How does cognitive behavioural therapy help?

If you are only suffering from transient or intermittent insomnia, you should not immediately begin to rely on Ambien. It is better if you try other measures first. Only if your insomnia is becoming chronic should you use Ambien on a more regular basis and, then, only in conjunction with other measures.

One of the best alternatives to simple reliance on a drug like Ambien, no matter how good that drug may be, is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). This helps you to learn new sleeping habits. If your doctor does prescribe a sleeping pill alongside therapy, it is best that you use it in short bursts. Because Ambien is now out of its period of patent protection, it is cheaper and the obvious choice of drug to use.

CBT teaches you a new set of behaviours around the "activity" of sleep. You have to "relearn" the association between going to bed and falling sleep. There are also general relaxation techniques and a number of specific approaches to help you get to sleep. This requires you to correct your current sleep habits so that you go to bed at the same time, establishing new routines for yourself.

Research studies have found CBT to be effective in helping about three-quarters of those with chronic insomnia. The evidence suggests that it is at least as good as, if not sometimes better than sleeping pills. But when CBT is combined with Ambien, the best results are achieved. The reason for this is that, if you establish new habit patterns for yourself, this represents a long-lasting cure. This is something that pills cannot do on their own. Pills can only relieve the immediate symptoms. In those countries where private medicine is the norm, CBT will cost more than pills in the short term because you or your insurance company have to pay the therapist. But, in the long term, if you are prepared to make the necessary behavioural changes, your drug bills will be a lot less. Finally, all those who are older than fifty-five years should avoid sleeping pills except as a last resort and try CBT instead. Most of the evidence shows that the side-effects of sleeping pills are more likely to affect older people adversely.

How does cognitive behavioural therapy help? One of the best alternatives to simple reliance on a drug like Ambien is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT teaches you a new set of behaviours around the "activity" of sleep. You have to "relearn" the association between going to bed and falling sleep.

The habit of sleep Before you start taking Ambien or alongside a course of Ambien, you should change your habit patterns and practise relaxation techniques to help you get to sleep.