calming) effect.

Advantages : an overdose of the drug is impossible due to its very rapid disintegration. Good sleep continues after the drug is eliminated from the body, so sleep can be considered physiological. Melaxen works on the “done and gone” principle. The medicine does not change the course of the natural cycle and structure of sleep, does not cause nightmares, and does not affect awakening. After using the drug there is no feeling of drowsiness, you can drive a car.

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Flaws:

• manifestations of allergic reactions and the occurrence of peripheral edema are possible;
• relatively high cost.

Conclusions: The drug can be recommended for mild and moderate forms of insomnia, in the complex treatment of functional disorders accompanied by sleep disturbances, and also as a means for more rapid adaptation to rapid changes in time zones.

From reviews of Melaxen : “I had absolutely no side effects, I had a healthy and strong, normal sleep, there was not a bit of drowsiness in the morning, and at night I saw beautiful, colorful dreams. I took it one tablet in 30 minutes. before sleep. After drinking the entire package, no addiction developed. One of the best remedies for insomnia, I recommend it!”

Amitriptyline

At first glance, this medicine has absolutely nothing to do in a review of antidepressants. The first generation medicine has many side effects, the mildest of which is constant drowsiness, which is addictive. But this is the only antidepressant that not only can, but also should be prescribed to people with suicidal tendencies. It is this state of “drowning”, which almost everyone who has taken amitriptyline complains about, that will save the patient from an irreparable step. Most often, the drug is recommended in combination with other antidepressants and gradually discontinued as the other drug begins to act effectively.

Preliminary diagnosis

The vast majority of people suffering from depression experience insomnia. A severe emotional state does not allow the patient to relax before going to bed. He is tense, cannot sleep, constantly tosses and turns in bed, unable to get rid of obsessive thoughts.

Differential analysis in this case is quite complicated. This is explained by the fact that the signs of depressive type insomnia are completely identical to the symptoms of insomnia caused by ordinary poor sleep hygiene.

Symptoms of depressive insomnia:

1. Sleep disturbance.
2. Night awakenings (up to 10-15 times).
3. Pathological fatigue.
4. Initial symptoms of psycho-emotional disorders.

Insomnia in depression is characterized by short, shallow sleep, after which the patient does not feel rested. But the main diagnostic sign is a severe emotional state, irritability and loss of social connections.

Indications for use of tablets

Sleep medications are prescribed when a patient has difficulty falling asleep, waking up frequently at night, or other problems. The causes of this condition are usually:

• psycho-emotional arousal;
• anxiety;
• depression;
• flights (change of time zones);
• obstructive sleep apnea;
• pain syndrome;
• mental and somatic illnesses.

Having found out the cause of insomnia, the doctor prescribes medications from various pharmacological groups.

Traditional treatments for insomnia

Insomnia due to depression can be cured only by eliminating the cause of its occurrence. Depressive disorders are difficult to treat, since the patient lacks the will and desire to change anything, and sometimes there is a severe emotional state and personality decay. In this case, you need to take the time and use pharmacotherapy in tandem with psychotherapy.

The following pharmacological groups are used:

• antidepressants;
• tranquilizers;
• sleeping pills;
• herbal sedatives.

In case of depression, it is unacceptable to treat insomnia on your own. For mild emotional disorders, you can use folk remedies or herbal sedatives, or use non-medicinal methods of influence.

Sleeping pills

Drugs for the treatment of insomnia in depression should effectively relieve emotional stress, eliminate anxiety and help you fall asleep.

When taken over a long period of time, they normalize the structure of sleep and improve its productivity.

List of over-the-counter sleeping pills:

• Melaxen;
• Donormil;
• Reslip;
• Corvalol;
• Persen;
• Phytosedan;
• Doxylamine.

They are taken depending on the origin and type of insomnia. Mild over-the-counter remedies will help people who have sleep disturbances infrequently. If simple methods of treating insomnia for depression are ineffective, then it is necessary to take strong medications that should be prescribed by a doctor.

Herbal preparations

It is not recommended to immediately take pills for insomnia if you are depressed. If you have problems sleeping, you can first try taking herbal decoctions. Herbs with a sedative effect effectively eliminate nervousness, anxiety and minor sleep disturbances.

Effective recipes:

1. Take one part each of lavender, oregano and lemon balm. Brew 120 grams of the mixture in a liter of boiling water and cool. Drink a glass before going to bed.
2. Brew 2 tbsp in 700 ml boiling water. l motherwort, calendula and thyme. Leave for 15 minutes and take 100 ml at night.
3. Mix equal parts of motherwort, valerian, hop cones and mint. For 500 ml of water take 4 tbsp. l. mixture, cook for 15 minutes in a water bath, drink half a glass before bed.

To improve sleep, warm 15-minute baths with the addition of essential oils (lavender, mint, cedar), pine needles or decoctions of medicinal herbs (chamomile, thyme, valerian) are useful. For depression, they relieve nervous tension and help you fall asleep. After the procedure, it is recommended to drink a glass of warmed milk or chamomile tea with honey.

Tranquilizers

These are remedies that eliminate symptoms of anxiety and irritability. They improve mood in depression without affecting intellectual activity and memory ability.

Tranquilizers of a number of benzodiazepines (Lorazepam and Phenozepam) belong to a group of drugs that are sold strictly by prescription. They are addictive and addictive. The latest generation anxiolytics (Tenoten, Deprim, Rudotel) can be purchased without a prescription.

Their composition is similar to benzodiazepines, but much weaker. They are not addictive, but have unpleasant side effects in the form of gastrointestinal disorders.

In daytime tranquilizers, the anxiolytic effect predominates, and the muscle relaxant and hypnotic effect is practically absent. By taking this treatment, a person maintains his previous lifestyle.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants are medications designed to combat symptoms of depression. A person in a state of depression often suffers from HCV disorders (physical weakness, anorexia, constant fatigue, absent-mindedness, insomnia, apathy). Taking antidepressants for insomnia eliminates such phenomena.

Thymoleptic antidepressants (Amizol, Maprotelin, Fluvoxamine, Melipramine) have a pronounced sedative effect, reduce anxiety, restore normal sleep structure, relax, and improve emotional state. However, they do not depress the central nervous system. The most effective means are those that block the uptake of monoamines; the results of their use are noticeable after 2-3 weeks.

Action and properties of antidepressants

One of the factors responsible for mental health is the normal functioning of biochemical processes in the brain involving 20 types of neurotransmitters, which include:

Effect of antidepressants
If for some reason the level of these neurotransmitters decreases, then depression appears, which causes not only anxiety and apathy, but also physical signs: fatigue, weakness, drowsiness, sleep disturbances.

Antidepressants have common properties. This concerns activity on the central nervous system. Any such drug affects the transmission of nerve impulses in the brain, and its effect on other organs is secondary. Basically, many drugs have their own characteristics.

The line of drugs includes drugs that provide hypnotic or invigorating effects. Side effects can affect almost any system and organ. This can be explained by the fact that the brain regulates the vital functions of the human body and all changes in work will affect the body as a whole.

Kinds

There are different families of antidepressants. For severe depression, a combination of different types of drugs is used.

When choosing, factors such as possible side effects, main symptoms and individual sleep standards are taken into account. For example, atypical antidepressants are well tolerated, while TCAs are more effective in severe cases.

SSRIs

They block the reuptake of serotonin by the neurons that secrete it. Other antidepressants also affect serotonin levels, but they have different mechanisms of action.

Since serotonin receptors are present not only in the central nervous system, their stimulation can lead to various side effects. For example, gastrointestinal disorders.

SNRIs

Norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors. They are a class of drugs used to treat depression. Used to treat:

• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD);
• narcolepsy;
• Parkinson's disease.

Norepinephrine is responsible for regulating alertness and concentration, while dopamine regulates mood.

The medications are a new class of drugs used to treat depression. They have fewer side effects than others.

NDRIs are used when other forms of antidepressants, such as SSRIs, do not work or cause side effects.

Atypical

They differ from typical ones in their mechanism of action and structure. Among the contraindications:

• hypersensitivity to the composition;
• suicidal tendencies;
• manic states;
• alcohol poisoning;
• glaucoma;
• chronic renal failure.

The drugs are prohibited for patients with a history of convulsive reactions.

TCAs

Medicines inhibit the reuptake of neurotransmitter amino acids by nerve endings. Usually, the uptake of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine decreases simultaneously.

Drugs have already been developed that selectively block the reuptake of serotonin.

MAOIs

Monooxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are the class of drugs most commonly used to treat atypical depression. MAOIs carry a risk of dangerous side effects, so they are prescribed only after other medications have failed.

Their common property is the inhibition of monoamine oxidase, an enzyme that destroys neurotransmitters that regulate mood. Including dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, epinephrine.

By reducing the reaction rate of the enzyme that breaks down these chemicals, MAOI allows neurotransmitters to persist.

MAOIs were widely used from the 1960s to the 1980s, but they have fallen out of use. There are newer drugs on the market with fewer potentially severe side effects and interactions.

However, interest in them has renewed. Now they are used in the treatment of major depressive disorders with atypical features and resistant depression.