Sleep is a core component of a human being's life. Its striking presence in humans' day-to-day existence has led to scholarly pursuits in a bid to understand the phenomenon. Studies have thus sought to understand why people spend a significant part of their life sleeping. It has been established that through complex interactions, neurotransmitters in various parts of the brain are responsible for switching people from a state of alertness to an unconscious one and back again (Peplow, 2013). Sleep is vital to an individual's health as well as wellbeing. It also aids in boosting learning by assisting in memory formation. The utility of sleep goes beyond its role in the functioning of the brain. Lack of sleep can lead to metabolic disorders, chronic diseases and immune dysfunctions ( Maurovich-Horvat et al., 2008 ). Sleep disruption is also closely associated with weight gain. This essay is aimed at supporting the use of sleep medication and its importance in the treatment of insomnia and depression.
Lack of sleep has detrimental effects on human health ( Maurovich-Horvat et al., 2008) . Thus, individuals are advised to get enough sleep. While individual sleep needs differ, generally adults require eight hours of sleep on average per night. Thus, for health reasons, they are expected to be awake for sixteen hours every day. Despite these recommendations, some people are capable of functioning without drowsiness and sleepiness after sleeping for six hours. Others require ten hours of sleep for peak performance. These differences suggest that the number of hours of sleep is dependent on individuals. Likewise, the need for sleep does not reduce with age. However, the number of hours a person sleeps at a go may be reduced. Various factors can hamper the ability to fall asleep or to stay asleep. For instance, arthritis, as well as other pain-inducing conditions, can result in sleeping difficulties. Others include discomfort and backache. In women, hormonal shifts such as those caused by premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menopause or pregnancy may affect an individual’s sleeping pattern. Further, medications like steroids, decongestants and those associated with asthma, high blood pressure and depression may result in sleeping difficulties ( Maurovich-Horvat et al., 2008) . Sleep disorders increase the risk of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Therefore, any persistent or recurring sleeping problem should be reported to a mental health provider or physician for medication.
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The most common sleep disorders are depression and insomnia. Approximately 15% of adults are likely to experience chronic insomnia while nearly a similar number may experience depression occasionally. Often, the two ailments go hand-in-hand ( Jansson-Fröjmark & Lindblom , 2008; Pagel & Parnes , 2001) . While about 15% of those suffering from depression experience excessive sleeping, up to 80% of them encounter problems falling or staying asleep. Likewise, those with persistent insomnia are more than three times likely to experience depression. The relationship between depression and insomnia is not simple. Previously, insomnia was considered an indicator of depression. However, recently, scholars have established that insomnia is more than a symptom of depression. Depression and insomnia are two different, yet overlapping disorders ( Jansson-Fröjmark & Lindblom , 2008; Pagel & Parnes , 2001; Lustberg & Reynolds III , 2000 ). On the one hand, insomnia may trigger depression. On the other hand, it may perpetuate depression. For example, when an individual is not able to sleep, he or she may become anxious about the lack of sleep. Consequently, anxiety increases the likelihood of the individual to become depressed. Conversely, if a depressed person suffers from insomnia, his or her risk of experiencing recurring depression is higher than that of a depressed patient who is free from insomnia. Therefore, simultaneous treatment of both depression and insomnia provides the best remedy for improving the mood, sleep quality and the overall quality of an individual’s life.
The successful treatment of depression usually results in improved symptoms of insomnia. The choices for this treatment are dependent on the seriousness of the depression. However, the most effective treatment entails a combination of medication and psychotherapy ( Lustberg & Reynolds III , 2000 ). The latter entails talk therapy or counselling. Medication aids in decreasing the symptoms more quickly while psychotherapy is aimed at helping people to learn critical coping strategies to prevent the start of depressive symptoms in the future ( Lustberg & Reynolds III , 2000 ). Psychotherapy can also be used to share coping skills that are necessary for the improvement of an individual's capacity to fall asleep. To treat insomnia and depression, doctors can recommend a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor ( SSRI). They may also opt for another antidepressant combined with a hypnotic medication or sedating antidepressant. The former helps the patient to sleep. The range of antidepressants includes SSRIs, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor s ( SNRIs ), t ricyclic antidepressants and s edating antidepressants ( Pagel & Parnes , 2001). Hypnotics may also be used ( Pagel & Parnes , 2001; Lustberg & Reynolds III , 2000) .
The SSRIs include citalopram (Celexa), paroxetine (Paxil), fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft). These can help a patient to sleep while elevating his or her mood ( Lustberg & Reynolds III , 2000). In some people, SSRIs can lead to insomnia and are thus prescribed mostly in the morning. Likewise, they may be combined with additional medicine for short durations to help individuals to sleep. Examples of SNRIs include desvenlafaxine (Khedezla , Pristiq), levomilnacipran (Fetzima), duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor). They are targeted at norepinephrine and serotonin , the two neurotransmitters that fuel depression. SNRIs are often used when SSRIs are ineffective or when depression causes other challenges such as particular forms of anxiety and pain disorders. Tricyclic antidepressants include nortriptyline (Pamelor) and amitriptyline (Elavil) while notable sedating antidepressants include Silenor, mirtazapine (Remeron) and Trazodone . Lastly, notable hypnotics include Sonata ( z aleplon) , Serax (Oxazepam) , Lunesta ( e szopiclone) , Ambien/Ambien CR (zolpidem) and Restoril (temazepam) ( Pagel & Parnes , 2001). Other important medications include melatonin , R ozerem (ramelteon) and Belsomra (suvorexant).
References
Jansson-Fröjmark, M., & Lindblom, K. (2008). A bidirectional relationship between anxiety and depression, and insomnia? A prospective study in the general population. Journal of psychosomatic research , 64 (4), 443-449.
Lustberg, L., & Reynolds III, C. F. (2000). Depression and insomnia: questions of cause and effect. Sleep medicine reviews , 4 (3), 253-262.
Maurovich-Horvat, E., Pollmacher, T. Z., & Sonka, K. (2008). The effects of sleep and sleep deprivation on metabolic, endocrine and immune parameters. Prague Med Rep , 109 (4), 275-285.
Pagel, J. F., & Parnes, B. L. (2001). Medications for the treatment of sleep disorders: an overview. Primary care companion to the Journal of clinical psychiatry , 3 (3), 118.
Peplow, M. (2013). The anatomy of sleep. Brain , 2 (497) , 5.
