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Article: Insomnia.(Drug Update)
- Article from:
- Skin & Allergy News
- Article date:
- September 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 International Medical News Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Several new prescription medications have been introduced recently for treating insomnia and have largely taken the place of the benzodiazepines, once the most commonly used medications for insomnia. The newer nonbenzodiazepine benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BRAs)--eszopiclone (Lunesta), zolpidem (Ambien), and zaleplon (Sonata)--are specific for the sedating benzodiazepine receptor. The benzodiazepines are less specific and are more likely to be associated with symptoms that include daytime sleepiness, dizziness, worsening depression, confusion, and lack of coordination, all of which occur less frequently with the three newer drugs.
Eszopiclone and ...