HYPNOTIC HYSTERIA

Should you avoid sleeping pills at all costs? With acute insomnia on the list of potential minor ailments for which pharmacists can prescribe in Ontario, stay on top of this.

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Counselling Conundrum: "My Nurse Practitioner, and also a sleep specialist, have told me that sleeping pills are bad for me, and to avoid them. But isn't sleep important? I am only getting a few hours of sleep per night."

Concise Conclusion: Sorry to hear that you're going through that. Unfortunately, there is significant stigma around sleeping pills, and sleep is rarely discussed when interacting with the healthcare system, despite it being nearly as important, or even more important, to overall health as exercise. Sleeping pills should not be completely dismissed, and in many patients a long-term sleeping pill is necessary. Like most drugs, avoid taking them if you don't absolutely need them, but use them when the benefits outweigh the risks.

Quick Wrap-up: We have seen patients very frustrated in these types of scenarios around hypnotics. In theory, never use hypnotics. However, in practice, sleeping is extremely important and many comorbidities can arise if a patient is sleep-deprived. Of course, take extra care in the elderly (fall risks), offer non-pharms first, and consider comorbidities (e.g. depression for trazodone/mirtazapine, etc.).

Dive Deeper

1) Clinical Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Insomnia in Adults - PMC

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