Help from your GP
If using good sleep hygiene habits and self-help treatments do not help you, you might find benefit in speaking to your GP. Problems with sleeping can really impact on your quality of life so do not feel embarrassed about going to see your GP.
Your GP will want to discuss your sleep patterns with you and may suggest you keep a personal sleep diary as a useful way of recording your bed-time routine and sleep patterns for a few weeks before prescribing any treatment. Your GP will also want to rule out any underlying medical condition, or side-effects from any treatment that you might be taking, which could be the cause of your insomnia.
There are a number of licensed treatments available on prescription that can help you achieve good quality, restorative sleep. These include benzodiazepines, z-drugs, the natural hormone melatonin (which is also marketed in a slow-release form) and other hypnotics such as chloral hydrate, chlomethiazole and triclofos.
