Medications that can affect sleep
A number of drugs disrupt sleep, while others can cause daytime drowsiness. Your clinician may be able to suggest alternatives. |
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Medication |
Used to treat |
Examples |
Possible effects on sleep/daytime function |
Anti-arrhythmics |
Heart rhythm problems |
procainamide (Procanbid), quinidine (Cardioquin), disopyramide (Norpace) |
Nighttime sleep difficulties, daytime fatigue |
Beta blockers |
High blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, angina |
atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor), propranolol (Inderal) |
Insomnia, nighttime awakenings, nightmares |
Clonidine |
High blood pressure; sometimes prescribed off-label for alcohol withdrawal or smoking cessation |
clonidine (Catapres) |
Daytime drowsiness and fatigue, disrupted REM sleep; less commonly, restlessness, early morning awakening, nightmares |
Corticosteroids |
Inflammation, asthma |
prednisone (Sterapred, others) |
Daytime jitters, insomnia |
Diuretics |
High blood pressure |
chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Hygroton), hydrochlorothiazide (Esidrix, HydroDIURIL, others) |
Increased nighttime urination, painful calf cramps during sleep |
Medications containing alcohol |
Cough, cold, and flu |
Coricidin HBP, Nyquil Cough, Theraflu Warming Relief |
Suppressed REM sleep, disrupted nighttime sleep |
Medications containing caffeine |
Decreased alertness |
NoDoz, Vivarin, Caffedrine |
Wakefulness that may last up to six to seven hours |
Headaches and other pain |
Anacin, Excedrin, Midol |
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Nicotine replacement products |
Smoking |
nicotine patches (Nicoderm), gum (Nicorette), nasal spray or inhalers (Nicotrol), and lozenges (Commit) |
Insomnia, disturbing dreams |
Sedating antihistamines* |
Cold and allergy symptoms |
diphenhydramine (Benadryl), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton) |
Drowsiness |
Motion sickness |
dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) |
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Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) |
Depression, anxiety |
fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil) |
Decreased REM sleep, daytime fatigue |
Sympathomimetic stimulants |
Attention deficit disorder |
dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), methamphetamine (Desoxyn), methylphenidate (Ritalin) |
Difficulty falling asleep, decreased REM and non-REM deep sleep |
Theophylline |
Asthma |
theophylline (Slo-bid, Theo-Dur, others) |
Wakefulness similar to that caused by caffeine |
Thyroid hormone |
Hypothyroidism |
levothyroxine (Levoxyl, Synthroid, others) |
Sleeping difficulties (at higher doses) |
*These medications are also found in over-the-counter sleep aids. |
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