""A well-spent day
brings happy sleep." -
Leonardo da Vinci
Neurotransmitter |
Class of Drug |
Examples |
Comments |
H1 Histamine |
Antihistamines (aka histamine antagonists) |
Diphenhydramine, Doxylamine |
Over-the-counter sleep medicines are antihistamines |
GABA (Gamma-Amino Butyric acid) |
Temazepam (Restoril) Triazolam (Halcion), Loprazolam (Havlane) |
Still prescribed for insomnia, although more often for anxiety |
|
GABA (Gamma-Amino Butyric acid) |
Non-benzodiazepines: Pyrazolopyrimidines, imidazopyridines and cyclopyrrones – The”Z-drugs” |
Eszopiclone (Lunesta), Zolpidem (Ambien), Zaleplon (Sonata) |
Most prescriptions for insomnia involve this class |
GABA (Gamma-Amino Butyric acid) |
Secobarbital (Seconal) |
Rarely used anymore |
|
Orexin (Hypocretin) |
Became available for patient use in 2015 |
||
Melatonin MT1 and MT2 receptors |
Melatonin, Ramelteon (Rozerem) |
Affect the circadian clock. Usually have fewer side effects. |
|
Serotonin and Dopamine |
Antipsychotics and Antidepressants |
Quetiapine (Seroquel), Olanzapine (Zyprexa), Doxepine (Sinequan) |
Not often prescribed for sleep disorders, but for other disorders than have insomnia or hypersomnia as a symptom. |
Opioid |
Narcotics |
Hydrocodone, Morphine |
Pain medicines. Not prescribed for sleep disorders, but cause extreme drowsiness |
