1. Sleeping drugs

2. Symptoms
Fall asleep normally, but then wake up several times each night
Sleep all right, but wake up early in the morning
Difficulty falling asleep in the evening
Feel tired and irritable
during the day

3. Common causes of insomnia
Fear, stress, anxiety, overactive mind, physical pain
Stimulants like caffeine
Some medications
Another disease or psychological
problem

4. Sleeping drugs
The most commonly used sleeping medications are benzodiazepines
diazepam

5. Sometimes also antidepressants (mirtazapine) and antihistamines (diphenhydramine) are used to treat insomnia.
mirtzapine
diphenhydramine

6. Instructions for use Try to take them only occasionally
The course of treatment will be short
Don’t take sleeping drugs with alcohol
Don’t use sleeping pills if you are pregnant

7. Effects Sleeping drugs affect the central nervous system
Anxiolytic, sedative, hypnotic, anticonvulsive and muscle relaxing effects
Makes the effects of GABA longer
Tolerance

8. Side effects Interactions with a few drugs
Confusion, unsteadiness, forgetfulness, dependence, muscle weakness
”Rebound insomnia”

9. Side effects
No sleeping drugs when pregnant or certain diseases (breathing or lung problems, heart disease, severe liver and kidney disease and psychotic states)
Not very suitable for older people

10. Side effects Large amounts alcohol and sleeping drugs can be fatal
Driving a car isn’t recommended after taking sleeping drugs
Common withdrawal symptoms are insomnia, ache in stomach, perspiration, nervousness and tachycardia

11. Diapam A drug used as a sleeping drug and as a sedative
Its active ingredient is diazepam which belongs to benzodiazepines
Tablets of 2, 5 and 10 mgs, suppositories and oral suspensions are available

12.                                               
Diapam
Tablets and oral suspensions are storied in a dry place in °C
Suppositories require a temperature of 2-15 °C

13. Vocabulary anxiety = ahdistuneisuus
anticonvulsive = kouristuksia ehkäisevä
liver = maksa
kidney = munuainen
insomnia = unettomuus
central nervous system = keskushermosto
Inhibitory = inhibitoiva
transmitter = välittäjäaine
withdrawal symptom = vieroitusoire