How Are Sleep Disorders Treated?

Sleep disorders are common. Roughly 1 to 2 out of every 10 people see their doctor about serious sleep issues. One of every 3 adults reports having insomnia, or trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.¹

The good news is that you have many choices to help you manage your sleep problems. The type of treatment your doctor recommends may vary depending on what type of sleep disorder you have. Your doctor will also want to rule out any other health conditions that impact sleep.

What are sleep disorders?

A sleep disorder is a health condition that keeps you from getting enough restful sleep. Of the more than 80 sleep disorders, the most common are:^1,2

• Insomnia (trouble falling asleep or staying asleep)
• Sleep apnea (trouble breathing while asleep)
• Restless legs syndrome (an uncomfortable creepy-crawly sensation in the legs or arms, usually in the evening or before bedtime)
• Periodic limb movement (legs and arms jerking in sleep)
• Narcolepsy (uncontrollable urge to sleep during the day despite getting enough sleep at night)
• Parasomnia (sleepwalking, sleep eating, etc.)
• Circadian rhythm disorder (problems sleeping or waking at the right times due to your internal clock)

Regularly not giving yourself enough time to sleep may be a bad habit. If severe enough, it may be called insufficient sleep disorder.

Good sleep habits

Your doctor will probably want to talk about your sleep habits. Good sleep habits, or sleep hygiene, can be highly effective in improving sleep quality. Sleep hygiene includes:³

• Avoiding alcohol and caffeine close to bedtime
• Avoiding heavy meals before bedtime
• Making sure you're getting to bed early enough to give yourself time for a full night's sleep
• Setting yourself a routine to relax before bedtime
• Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day
• Making sure the bedroom is quiet, dark, and comfortable for sleep

Exercise and other daily habits

Many people find they sleep better after they build more exercise into their day. Something as simple as a daily, 30-minute walk can help with restless legs syndrome, for example. Exercise may help with weight loss, and weight loss can improve sleep apnea. Even without weight loss, exercise can help with obstructive sleep apnea. And exercise may improve sleep whether or not you have an underlying sleep disorder.⁴

Other daily habits that can help reduce sleep problems include:⁴

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for insomnia
• Stress reduction
• Meditation and biofeedback
• Massage
• Deep breathing exercises
• Scheduled daytime naps for those who do not get enough sleep at night, but you should not nap if you have trouble falling asleep at night
• Bright light therapy (in the morning) for someone who wants to go to bed earlier at night

The daily habits that help with narcolepsy may be different from those needed to help with sleep apnea or insomnia.

Keeping a sleep diary

A sleep diary is simply a detailed, 1- to 3-week record of your sleep habits. It can be a handy tool to help you spot daily habits that interfere with good sleep. A sleep diary may help you realize that you are drinking too much caffeine, eating too late, or sleeping in a room that is too hot. It also may help you gain a better understanding of how much sleep you are getting on a regular basis, how often you nap, and how restful your sleep was.

A sleep diary can also help you document your sleep issues and how severe those are. This information can help your doctor diagnose what type of sleep disorder you might have.

Devices to help with breathing during sleep

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, your doctor will probably prescribe a machine called a CPAP. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. A CPAP forces air into your nose and airways so your body gets enough oxygen while you are asleep. Some people may need a dental device that gently pulls the jaw forward to open up the airway.⁴

Drugs for sleep disorders

Improving basic sleep habits, exercise, and relaxation techniques are often recommended over drugs. However, for more severe sleep disorders or ones that do not improve with other techniques, drugs may be a solution.

Drug treatments for sleep disorders include:^4-6

• Mild or short-term insomnia: Over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aids and antihistamines are popular but may cause daytime drowsiness and bladder or eye issues. Herbal supplements such as melatonin may help if you are trying to adjust your sleep schedule due to jet lag or if your internal clock is mismatched with external clock time. Melatonin is generally not recommended for insomnia but is used off-label for this purpose.
• Long-term insomnia: Hypnotics may be prescribed for more serious cases of insomnia that generally include some daytime impairment. This includes drugs like Ambien, Sonata, or Lunesta. There are newer classes of drugs that turn off wakefulness, such as Belsomra, Dayvigo, or Quvivq.
• Restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movements: Some of the medicines are the same drugs used for Parkinson’s disease but in much lower doses. These drugs, such as dopamine agonists and anti-convulsants, help improve uncomfortable sensations in the legs and help you sleep better.
• Narcolepsy: Stimulants may help prevent daytime sleepiness. Antidepressants may help prevent cataplexy, which is a loss of muscle control triggered by a strong emotion. Medicines taken at night may help improve nighttime sleep, leading to feeling more awake during the day.
• Parasomnias: Sleeping pills or antianxiety drugs may be prescribed for more severe night terrors or unwanted behaviors during sleep.