title: Insomnia in the elderly.
abstract: Insomnias lead the list of sleep disorders in the elderly. The differential diagnosis includes poor sleep habits, medical and psychiatric disorders, and drug interactions. Effective treatment includes sleep hygiene education and avoidance of substances known to interfere with sleep. In general, anticholinergic agents, antihistamines and long-half-life benzodiazepines should be avoided as hypnotic agents in the elderly. Safer therapeutic options include relaxation therapy and the short-half-life benzodiazepines without active metabolites.
authors.affiliation: St. Louis University Medical Center, Missouri.
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Nakra
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Grossberg
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peck
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D006801:Humans; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines