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Suggest Treatment For Sleeplessness

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Posted on Wed, 20 May 2015
Question: I'm trouble sleeping more than four hours a night. Which would be the best medication?
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Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
3 options are there, I would suggest ativan in low dose

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for writing to us.

You are at age of 77 with hypertension and sleep apnea. As age progresses sleep requirement reduces. At this age about 6 hours sleep is recommended.

First of all I would like to mention some non medical approach for your information.It is called 'Sleep Hygiene'. These are measures to improve sleep. You can find the details in below mentioned link
http://sleepfoundation.org/ask-the-expert/sleep-hygiene

In medicines anti psychotic medicine like quetiapine, benzodiazepine like lorazepam and anti depressant like Amitryptiline can be used for sleep disturbance considering your history.

If I were your treating doctor I would suggest lorazepam(ativan) 1 mg. It will not affect your sleep apnea. Though it is benzodiazepine(which are mostly avoided in sleep apnea)its low potency and low dose does not affect sleep apnea and I have used in lots of patients without any problem.

Discuss with your treating doctor and start medicine under his/her supervision.

Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.

Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Chintan Solanki

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 2406 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Sleeplessness

Brief Answer: 3 options are there, I would suggest ativan in low dose Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for writing to us. You are at age of 77 with hypertension and sleep apnea. As age progresses sleep requirement reduces. At this age about 6 hours sleep is recommended. First of all I would like to mention some non medical approach for your information.It is called 'Sleep Hygiene'. These are measures to improve sleep. You can find the details in below mentioned link http://sleepfoundation.org/ask-the-expert/sleep-hygiene In medicines anti psychotic medicine like quetiapine, benzodiazepine like lorazepam and anti depressant like Amitryptiline can be used for sleep disturbance considering your history. If I were your treating doctor I would suggest lorazepam(ativan) 1 mg. It will not affect your sleep apnea. Though it is benzodiazepine(which are mostly avoided in sleep apnea)its low potency and low dose does not affect sleep apnea and I have used in lots of patients without any problem. Discuss with your treating doctor and start medicine under his/her supervision. Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further. Regards, Dr.Chintan Solanki.