Sleep Management

This category brings together nine listings across four ingredients, grouped by the sleep problem they are used for: trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, a body clock that is out of step, and insomnia that sits alongside low mood. Two ingredients are hypnotics (medicines that bring on sleep), one is a hormone, and one is an antidepressant that is also taken for sleep.

Eszopiclone: falling asleep and staying asleep

Eszopiclone is used for insomnia in people who cannot fall asleep or cannot stay asleep. It comes in two tablet listings: Hypnite (also sold as plain eszopiclone) in 1mg, 2mg and 3mg, and Fulnite as a 2mg tablet. It is taken in bed, and 7 to 8 hours should be set aside for sleep.

Zaleplon: falling asleep only

Zaleplon is used on a short-term basis for difficulty falling asleep. It does not lengthen sleep or reduce awakenings, and it clears from the body quickly. It is available as a 10mg capsule, Hyplon (also sold as plain zaleplon capsules). Both eszopiclone and zaleplon carry a warning about complex sleep behaviours, where a person acts without being fully awake, and both call for avoiding alcohol.

Melatonin: jet lag and sleep timing

Melatonin is the body's own darkness hormone, and it comes into this category for jet lag and for shifting sleep patterns rather than for sedation. Meloset is a 3mg tablet listed for insomnia and jet lag. Sleepose is a 10mg tablet listed for insomnia, sleep onset and jet lag, and Restfine, also 10mg, is listed for sleep difficulties and adjusting sleep patterns.

Trazodone: sleep alongside depression

Trazodone is licensed as an antidepressant for major depressive disorder. It earns a place here because its sedating effect makes it a common choice for insomnia, especially where low mood is part of the picture. Desyrel is the generic trazodone listing, in 25mg, 50mg and 100mg tablets, so it offers the widest spread of strengths in the category. Drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth and blurred vision are reported, and an erection lasting more than 4 hours needs urgent treatment.

Telling the listings apart

Start with the problem. If you lie awake for ages but then sleep through, zaleplon capsules match that pattern. If you also wake in the night, eszopiclone tablets cover both. A flight across several time zones points to melatonin, and insomnia that comes with depression is the case for Desyrel. Within one ingredient the listings differ only in name and strength. Hypnotics and trazodone can leave you groggy the next morning, so see how you feel before you drive.