What it's used for
- Short-term insomnia
Read about: Insomnia
How it works: Acts selectively at GABA-A receptors containing the α1 subunit.
Common side effects
- Sleep-walking and complex sleep behaviours
- Next-day impairment
- Dependence
Tapering considerations
- Very short half-life — rebound insomnia can be marked.
- CBT-I improves success.
For prescribers & facilitators
- FDA boxed warning (2019) for complex sleep behaviours.
Sources
- 01Medicines associated with dependence or withdrawal symptoms (NG215)
NICE Guideline, 2022
- 02Benzodiazepines: How They Work and How to Withdraw (The Ashton Manual)
Prof. C. Heather Ashton, Newcastle University, 2002
- 03The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines
Horowitz & Taylor, Wiley-Blackwell, 2024