Doxylamine is one of the strongest OTC sleep aids. It is an antihistamine. However, it is only suitable for short-term use. A person should contact a doctor and check that doxylamine is safe for them to use before taking it.
Sleep aids available without a prescription are widely available. Common choices and the potential side effects include: Diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Diphenhydramine is a sedating antihistamine.
Midazolam injection is used to produce sleepiness or drowsiness and relieve anxiety before surgery or certain procedures. When midazolam is used before surgery, the patient will not remember some of the details about the procedure.
Benzodiazepines are the most common group of prescribed sedatives. The most commonly prescribed benzodiazepines are diazepam (Valium®) and alprazolam (Xanax®).
Key facts. Temazepam usually starts to work after around 30 minutes. The effect lasts for around 7 to 8 hours. The most common side effects of temazepam include feeling drowsy or lightheaded, and having a dry mouth.
These are the most commonly used sleeping tablets in Australia and include temazepam (Temaze, Normison), zopiclone (Imovane) and zolpidem (Stilnox). They work by enhancing the activity of sleep pathways in the brain. They are recommended for short term use (less than 4 weeks). Melatonin (Circadin).
The most common benzodiazepines prescribed in Australia are temazepam, nitrazepam, diazepam, oxazepam and alprazolam. Other benzodiazepines available are bromazepam, clobazam, clonazepam, flunitrazepam, lorazepam, and triazolam.
Help is at hand for Australians struggling to get a good nights sleep. The sleep-inducing hormone melatonin is now available over the counter for people aged over 55.
Doxylamine is one of the strongest OTC sleep aids. It is an antihistamine. However, it is only suitable for short-term use. A person should contact a doctor and check that doxylamine is safe for them to use before taking it.
Temazepam 10mg is approximately equivalent to diazepam 5mg. Temazepam is used short-term for the treatment of insomnia, and as pre-medication before minor surgical and investigative procedures.
Things to be careful of: Drowsiness on the day following use may occur.
Both agents improved sleep efficiency and most subjective sleep measures relative to placebo, with zolpidem superior for five of six subjective outcome measures compared to temazepam.
Key facts. Temazepam is a sedative in a medicine class called benzodiazepines. It is commonly used for short periods to help with sleep problems. Temazepam makes you drowsy, so don't drive or operate heavy machinery when taking this medicine.
Dosage and strength
The usual dose of temazepam for sleep problems is 10mg to 20mg, taken once a day. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe a higher dose of 30mg to 40mg. If you're over 65 and at risk of falling over, your dose may be lower.
Midazolam is the fastest acting of its class because of its lipophilic abilities, and it is superior to lorazepam and diazepam in its amnestic effects, making it the ideal benzodiazepine for use in short ED procedures. Lorazepam is a water-soluble benzodiazepine.
Rohypnol (flunitrazepam) is a short-acting benzodiazepine that is 10 times stronger than Valium.
Types of Anti-anxiety Medications (Benzodiazepines)
Benzodiazepines most commonly used to treat anxiety disorders are clonazepam (Rivotril)*, alprazolam (Xanax) and lorazepam (Ativan).
As a sedative, in single doses, midazolam is considered to be three times more potent than diazepam. With multiple doses midazolam gains in potency because of a prolonged plasma half-life.
For its high-potency and long-lasting effects, the most potent benzodiazepine is Clonazepam, also known as Klonopin. Other high-potency but short-acting benzos are alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), and triazolam (Halcion).
Diazepam tablets are available in three strengths: 2 mg, 5 mg, and 10 mg.
Suvorexant is the first orexin receptor antagonist to be marketed in Australia. The drug is taken within 30 minutes of bedtime. This should be at least seven hours before the patient plans to get up again. The maximum drug concentration is reached in two hours.