Today the FDA issued a new safety announcement and consumer update about some common sleeping pills used to treat insomnia. The FDA is requiring drug makers to lower the recommended doses for products that contain the drug zolpidem. The FDA is concerned that the [...]
The most effective treatment for chronic insomnia is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-I). However, medications can be helpful for some people who have insomnia. Follow these tips to make sure that you use sleeping pills safely and properly to treat insomnia: Never take a sleeping pill without [...]
As more Americans come to grips with the serious nature of their sleep problems, the number of medical facilities treating sleep illness is on the rise. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine announced today that it has accredited its 2,500th sleep center, setting an [...]
Researchers from the Mayo Clinic have found that zolpidem, the drug often branded as Ambien and prescribed to help patients in hospitals sleep, has been associated with a significantly increased risk of falls. “Our hospitals have an overall fall rate of about 2.5 per [...]
Researchers have identified a new brain mechanism responsible for the paralysis of critical breathing muscles during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, offering the possibility of a new treatment for sleep-related breathing disorders. “This newly identified process has fundamental implications for understanding the common and [...]
Researchers are studying a new therapy to help people with insomnia find restful sleep. The Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center study looked at whether a non-invasive approach that uses musical tones to balance brain activity can ‘reset’ the brain and effectively reduce insomnia. “The [...]
Melatonin supplements may improve sleep in hypertension patients who are on beta-blockers. Scientists found that three weeks of melatonin use significantly improved their sleep quality and helped them stay asleep compared with a placebo. Patients taking melatonin increased total sleep time by 37 minutes. [...]
Stanford University holds a special place in the sleep medicine community. Literally. A Stanford dorm named Jerry House was the location for ten years worth of summer sleep camps. It was at these camps that clinical protocols were written. Protocols still used today. Stanford’s [...]
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new sleep aid for people who wake in the middle of the night. Intermezzo was approved Nov. 23 for as-needed treatment when nighttime awakening is followed by difficulty returning to sleep. It’s the first drug [...]
An intriguing new method for treating sleep apnea is showing promise in the lab. The November issue of SLEEP contains a new study about stimulating the muscles in the throat to keep the airway from closing. The muscle stimulator resembles a pacemaker and is [...]
