Some people may suffer from more than one type of insomnia. Terminal insomnia involves waking up early without intending to do so. Maintenance insomnia involves having trouble staying asleep. Timing: Onset insomnia is characterized by having trouble falling asleep.

Severe cases of insomnia result in serious limitations on a person’s ability to live their life and may endanger their health. Others have more moderate cases that affect their ability to function. Severity: Some people suffer from mild insomnia that simply leaves them feeling fatigued for a day or two.Secondary insomnia, also known as comorbid insomnia, occurs alongside another medical problem, such as depression. Cause: If your insomnia is primary, it is the main health problem you’re facing.Chronic insomnia lasts for at least a month, if not longer, and persists even when stressors pass. Duration: Acute insomnia is a short-term sleep disorder that may be caused by a specific stressor.In fact, the various types of insomnia are differentiated by four distinct features: Not everyone experiences insomnia the same way. However, insomnia itself can also be a symptom of stress, grief, or mental health disorders such as: The main signs and symptoms of insomnia are fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. When people with insomnia do fall asleep, the quality of their sleep is often lacking, leaving them feeling unrested. They may fall asleep without issue but wake up after only a few hours and struggle to fall back asleep. People with insomnia may spend hours trying to fall asleep, or they may stay awake the entire night. Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, and/or getting restful sleep. Daridorexant for the treatment of insomnia.Share this article on Facebook Share this article on Twitter Share this article on LinkedIn Share this article on Messenger Share this article in email Copy the link to this article Print this article What Is Insomnia? Hetlioz (tasimelteon) capsules, for oral use.Halcion (triazolam) tablets, for oral use, CIV.Dayvigo (lemborexant) tablets, for oral use, CIV.Belsomra (suvorexant) tablets, for oral use, C-IV.Ambien (zolpidem tartrate) tablets, for oral use, C-IV.You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. It’s generally considered safe but may cause some side effects, such as nausea, headaches, and dizziness. Melatonin is available in doses from 0.5–10 milligrams (mg). Research suggests that melatonin may be effective at reducing jet lag when changing time zones. Research hasn’t found melatonin supplements to be effective at treating insomnia, but they may be helpful in certain cases. Melatonin supplements contain a synthetic version of this hormone. It helps regulate your body’s sleep-wake cycles. Melatonin is a hormone produced by your pineal gland. Learn more about antihistamines for sleep.

They can also cause symptoms such as daytime drowsiness or agitation.

They’re often not recommended because tolerance to their sedative effects tends to develop quickly. It’s important to talk with a doctor before taking antihistamines for insomnia. Using a medication “Off-label” means using medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat a condition other than the one they were approved to treat (in this case, allergies). This is because drowsiness is an expected side effect. Over-the-counter medications used to treat insomnia include: Products that contain antihistaminesĬertain antihistamines used to treat allergies are sometimes used off-label to treat insomnia.

Chronic insomnia definition timeline