Medication or other drug use and sleep problems
Many prescription and non-prescription medications can cause sleep problems. The severity of sleep problems caused by a medication will vary from person to person.
Prescription medications
Prescription medications that may cause a sleep problem include:
- Blood pressure medications, such as clonidine, propranolol, atenolol, and methyldopa.
- Diet pills, such as phentermine.
- Hormones, such as birth control pills, thyroid, cortisone, and progesterone.
- Long-term use of sedative medications, such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or chloral hydrate.
- Medications used to treat asthma, such as theophylline, salbutamol, and salmeterol.
- Medications used to treat irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), such as quinidine.
- Medications used to treat seizure disorders, such as phenytoin.
- Medications used to treat Parkinson's disease, such as levodopa.
- SSRI antidepressants, such as fluoxetine and paroxetine.
- Steroids, such as prednisone.
- Stimulants, such as methylphenidate and amphetamines.
Non-prescription medications
Non-prescription medications that may cause a sleep problem include:
- Medications that contain caffeine, such as Anacin, Excedrin, cough medicines, and cold medications.
- Cold medications, especially those containing pseudoephedrine, such as Sudafed.
Other substances
Other substances that may cause sleep problems include:
- Alcohol. Initially, drinking alcohol may cause sleepiness. Many people may drink alcohol to help them go to sleep. However, when you drink alcohol, you are more likely to awaken later in the night.
- Caffeine. Drinking a cup of coffee or other caffeine-containing beverage during the day can cause sleeplessness. Caffeine can stimulate the body for 3 to 7 hours and can interfere with your sleep as long as it remains in your body. Even the small amount of caffeine in decaffeinated beverages can interfere with sleep.
- Nicotine, which can disrupt sleep and reduce total sleep time. Smokers report more daytime sleepiness and minor accidents than do non-smokers, especially in younger age groups.
- Illegal drugs such as cocaine, amphetamines, and methamphetamines.
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA | Last Updated: March 16, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Donald Sproule, MD, CM, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry | |
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