By Free Republic | Created at 2024-09-23 03:02:26 | Updated at 2024-09-30 11:32:46
1 week ago
Kicking a sleeping pill habit is possible for seniors with a simple intervention, study shows
Medical Xpress / Dalhousie University / JAMA Psychiatry ^ | Sept. 19, 2024 | Alison Auld / David M. Gardner et al
Posted on 09/22/2024 7:49:00 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
A new study has shown that seniors taking sleeping pills can significantly reduce their dependence on the medications and improve their sleep with a simple intervention.
The study evaluated whether specially designed information packages mailed directly to their homes could help people reduce their need for sleeping pills, while also helping them get a better sleep.
The study involved three groups: two that received different information packages (Sleepwell or EMPOWER) and a control group that didn't receive anything by mail.
People enrolled in the YAWNS NB study were taking prescribed sleeping pills, including benzodiazepines (e.g., lorazepam (Ativan)) or z-drugs (e.g., zopiclone (Imovane)). There were 565 study participants, who averaged 72 years of age and 11 years of sleeping pill use.
The information packages were designed to promote a change in behavior and initiate the switch from relying on sleeping pills to learning about and using sleep—enhancing techniques to treat insomnia. Each package encouraged study participants to meet with their health-care professional and included information on the dangers of sleeping pills and how to safely reduce and stop them. The Sleepwell package also described cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI) and showed how to access it.
The researchers found that more people receiving the Sleepwell package stopped or reduced their use of sleeping pills compared to the other two groups. About 26% in the Sleepwell group stopped taking sleeping pills altogether by six months. For EMPOWER, the rate was 20% and in the control group it was 7.5%.
In addition to reducing their use of sleeping pills, people in the Sleepwell group slept better and had less daytime sleepiness compared to the other groups.
"Our study shows that participants safely stopped sleeping pills even though many had been taking them for years," said Dr. Andrea Murphy.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
TOPICS: Health/Medicine
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26% stopped all sleeping pills within six months.
It seems the Cognitive Behavioral therapy helped.
To: ConservativeMind; All
This Sleepwell information was provided in the write up, but the videos may be the main items available to US citizens.
2 posted on 09/22/2024 7:51:22 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
To: Mazey; ckilmer; goodnesswins; Jane Long; BusterDog; jy8z; ProtectOurFreedom; matthew fuller; ...
The “Take Charge Of Your Health” Ping List
This high volume ping list is for health articles and studies which describe something you or your doctor, when informed, may be able to immediately implement for your benefit.
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3 posted on 09/22/2024 7:51:54 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
To: All
Sleep pill dependent?? Try Fentanyl. It puts you to sleep and keeps you asleep.
4 posted on 09/22/2024 7:53:05 PM PDT by BipolarBob (Sorry I'm driving the speed limit but some of us have warrants.)
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