June 25, 2007
AANP: Sleep Is Best Treatment for Insomnia
Kurt Ullman
Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus, MD; Emeritus Professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
"Another important aspect of treating insomnia is to know when referral to a sleep specialist is indicated," said Adams.
Among the indications are:
- Insomnia persisting despite a reasonable trial of treatment.
- Excessive daytime sleepiness that might endanger the patient or someone else.
- Unpleasant sensations occur during the night.
- The occurrence of restless legs, witnessed incidents of apnea.
- Unintentional sleep episodes, loss of muscle tone or hallucinations occur during the day, accompanied by disturbed sleep at night.
| The presentation was supported by an educational grant from Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc. Dr. Zee receives consulting fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, Neurocrine Biosciences, Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Adams works with the Speakers Bureau of Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis, Novartis, Genetech, and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. |