nssleep.com » sleep medications http://nssleep.com/blog Northshore Sleep Medicine Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:27:23 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 Longevity Magazine Interview – The Importance of Sleep http://nssleep.com/blog/sleep-disorders/longevity-magazine-interview-the-importance-of-sleep/ http://nssleep.com/blog/sleep-disorders/longevity-magazine-interview-the-importance-of-sleep/#comments Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:14:35 +0000 Dr. Lisa Shives http://nssleep.com/blog/?p=227 I was recently interviewed by Longevity Magazine about the consequences associated with sleep deprivation.

Many people fail to realize that they are putting both their mental and physical health at risk by not getting the sleep they need. Serious health problems such as heart disease, obesity and depression are associated with sleep deprivation.  A lack of sleep can also weaken the immune system, which increases vulnerability to disease.

While the amount of sleep varies individually, most people need seven-to-eight hours of sleep each night in order to maintain good health.

A variety of factors can lead to sleep deprivation, including stress, change of environment and illness.  If you notice a change in your mood or you are frequently struggling to fall or stay asleep, there are several initial steps you can take in order to improve your sleep on your own.

First, establish a bedtime routine that includes “wind down” time before bed. Avoid caffeine and exercise in the evening, as both are stimulants and make it more difficult to fall asleep. After consulting a primary physician, you may want to try an over-the-counter sleep aid, such as melatonin , which is considered to be a natural sleep aid. If problems persist, you may need professional help to resolve your sleep issues.

http://longevitymag.co.za/i_columnists/sleep-on-it/

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]]> http://nssleep.com/blog/sleep-disorders/longevity-magazine-interview-the-importance-of-sleep/feed/ 0 President Obama Needs Medication to Combat Jet Lag Syndrome http://nssleep.com/blog/sleep-disorders/president-obama-needs-medication-to-combat-jet-lag-syndrome/ http://nssleep.com/blog/sleep-disorders/president-obama-needs-medication-to-combat-jet-lag-syndrome/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:26:40 +0000 Dr. Lisa Shives http://nssleep.com/blog/?p=171 I was interviewed by The Daily Beast (see link below)  to comment on which medications the President might be taking to deal with his, at times, grueling travel schedule.  The article discusses the use of wake-promoting agents such as Provigil and Nuvigil which can be used responsibly and effectively by patients who are carefully screened and monitored by a sleep physician.   The article also discusses hypnotics such as Ambien, Lunesta abd Sonata. 

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-03-04/the-white-house-mystery-drug/

For good information about medications, I suggest Web MD.  Here are the links for the medications mentioned.

1. Provigil: http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-16964-Provigil.aspx?drugid=16964&drugname=Provigil

2. Nuvigil: http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-152275-Nuvigil+Oral.aspx?drugid=152275&drugname=Nuvigil+Oral&source=1

3. Ambien: http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-9690-Ambien+Oral.aspx?drugid=9690&drugname=Ambien+Oral

4. Lunesta: http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-92350-LUNESTA+Oral.aspx?drugid=92350&drugname=LUNESTA+Oral

5. Sonata: http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-17532-Sonata+Oral.aspx?drugid=17532&drugname=Sonata+Oral&source=1

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]]> http://nssleep.com/blog/sleep-disorders/president-obama-needs-medication-to-combat-jet-lag-syndrome/feed/ 0 Forbes Interview about Sleep Disorders http://nssleep.com/blog/sleep-disorders/forbes-interview-about-sleep-disorders/ http://nssleep.com/blog/sleep-disorders/forbes-interview-about-sleep-disorders/#comments Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:11:43 +0000 Dr. Lisa Shives http://nssleep.com/blog/?p=79 See below for a link to an article in Forbes for which I was interviewed about sleep troubles.  I give many useful tips for how to improve your sleep.

http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/03/sleep-disorder-medication-lifestyle-health-sleep-insomnia.html

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]]> http://nssleep.com/blog/sleep-disorders/forbes-interview-about-sleep-disorders/feed/ 0 Micheal Jackson and sleep drugs http://nssleep.com/blog/sleep/micheal-jackson-and-sleep-drugs/ http://nssleep.com/blog/sleep/micheal-jackson-and-sleep-drugs/#comments Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:45:46 +0000 Dr. Lisa Shives http://nssleep.com/blog/?p=67 Numerous people have asked me to comment on Michael Jackson’s  purported use of Propofol (Diprivan) as a sleep medication.

This is an anesthetic and sedative medication that is only administered  IV (intra-venous) in a hospital setting (for example, it is used in the operating room during surgery and in the ICU when a patient on a ventilator needs sedation). It is fast acting and the effect is short-lived and therefore it is administered as a continuous IV drip. The patient should have cardiac and respiratory monitoring at all times as there is a warning that respiratory depression of apnea (no breathing) can occur.

This is not a medication that should ever be used in the home. If a person has serious insomnia refractory to conventional sleep aids, there are other oral medications that some physicians might turn to, but the use of propofol for this purpose is completely inappropriate because of the danger involved.

Use of Propofol (also known as Diprivan) in the home has no place in treatment of insomnia or any other sleep disorder. It can, in fact, lead to fatal respiratory depression or fatal sleep apnea

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