Insomnia Treatment

Medically reviewed by:

Dr Sarah Marshall - Medical Officer

Updated: Aug 18, 2021

Next review: Aug 18, 2022

Your treatment for insomnia will depend on the underlying cause of your sleep problems. This can range from a poor sleep environment to problems with your physical or mental health.

Once a diagnosis is made, our doctors will recommend the most effective treatment.

There are lots of ways our doctors can help if you’re having problems with your mental health.

They could refer you for a talking therapy, such as counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), where you can discuss how you’re feeling and learn new ways to keep negative thoughts at bay.

In some cases, they may prescribe medication to help you manage your symptoms. They’ll discuss this with you in detail before prescribing anything, to make sure you’re happy with your treatment and understand the possible side effects.

There are some antidepressant medication that can help you sleep at night as well.

Find out more about how our doctors can treat:

Our doctors will always have your best interest in mind and recommend the treatment that they think is the most suitable.

Please note that they can’t prescribe zopiclone or sleeping tablets.

Improving your sleep environment

The doctor will ask you some questions about your sleep environment and suggest any areas that could be improved.

Possibilities include:

Buying a new mattress, particularly if you’ve had yours for longer than eight years.
Trying a new pillow.
Buying thicker curtains or using an eye mask to block out light.
Using ear plugs to block out sound.
Ensuring your room stays at a constant, comfortable temperature.

Treating sleep disorders

Sometimes insomnia is caused by another sleep disorder. Our doctors can advise you on the best way to treat and manage these conditions.

Sleep apnoea - Our doctors will suggest ways to reduce your symptoms, such as losing weight or giving up smoking. Once a diagnosis is made you may be given a CPAP machine that will control your breathing while you sleep.
Narcolepsy - While there’s no cure for narcolepsy, our doctors can help you structure a routine that will ensure your symptoms have a minimal impact on your everyday life.
Sleepwalking - It’s hard to predict or stop sleepwalking, but our doctors can help you create a sleep environment and routine that makes it less likely, as well as advising your partner or family members how they can keep you safe.
Night terrors - Our doctors will try and find out what’s causing your night terrors, and may refer you to a mental health professional for specialist treatment.

If your insomnia is caused by certain habits or lifestyle choices, it’s possible that you could get rid of it by making a few simple changes to your routine. These include:

Giving up smoking.
Moderating your alcohol intake.
Avoiding caffeine in the hours leading up to bedtime.
Eating your evening meal early enough that your body can digest it before you head to bed.
Avoiding exercise too close to bedtime.

It’s also important to keep electronic devices out of the bedroom. Watching TV, or using your laptop or smartphone in bed exposes you to ‘blue light’, which sends a message to your body that it’s not time for sleep yet. It’s important that your body only associates bed with sleep and sex.

It’s also a good idea to switch the TV off an hour before you intend to go to bed, in order to create a calm, peaceful environment.

There are a number of conditions that could affect your ability to get a good night’s sleep. Our doctors can provide treatment for the following underlying causes of insomnia:

A heart or respiratory condition - Our doctors can recommend lifestyle changes or prescribe medication that will manage your symptoms, or refer you to a specialist if needed.
Allergies - Our doctors can prescribe antihistamines to treat any allergies that are keeping you awake at night.
Joint pain - Our doctors can prescribe anti-inflammatory medication to reduce pain from arthritis, or refer you to a physiotherapist to manage your pain.
An overactive thyroid - Our doctors can refer you to a specialist endocrinologist who can help you.
Urinary incontinence - Our doctors can investigate the reason why you need to get up to pee during the night and provide appropriate treatment.

Dr Sarah Marshall - Medical Officer

How we can help

What we can’t prescribe

Sleep problems

Lifestyle and habits

Physical health

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