Pharmacotherapy of Insomnia and Current Updates.

Insomnia is highly prevalent and is associated with a range of psychological, psychiatric, and medical conditions. Insomnia affects health by influencing cognitive, emotional and social functioning. Circadian and sleep homeostatic processes play an important role in insomnia development and its maintenance. Several efficacious treatments, both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic, exist for the management of insomnia. Among non-pharmacologic treatments including stimulus control therapy, sleep restriction, relaxation, sleep hygiene and cognitive therapy have been shown to be efficacious. Pharmacological treatment acts as adjuvant to cognitive behavioural treatment. Despite availability of various classes drugs for insomnia treatment, none can be considered as an ideal agent. Novel therapies are still being explored and tested to arrive at a hypnotic that has acceptable side effects and tolerability profile while still being efficacious. © Journal of the Association of Physicians of India 2011.