Sleeping pills, dietary supplements, therapy? What will banish insomnia

In old age, many suffer from a variety of diseases. One of them is insomnia. A beautiful name for a serious illness. It is simply called insomnia. Despite its apparent simplicity, this disease is important to treat. In this article we will tell you about how to deal with insomnia in old age, how to treat the disorder, the possible causes, what drugs and medicines are prescribed, folk remedies, and whether daytime sleep is beneficial.

How to effectively deal with insomnia

Many pensioners over 60 years of age suffer from insomnia. Problems may include difficulty falling asleep, frequent or early awakenings, but the most serious problem is insomnia. This pathology can negatively affect the course of other vital processes in the human body. Due to disruptions in daily routine and chronic lack of sleep, life expectancy is reduced.

What are the indications for using medications for insomnia?

Drugs for sleep disorders are sedatives and sedatives that are used not only to treat insomnia, but also for a number of other pathological conditions, for example, such as:

• difficulty falling asleep;
• frequent awakenings at night;
• tension caused by stress;
• with vegetative symptoms of diseases of the nervous system;
• state of mental stress (manager syndrome);
• neurasthenia (increased irritability and fatigue);
• neurocirculatory dystonia (hypertensive and cardiac type);
• asthenic syndrome (increased fatigue);
• depressive states that are accompanied by fear and anxiety;
• memory impairment.

Features of the disease: causes, symptoms

Some symptoms are characteristic of insomnia. They are conventionally divided into night and day. The first category includes:

• difficulty falling asleep;
• after waking up early, it is impossible to fall back asleep;
• feeling weak and drowsy;
• depression.

With such symptoms, the patient may complain of poor night rest. Irritability and aggression are often observed, and with prolonged insomnia a depressive state is possible. The disease does not come suddenly. As a rule, the disease is preceded by some changes in the body:

• partial loss of neurotransmitters in the hypothalamus;
• stress and psycho-emotional disorders;
• diseases of the heart, lungs, thyroid gland;
• disruptions in daily routine and irregular meals. In this case, special attention is paid to the evening meal;
• consumption of invigorating drinks: tonics, coffee;
• bad habits.

The duration of sleep for an elderly person should be 5-7 hours, while daytime rest should be alert. The fact is that it shortens the duration of the night.

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for an elderly person with insomnia

What are the types of insomnia?

The most common types of insomnia are:

1. Disorders of the sleep-wake cycle. There is a delayed onset of the sleep phase, and wakefulness before falling asleep lasts more than 30 minutes. It may be due to changes in time zones or a day-night work schedule.
2. Poor sleep hygiene. Falling asleep and waking up without following a routine, every day at different times, late meals, prolonged sleep and staying in bed for more than 9 hours leads to insomnia.
3. Sleep disorders are observed in both adults and children. Children's behavioral insomnia occurs due to incorrectly laid down attitudes. For example, the habit of always listening to a fairy tale or holding your mother’s hand before going to bed. When a habitual action is not followed, it is more difficult for the child to fall asleep.
4. Against the background of mental disorders. 70% of all mentally ill people experience sleep disorders. Treatment of insomnia is carried out exclusively by a psychiatrist and in some cases involves the use of strong sleeping pills or other psychotropic drugs.
5. Insomnia associated with somatic diseases (all diseases that are not mental). Due to pain syndromes or other disturbing factors, such as frequent urge to urinate, it becomes difficult for a person to fall asleep.
6. Pseudo-insomnia. The real perception of the duration of rest is disrupted. Patients with this problem seem to sleep less than the clock shows. A person suffering from pseudo-insomnia sleeps more than 9-10 hours, but feels sleep-deprived.
7. Insomnia caused by the use of certain medications with psychostimulant function.

If the sleep disorder becomes chronic and lasts more than 3 months, or if short episodes of insomnia significantly affect your lifestyle in a negative way, you should consult a neurologist who will prescribe appropriate treatment for insomnia.

Who suffers from insomnia

Insomnia occurs in all populations: adolescents, young adults, adults and the elderly. The reasons for this can be completely different. Among the young population under 35-40 years of age, the disease is most often caused by stress and medications. Teens and children may temporarily experience sleepless nights due to a surge in hormones. As a rule, at this age the body recovers on its own and rebuilds into a normal mode in the shortest possible time. The disease is most common among older people. The disease can be caused by completely different factors, but recovery without the help of doctors is difficult.

How to overcome insomnia in old age

The disease requires mandatory treatment. It should be noted that taking sleeping pills is not the best option. It is necessary to bring the body to the state in which it wants to fall asleep without medication. Most often, doctors recommend eliminating daytime rest. But if this is not possible, then active measures must follow. Set a clear daily routine that should become habitual over time. This way, the body will be able to adapt to falling asleep on its own in the allotted time.

Avoid nervous tension as much as possible, giving preference to comfort and coziness. If possible, move to the village for fresh air. Bad habits also have a detrimental effect. Avoiding them will also minimize harm to the entire body.

Drugs and medicines to improve sleep and treat insomnia in older people

Among all medications, a distinction should be made between chemical and those based on natural components. At the same time, doctors more often prescribe herbal preparations. They cause less time to the body. Most popular:

• Ortho-Taurine;
• Neurostable;
• Biolan;
• Balance.

Before purchasing chemical medications, you should think about the possible harm to the body. Known medicines:

• Ambien;
• Lunesta;
• Rosereme;
• Sonata;
• Zolpidem;
• Zaleplon.

Taking any medications should be accompanied by a visit to the doctor. Very often this disease signals more serious changes. The doctor will determine the appropriate medicine and determine the daily dosage. Self-prescribing sleep pills without a prescription for older adults may not only be ineffective, but even harmful and dangerous.

The best over-the-counter sleeping pills

Over-the-counter sleep aids include melatonin-based medications (a synthetic analogue of the sleep hormone produced by the pineal gland), tablets containing doxylamine (a histamine receptor blocker), and herbal medications.

Advantages

Unlike potent drugs from the barbiturate group, diazepine and Z-drugs, over-the-counter sleep tablets:

• have a less pronounced inhibitory effect on the nervous system;
• do not change the structure and duration of sleep phases, do not cause morning lethargy;
• have fewer contraindications;
• adverse reactions occur much less frequently and are less pronounced;
• do not provoke addiction and drug dependence;
• can be used both in courses and once.

Over-the-counter sleeping pills are more preferable for older people because they are characterized by a greater degree of safety.

Flaws

The main disadvantage of over-the-counter drugs is their weak or absent effect in severe sleep disorders.

Is it possible to overcome an illness without drugs?

If the disease has not reached the chronic stage, then it is better to fight it without taking medications. There are some universal tips that will help not only older people, but also young people.

How to improve sleep for an elderly person

Some tips to combat the disease:

• review your daily routine, and your activities should be as active as possible;
• establish a sleep-wake schedule, limiting daytime sleep/rest to 20-30 minutes;
• follow the principles of proper nutrition, including following a meal schedule;
• Ventilate the room regularly. 18-22 degrees is the optimal temperature for proper rest;
• Avoid watching TV an hour before bedtime. It is better to read a book at this time.

Predictions: is it possible to overcome the problem?

Like most diseases, insomnia is treatable. The path is not always easy, and upon returning to a normal lifestyle, the patient is required to adhere to new rules and habits. Healing is promoted by:

• treatment started on time;
• compliance with recommendations;
• maintaining sleep hygiene;
• support of relatives and the wishes of the patient himself.

Know the norm!

To feel good, an adult needs an average of 7–8 hours of sleep. However, this norm is not at all universal. The need for sleep is determined genetically and ranges from 4 to 12 hours. People with a low need for sleep are called short sleepers, while people with a high need are called long sleepers.

Sometimes insomnia creates the feeling of a complete lack of sleep. A person’s sleep becomes superficial, often fragmented and interrupted. A patient with insomnia can wake up 20, 30 times a night, and each awakening reaches his consciousness, but the intervals of sleep between these awakenings fall out of memory. As a result, it seems that there was no sleep at all. In fact, it was, but of very poor quality, because it is impossible not to sleep at all - after three nights spent without sleep, a person completely loses his legal capacity.

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Herbs for men and women in old age

In alternative medicine there are many recipes for decoctions and herbs that promote quality and healthy rest.

• Hop cones or lemon balm are the most common companion of the disease. They must be finely chopped and placed in an airtight glass container. For 1 tbsp. You will need 200-250 ml of boiling water for a spoonful of herbal mixture. If possible, you can brew tea in a thermos. This way it will retain its healing properties longer. You can’t overdo it with herbal tea. Despite the fact that all components are natural, the recommended dosage is 1-2 glasses.
• Fragrant strawberry tea. Its second name is “Forest”. It's quite simple to prepare. You will need 1 tbsp. a spoonful of chopped strawberry leaves. They are brewed in 1 glass of hot water. To enhance the effect, some add a spoonful of honey. Brewing time does not exceed 15 minutes.
• Unusual herbal tea made from lettuce leaves. This tea requires a long preparation, but the effect will not be long in coming. It is recommended to drink 2-3 glasses during the day before meals, with the last dose at least an hour before bedtime. The tea contains components that have a beneficial effect on the central nervous system, as well as calming and relieving irritability.

About the disease

Insomnia is a persistent systematic sleep disorder in which the processes of falling asleep, waking up, duration and depth are disrupted.
The causes of insomnia in the elderly are:

• decreased production of the sleep hormone melatonin due to age;
• stress, worries due to illness of loved ones, retirement, etc.;
• poor sleep hygiene (bright light, noise, uncomfortable bed);
• mental illnesses: schizophrenia, depression, neurosis, nightmares;
• organic diseases: hypertension, tachycardia, asthma, back problems, bone pain.

Based on the reasons, insomnia in the elderly can be transient, that is, associated with a stressful situation (it often goes away on its own) and chronic.
The latter is caused by physiological changes in the body.

With insomnia, patients complain of:

• prolonged falling asleep;
• frequent awakenings and inability to fall asleep afterwards;
• intermittent shallow sleep;
• reduction in sleep duration;
• feeling weak and tired in the morning;
• drowsiness, lethargy during the day.

These signs directly indicate the presence of insomnia.

To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor recommends that the patient keep a diary and record the time of falling asleep, waking up, duration of rest, and frequency of waking up in the middle of the night.

The following diagnostic tests are also performed for older people:

• heart cardiogram;
• encephalography;
• MRI of the brain;
• hormone tests;
• blood biochemistry.

These studies are necessary to identify diseases that may cause insomnia.

Specific sleep disorders in older people

Even if an elderly person does not experience difficulty falling asleep or does not exhibit other symptoms, then additional attention should be paid to frequent companions.

Depression and nervous disorder

Calmness and balance are the two main components of a healthy and long rest at night. If a person is overexcited or anxious, then the balance of the processes of excitation and inhibition is disturbed. In addition, before falling asleep, there is additional time for soul-searching and long thoughts. In this case, it is recommended to take a course of sessions with a psychologist and learn to abstract from problems.

Drug treatment

There are many substances in nature that activate the brain and promote physical activity. These include strong tea or coffee, chocolate, carbonated drinks and alcohol, nicotine, psychotropic substances and drugs. They significantly reduce the normal duration of deep sleep. Some medications may have the same effect. Before taking it, you should carefully study the side effects of the drug you are taking, and if they occur, consult your doctor. You may be prescribed a new medicine.

It should also be noted that long-term use of sleeping pills also has a detrimental effect on the ability to fall asleep independently. Therefore, before taking it, it is necessary to consult a specialist who will advise on the duration of use and dosage.

Prices for drugs (current for 2021):

Restless legs syndrome

The condition is characterized by involuntary movements of the arms and legs. The repetition frequency varies. The most frequent is every minute.

In a healthy person, when entering the deep phase, all muscles are in a relaxed state and such movements do not occur. For those suffering from insomnia, the brain constantly sends out nerve impulses that move the limbs. The reasons can be very different:

• arthritis;
• diabetes;
• renal failure;
• peculiarities of brain function in individual people;
• impaired blood circulation.

Periodic limb movement syndrome

The syndrome is characterized by twitching of the arms and legs. Movements are involuntary and uncontrollable by a person. It is difficult for the patient to relax and there is a desire to move the limbs. Laboratory testing is required to make an accurate diagnosis. To stabilize the condition, doctors prescribe drugs to treat Parkinson's disease.

Types of drugs

Medicines that combat insomnia are divided into several types:

1. Barbiturates . They have a positive result if a person has serious problems falling asleep. This group includes "Reladorm", "Phenobarbital". However, it should be remembered that these drugs cause physical and mental dependence. A prescription from a doctor is required upon purchase. A group of barbiturates shorten the REM sleep cycle.
2. Group of tranquilizers . This includes Sibazon, Phenazepam, Midazolam, Nitrazepam. Long-term use can also cause addiction. Doctors prescribe such medications for insomnia, the cause of which is anxiety, worries, and unreasonable fears.
3. Z-drugs . They have practically no undesirable effects, only in some cases, if taken for too long, an addiction syndrome may develop. This group includes Zopiclone, Adante, Ivadal, Zolpidem.
4. Medicines containing melatonin . This includes Melarena, Melaxen, Circadin. Drugs in this group do not affect sleep cycles, speed up the process of falling asleep, and reduce the number of night awakenings. Do not cause drowsiness during the day.

Another least safe group of sleeping pills are histamine receptor blockers. This includes Donormil. Such drugs are not addictive, do not affect sleep phases and have a minimum of unwanted effects and contraindications.

What to take for insomnia in old age: folk recipes

Age-related changes can provoke many pathologies. This is a natural process. Very often, old age is accompanied by disturbances in rest at night. At the same time, it is very important not to start the problem and try to solve it as soon as possible. But before taking medications, you need to consult a doctor and identify the main causes of the disorder. For temporary relief of the condition, you can resort to alternative medicine.

Causes

Among the main root causes of sleep disorders in older people are the following:

• atherosclerotic changes;
• the occurrence of seizures;
• heart failure and heart rhythm disturbances;
• conflicts and stress;
• diseases of the urinary system;
• diabetes.

It is difficult for an elderly body to cope with such disorders on its own, so treatment of diseases by specialized specialists is required.

Effective treatment with folk remedies for insomnia in old age

Despite the far-reaching advances in medicine, many doctors can recommend traditional methods. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to these methods. They are not harmful and can be an effective supplement.

Sleeping teas, decoctions, infusions

• Hop cones are the most popular method. To take, you only need 4-5 cones, which are poured with a glass of boiling water.
• Valerian root: 2 tablespoons pour 500 ml of boiling water and cook for 30 minutes over low heat. The resulting decoction is decanted and drunk in just a few sips. To enhance the effect, you can add honey.
• Motherwort is a panacea for all diseases of the central nervous system. It calms, relieves irritation and stress. It is brewed and drunk in the evening like regular tea. If the herb seems bitter, you can add a spoonful of honey.

You should not mix different decoctions in the hope of getting a particularly strong effect. Some of them may cause allergies.

Herbal pillows

This is a very effective cure for insomnia in old age, which is also suitable for young people. Hops, pine needles, mata, linden or wormwood are used as filling. I fold them in cotton fabric. Here, as in preparing decoctions, you should not mix different types of herbs.

Herbal baths

The patient takes a warm bath about 2-3 times a week. One of the following types of herbal decoctions is added to the water:

• hop;
• needles;
• mint;
• Linden;
• sagebrush.

You will need a decoction in a 3-liter saucepan with the addition of honey. To enhance the effect, add 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil. Most likely you will not feel an immediate effect from one procedure. They have a cumulative effect, which is noticeable after 1 month. Time spent in the bathroom is about 15 minutes.