title: [Benefits and risks of hypnotics].
abstract: Rationalisation of the war of hypnotics has recently been under discussion in France: a review of the benefits and risks of these substances may therefore be useful. Chronic insomnia is a result of multiple factors, among which individual characteristics of the personality play an important role. Hypnotic treatment is symptomatic; its beneficial influence on sleep progressively vanishes in few weeks, while some negative residual effects on daytime functioning (mood, alertness, performance, memory impairment) may persist. The main problems posed by hypnotic treatment with benzodiazepines are related to tolerance effects during the treatment period and to rebound insomnia and withdrawal phenomena after discontinuation. Practical issues for the treatment of insomnia, based on international consensus, are presented.
authors.affiliation: URA CNRS 1159, hôpital de La Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Benoit
mesh_terms: D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010551:Personality; D012307:Risk Factors; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives
vernacular_title: Bénéfices et inconvénients des hypnotiques.