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Insomnia - Independent medicine & health information for consumers & professionals Insomnia
Show health professional infoLatest independent information about insomnia, including medicines and non-drug treatments, written and reviewed by experts in Australia.
Insomnia is also known as sleeplessness or sleep problems.
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| Title | Description | Type | Audience  |
Date* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Zolpidem and sleep-related behaviours |
NPS has published a position statement on the zolpidem safety change and to describe its place in insomnia therapy. |
Professional publication - NPS RADAR - Brief item | Health Professionals | 2008-08-01 00:00:00 |
Case study 33 report: Managing depression in general practice |
Elderly patient commenced on paroxetine 5 weeks ago presents with agitation, insomnia and poor appetite. Says feels no better on paroxetine but denies suicidal ideation. |
Professional activity - Case study report | Health Professionals | 2004-10-01 00:00:00 |
Case study 33: Managing depression in general practice |
Elderly patient commenced on paroxetine 5 weeks ago presents with agitation, insomnia and poor appetite. Says feels no better on paroxetine but denies suicidal ideation. |
Professional activity - Case study | Health Professionals | 2004-10-01 00:00:00 |
Case study 62: Maximising sleep and minimising potential harms |
Margaret is a 54-year-old former receptionist who is visiting you for a repeat prescription of temazepam, she will finish her first pack in 10 days. She started temazepam 2 weeks ago after the sudden death of her aunt. |
Professional activity - Case study | Health Professionals | 2010-02-01 00:00:00 |
Case study PH9 report: For pharmacists. Managing depression |
Elderly patient commenced on paroxetine 5 weeks ago presents with agitation, insomnia and poor appetite. Says feels no better on paroxetine but denies suicidal ideation. |
Professional activity - Case study report | Health Professionals | 2004-11-24 00:00:00 |
Case study PH9: For pharmacists. Managing depression |
Elderly patient commenced on paroxetine 5 weeks ago presents with agitation, insomnia and poor appetite. Says feels no better on paroxetine but denies suicidal ideation. |
Professional activity - Case study | Health Professionals | 2004-10-01 00:00:00 |
Counting down to a good night's sleep |
For some people, getting a good night’s sleep can be a major problem. While the amount of sleep we need decreases as we get older, quality of sleep is what will enable us to get the most out of the following day. |
Media release | Others | 2009-08-17 11:00:00 |
DUE of hypnotic medicines for the management of insomnia in aged care facilities |
Information and login for the DUE of hypnotic medicines for the management of insomnia in aged care facilities |
Professional activity - Drug Use Evaluation (DUE) for aged care facilities | Health Professionals | 2010-04-30 00:00:00 |
Getting a good night’s sleep |
Learn about lifestyle measures for dealing with sleep problems, to avoid the use of sleeping tablets. Tips include keeping a regular routine throughout the day and relaxing in the evening. |
Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2004-09-01 00:00:00 |
Health professionals’ perspectives on the use of hypnotics for insomnia, Poster NMS 2010 |
Interviews with practising clinicians and pharmacists about hypnotics for managing insomnia are used to inform NPS therapeutic program development. Todkar A, Koo M. National Medicine Symposium, 26-28 May 2010, Melbourne, Australia |
Event - Conference poster | Health Professionals,Research & Evaluation community | 2010-05-28 00:00:00 |
Clinical audit: Use of benzodiazepines, zolpidem and zopiclone in insomnia |
Clinical audit to assist GPs to to review their management of patients prescribed a benzodiazepine, zolpidem or zoplicone for insomnia. |
Professional activity - Clinical audit | Health Professionals | 2010-03-01 00:00:00 |
Latest updates to NPS RADAR online now |
Written by the National Prescribing Service, NPS RADAR is a timely publication containing independent, evidence-based assessments of new drugs, new PBS listings and the latest research for doctors, pharmacists and other health professionals. |
Media release | Others | 2010-05-19 19:00:00 |
Melatonin prolonged-release tablets (Circadin) for insomnia |
Melatonin prolonged-release tablets (Circadin) can be used by people over 55 years of age to treat sleeping problems (insomnia) not caused by other physical or psychological conditions. |
Consumer publication - Medicine Update | Consumers | 2011-08-05 00:00:00 |
Melatonin prolonged-release tablets (Circadin) for primary insomnia in older people |
Prolonged-release melatonin may be used short-term to improve quality of sleep in people with primary insomnia aged ≥ 55 years. |
Professional publication - NPS RADAR - Review | Health Professionals | 2010-05-14 00:00:00 |
Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire |
Brief questionnaire for evaluating sleep |
Professional publication - NPS RADAR - Web only item | Health Professionals | 2010-05-14 00:00:00 |
National facts and figures on benzodiazepine use |
Graph and figures depicting community benzodiazepine use from 1990 to 1998. Temazepam is the seventh most frequently dispensed item on the PBS. |
Professional publication - NPS factsheet | Health Professionals | 1999-11-17 00:00:00 |
New clinical program addresses sleep problems and therapy options |
The latest NPS education program ‘Management options to maximise sleep’ encourages prescribers to recommend non-drug therapies as first-line treatment for insomnia and to discuss the importance of good sleep practices and the potential harms of hypnotic medicines with the patient before prescribing hypnotics. |
Media release | Others | 2010-02-03 19:00:00 |
New medicine evaluation tools for aged care facilities |
Two new Drug Use Evaluation (DUE) tools have been developed by the National Prescribing Service Ltd (NPS) to assist health professionals working in aged care facilities with optimal drug therapy relating to laxative use, and hypnotics. |
Media release | Others | 2009-05-15 19:00:00 |
New Alzheimer's drugs |
Reviews evidence on efficacy of donepezil and rivastigmine in Alzheimer's disease, including side effects, and on managing behavioural disturbances in dementia using complementary medicine. Includes case study. |
Professional publication - NPS News | Health Professionals | 2001-06-01 00:00:00 |
Evaluation of prescription drugs in Australia |
A synopsis of the evaluation, dosage management and regulation of drugs in Australia, along with issues surrounding approaches to new drugs |
Professional publication - NPS News | Health Professionals | 2001-12-01 00:00:00 |
Benzodiazepines and non-drug treatments for insomnia |
Covers benzodiazepine prescribing and the treatment of insomia. Compares non-drug treatments and herbal alternatives |
Professional publication - NPS News | Health Professionals | 2002-10-01 00:00:00 |
Hypnotic medicines (sedatives) use in primary care |
Outlines the role of sedatives (e.g. benzodiazepines, zolpidem or zolpiclone) in treating insomnia, often they are not needed. |
Professional publication - NPS News | Health Professionals | 2010-02-01 00:00:00 |
NPS Prescribing Practice Review 26: Drug use in the elderly |
Information on the principles of good prescribing in the elderly, including advice on managing sleep or behavioural disturbances using both non-drug and drug therapy interventions. |
Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2004-07-09 00:00:00 |
Sleep management options |
Discusses how to avoid benzodiazepines and related drugs, use of non-drug therapies for patients with sleep problems, and how to encourage withdrawal |
Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2010-03-30 00:00:00 |
NPS Prescribing Practice Review 4: Reviewing long term use of benzodiazepines and managing the new patient with insomnia |
Information on reviewing the need to continue, reduce or cease an individuals long term use of benzodiazepines. A plan for managing insomnia is also provided. |
Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 1999-07-01 00:00:00 |
NPS Prescribing Practice Review 26: Drug use in the elderly |
Information on the principles of good prescribing in the elderly, including advice on managing sleep or behavioural disturbances using both non-drug and drug therapy interventions. |
Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2004-07-09 00:00:00 |
Reduction plan for your sleeping tablets |
A patient information leaflet that can be used by doctors to reinforce verbal instructions given on how to reduce doses of sleeping tablets and sedatives. |
Professional tool - Patient leaflet | Health Professionals,Consumers | 2010-03-01 00:00:00 |
Sleep right, sleep tight |
Our sleep patterns change as we get older. Developing good sleep habits is a more effective way of solving sleep problems than resorting to medicines. If you don’t sleep well, some of these strategies might help. |
Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2010-11-16 00:00:00 |
NPS Position Statement: Zolpidem and sleep-related behaviours |
This NPS Position Statement highlights warnings from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) about the use of the hypnotic drug zolpidem and its possible association with dangerous sleep-related behaviours. |
NPS position statement | Health Professionals | 2008-07-01 00:00:00 |
NPS Position Statement: Zolpidem and sleep-related behaviours |
This NPS Position Statement highlights warnings from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) about the use of the hypnotic drug zolpidem and its possible association with dangerous sleep-related behaviours |
NPS position statement | Health Professionals | 2008-07-01 00:00:00 |
Zolpidem sleeping tablets |
Fact sheet on zolpidem sleeping tablets (including Stilnox brand), with information on minimising side effects and non-drug interventions for insomnia. |
Media factsheet | Others | 2008-02-01 00:00:00 |
Information on this website is published by NPS — an independent, evidence based, not-for-profit organisation funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
NPS develops its information under the guidance of experts in their field, editorial panels, expert reviewers and consumers. Find out more about how we develop our content.
Date published: 2010-12-17 00:00:00
Reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the date of creation. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified health professional. Health professionals should rely on their own expertise and enquiries when providing medical advice or treatment. Where permitted by law, NPS disclaims all liability (including for negligence) for any loss, damage or injury resulting from reliance on or use of this information. Read our full disclaimer.
References to brands should not be taken as an endorsement by NPS.
