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Suggest An Alternative Medicine To Silenor For Insomnia That Is Less Expensive
My dad is 92 he has trouble sleeping at night. Sometimes he gets up and roams around. He also has problems with his memory. The medicine Silenor has helped, but is very expensive. Is there sometime else that works like the Silenor? That is less expensive.
posted on
Mon, 23 Jan 2017
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 13 Feb 2017
Answered on
Tue, 25 Sep 2018
Last reviewed on
Hello dear
I understand your concern
Sleep disturbances/insomia is of two type:
1. Primary: Problem of sleep disturbance without any medical illness. Ambien/zolpidem is recommended
It is presribed drug
2. Secondary: Due to some underlying medical illness. Treatment of underlying cause is recommended
You can try following measures first for insomia
- Fix sleep schedule and stick on it
- No day time sleep
- Do regular exercise that makes you fatigue
- Avoid heavy meal and fatty meal in dinner
- Avoid tea, coffee, soft drink at night
- Use bed when you feel sleepy
- Take a glass of warm milk at bedtime
- Take a warm water bath before sleeping
- Associate your bed with sleep only.
- Do not keep lying idly on bed while reading, watching television etc.
- No talking or use mobile in bed
- Switch off all light and sounds disturbances objects
If problem persists then you require psychiatric consultation and sleep studies
For primary insomnia first choice of treatment will be Ambien/zolpidem.
It is safer drug with relatively short half life
It has no hangover, day time sleepiness, major drug interaction issue.
In absence of any medical illness (for primary insomnia), I would suggest to ask your doctor about prescribing Ambien 5 mg at bedtime.
This will treat insomnia very well, and help you feel better.
Hope this may help you
If you have further query then I will be happy to help you
Best regards
Dr. Sagar
I understand your concern
Sleep disturbances/insomia is of two type:
1. Primary: Problem of sleep disturbance without any medical illness. Ambien/zolpidem is recommended
It is presribed drug
2. Secondary: Due to some underlying medical illness. Treatment of underlying cause is recommended
You can try following measures first for insomia
- Fix sleep schedule and stick on it
- No day time sleep
- Do regular exercise that makes you fatigue
- Avoid heavy meal and fatty meal in dinner
- Avoid tea, coffee, soft drink at night
- Use bed when you feel sleepy
- Take a glass of warm milk at bedtime
- Take a warm water bath before sleeping
- Associate your bed with sleep only.
- Do not keep lying idly on bed while reading, watching television etc.
- No talking or use mobile in bed
- Switch off all light and sounds disturbances objects
If problem persists then you require psychiatric consultation and sleep studies
For primary insomnia first choice of treatment will be Ambien/zolpidem.
It is safer drug with relatively short half life
It has no hangover, day time sleepiness, major drug interaction issue.
In absence of any medical illness (for primary insomnia), I would suggest to ask your doctor about prescribing Ambien 5 mg at bedtime.
This will treat insomnia very well, and help you feel better.
Hope this may help you
If you have further query then I will be happy to help you
Best regards
Dr. Sagar
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