Blacks less likely to be prescribed insomnia meds, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 15, 2023
Patients who belong to racial minority groups are much less likely to be prescribed medications after an insomnia diagnosis than white patients, investigators have found.
Use of common sleep meds nosedives, with 86 percent drop in oldest adults
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 17, 2022
The use of sleep medications among Americans dropped by 31% just prior to the pandemic, with the steepest decline among adults aged 80 and older, investigators report.
Most elders use sleep meds, but only half discuss use with their doctors: study
By
Amy Novotney
Nov 05, 2021
Older adults frequently use medication to treat sleep difficulties, but only about half discuss it with their physicians, study results presented at Psych Congress 2021 this week found. In fact, the majority...
New meds may not solve residents’ sleep problems, expert says
By
Alicia Lasek
May 26, 2020
Consider these alternatives before reaching for the prescription pad or clicking “order” in the EMR, says a University of Southern California gerontologist.
Cancer survivors gain an advantage when treated for sleep problems
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 04, 2020
Sleep problems can persist for years among cancer survivors, exacerbating cancer-related issues such as physical distress, a new study finds.
Suvorexant may help those with Alzheimer’s ease insomnia
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 30, 2020
Sold as Belsomra, the drug improves total sleep time without affecting cognitive or psychomotor functioning, a recent trial shows.
Clinical Briefs for Wednesday, December 18
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 17, 2019
Simple tool predicts life expectancy after dementia diagnosis … FDA approves first triglyceride drug, a complement to statin therapy … Older women top list of those who take weekly sleep meds … NIH...
Clinical Briefs for Thursday, December 12
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 11, 2019
Inappropriate antibiotics given to 22% of seniors … Use of pain, sleep meds increases frailty risk in the elderly … Triplet study shows that genes aren’t the only factor in Alzheimer’s...
Could marijuana be an effective alternative to pain and sleep medications?
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 02, 2019
Greater access to medical cannabis could cut use of prescription painkillers and sleep medication, researchers say.
How to do it … Choosing sleep meds wisely
Jun 08, 2018
There is a dizzying array of over-the-counter and prescription-strength medications designed to encourage sleep. What many providers don’t fully realize, however, is these drugs are not meant as...