Treating insomnia: Current and investigational pharmacological approaches

• Published in: Pharmacology & therapeutics (Oxford) Vol. 112; no. 3; pp. 612 - 629
• Main Authors: Ebert, Bjarke, Wafford, Keith A., Deacon, Stephen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.12.2006
• Subjects: Animals; Electroencephalography - drug effects; GABA-A Receptor Agonists; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - physiology; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives - pharmacology; Hypnotics and Sedatives - therapeutic use; Receptors, Melatonin - agonists; Serotonin Antagonists - pharmacology; Serotonin Antagonists - therapeutic use; Sleep - drug effects; Sleep - physiology; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - drug therapy; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - etiology

Chronic insomnia affects a significant proportion of young adult and elderly populations. Treatment strategies should alleviate nighttime symptoms, the feeling of nonrestorative sleep, and impaired daytime function. Current pharmacological approaches focus primarily on GABA, the major inhibitory neu...