When you just need some shut-eye, though, having multiple options can make things even more complicated and confusing. Here are some quick descriptions to help you sort through the main differences and similarities.
- Include older drugs such as Valium, Klonopin, Xanax, and Halcion
- Induce sleep by slowing down the central nervous system
- Are often used to treat anxiety and panic disorders as well as insomnia
- Are approved for short-term use (a few weeks or less) by adults, though many doctors prescribe them for longer
- Cost less than the newer medicationsin some cases, about 75 cents a pillbecause they are available as generics.
- May make symptoms of sleep apnea and other breathing disorders worse
- Have a low risk of abuse or dependence (although slightly higher than other sleep medications)
- Can cause side effects such as: residual daytime sleepiness, cognitive impairment, memory loss, falling and motor impairment (especially among older people), and the return, or "rebound," of insomnia after abruptly discontinuing a drug
- In a 2006 government-sponsored analysis, benzodiazepines caused patients to fall asleep 10 minutes faster and sleep 32 minutes longer than those who took placebo pills.