Sleep Medications Sleep Medications Please use the information on this page for information only, it is not prescriptive. The sources include published drug resources, information and research.
Most benzodiazepines have sedative and hypnotic properties, but only five are marketed as hypnotics.
All five reduce sleep-onset latency, decrease number and duration of nocturnal wakings, and increase total sleep time and sleep efficiency with varying degrees of effects. Rapid onset of action and moderate elimination half-life, can remain effective for up to 6 weeks of nightly administration. The average reduction of sleep-onset latency is modest. Accumulates with use, effective in both inducing and maintaining sleep for up to 1 month of consecutive nightly administration. It produces less impairment of daytime functioning than fluraepam and long half-life minimizes rebound insomnia.