What Questions Can I Ask My Doctor About Medicines for Insomnia?

This blog post was written by Dr. Stephanie Liu (Dr. Mom)—Family Physician and Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Alberta—for SleepDebt.ca, a website developed by Eisai Limited.

Struggling with sleep due to insomnia can be a challenge, leading many people to seek relief and rest with the aid of sleep medications. While many of these medications certainly have a place in providing respite from sleep deprivation, it is important to work with your doctor to figure out what option is right for you.

Medicines for Insomnia

There are a variety of over-the-counter and prescription sleep medicines available in Canada to treat insomnia, which is a sleep disorder that makes it hard to fall asleep, hard to stay asleep, or causes you to wake up early.

Your doctor will consider your symptoms, overall health, and medical history when deciding whether a sleep medicine might be appropriate for you.

Medicines for Insomnia

Medications could cause side effects and may not be suitable for everyone. Talk to your doctor before starting any new medication.

When talking to your doctor about sleep issues and insomnia, make sure to be very honest about your experience. Consider using a sleep diary to help you keep track of your sleep habits and sleep quality. That way, you can have a productive conversation with your doctor about your sleep and work together to find the right treatment option for you.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Sleep Medicines

Always remember that you are your best advocate when discussing any type of medication with your doctor. When talking to your doctor about sleep medicines, consider asking some of these questions to better understand your treatment options:

Why do you think this medicine could be a good option for me?
How does this medicine work?
How do I take this medication and how often do I take it?
How long should I take this medication?
What should I expect after starting this medicine?
What are the potential side effects of this medicine?
Are there any serious warnings and precautions I need to know about with this medicine?
How is this sleep medicine different than the other options available?

If you do start taking a sleep medication, make sure that you follow your doctor’s instructions about how to take it precisely, and let them know if you experience any side effects.