Insomnia diagnosis and treatment across the lifespan

Prescribing for children. There is no FDA-approved medication for the treatment of insomnia in children.⁵² However, melatonin has shown promising results for treating insomnia in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. A systematic review (13 trials­; N = 682) with meta-analysis (9 studies; n = 541) showed that melatonin significantly improved total sleep time compared with placebo (mean difference [MD] = 48.26 minutes; 95% CI, 36.78-59.73).⁸ In 11 studies (n = 581), sleep-onset latency improved significantly with melatonin use.⁸ No difference was noted in the frequency of wake-after-sleep onset.⁸ No medication-related adverse events were reported. Heterogeneity (I² = 31%) and inconsistency among included studies shed doubt on the findings; therefore, further research is needed.⁸

Prescribing in pregnancy. Prescribing medications to treat insomnia in pregnancy is complex and controversial. No consistency exists among guidelines and recommendations for treating insomnia in the pregnant population. Pharmacotherapy for insomnia is frequently prescribed off-label in pregnant patients. Examples include benzodiazepine-receptor agonists, antidepressants, and gamma-aminobutyric acid–reuptake inhibitors.⁴⁵

Pharmacotherapy in pregnancy is a unique challenge, wherein clinicians consider not only the potential drug toxicity to the fetus but also the potential changes in the pregnant patient’s pharmacokinetics that influence appropriate medication doses.^39,74 Worth noting: Zolpidem has been associated with preterm birth, cesarean birth, and low-birth-weight infants.^45,74 The lack of clinical trials of pharmacotherapy in pregnant patients results in a limited understanding of medication effects on long-term health and safety outcomes in this population.^39,74

There is no FDA-approved medication for the treatment of insomnia in children.

A review of 3 studies with small sample sizes found that when antidepressants or antihistamines were taken during pregnancy, neither had significant adverse effects on mother or child.⁶⁸ Weigh the risks of medications with the risk for disease burden and apply a shared decision-making approach with the patient, including providing an accurate assessment of risks and safety information regarding medication use.³⁹ Online resources such as ReproTox (www.reprotox.org) and MotherToBaby (https://mothertobaby.org) are available to support clinicians treating pregnant and lactating patients.³⁹

Prescribing for older adults. Treatment of insomnia in older adults requires a multifactorial approach.²² For all older adults, start interventions with nonpharmacologic treatments for insomnia followed by treatment of any underlying medical and psychiatric disorders that affect sleep.²¹ If medications are required, start with the lowest dose and titrate upward slowly. Use sedating low-dose antidepressants for insomnia only when the older patient has comorbid depression.⁶⁰ Although nonbenzodiazepine-receptor agonists have improved safety profiles compared with benzodiazepines, their use for older adults should be limited because of adverse effects that include dementia, serious injury, and falls with fractures.⁶⁰

Keep these points in mind

Prescribing medications to treat insomnia in pregnancy is complex and controversial.

Poor sleep has many detrimental health effects and can significantly affect quality of life for patients across the lifespan. Use nonpharmacologic interventions—such as sleep hygiene education, CBT-I, and cognitive/behavioral therapies—as first-line treatments. When utilizing pharmacotherapy for insomnia, consider the patient’s distressing symptoms of insomnia as guideposts for prescribing. Use pharmacologic treatments intermittently, short term, and in conjunction with nonpharmacologic options.

CORRESPONDENCE
Angela L. Colistra, PhD, LPC, CAADC, CCS, 707 Hamilton Street, 8th floor, LVHN Department of Family Medicine, Allentown, PA 18101; angela.colistra@lvhn.org