Sleeping Pills 🌙
Reference guide for sleeping pills and night sedation. Drug table, dosing, indications, and prescribing for sleep management in hospital inpatients.
Night Sedation Medications
Sleep aids and sedatives
| Drug | Category | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melatonin MR | Natural | 2–4 mg PO | Preferred in elderly/delirium risk |
| Chlorphenamine (Piriton) | Antihistamine | 4 mg PO | Caution in elderly; sedating antihistamine |
| Zopiclone (Zimovane) | Z-drug | 3.75–7.5 mg PO | Short-acting; common first-line |
| Zolpidem (Stilnoct) | Z-drug | 5–10 mg PO | Short-acting; less hangover |
| Temazepam (Normison) | Benzodiazepine | 10 mg PO | Avoid in elderly; addictive potential |
Melatonin MR
NaturalDose: 2–4 mg PO
Notes: Preferred in elderly/delirium risk
Chlorphenamine (Piriton)
AntihistamineDose: 4 mg PO
Notes: Caution in elderly; sedating antihistamine
Zopiclone (Zimovane)
Z-drugDose: 3.75–7.5 mg PO
Notes: Short-acting; common first-line
Zolpidem (Stilnoct)
Z-drugDose: 5–10 mg PO
Notes: Short-acting; less hangover
Temazepam (Normison)
BenzodiazepineDose: 10 mg PO
Notes: Avoid in elderly; addictive potential
⚠️ Important Considerations
- • Avoid benzodiazepines in elderly patients due to fall risk
- • Z-drugs preferred over benzodiazepines when possible
- • Consider non-pharmacological sleep hygiene first
- • Monitor for dependency and tolerance with regular use
- • Review and discontinue if no longer needed