
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 30, 1990                   TAG: 9006300194
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: E-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

PROPER TREATMENT CAN RELIEVE INSOMNIA

Both prescription and over-the-counter sleepings pills generally lose their effectiveness after two to four weeks if taken every night.

"If you have been taking these medications for a month or more and you have been sleeping well, you would probably sleep well without them," said Saul Rothenberg, director of the Sleep Research Laboratory at New York University Medical Center.

Withdrawal from sleep medications can cause rebound insomnia, which may last a few days.

"You have to expect to sleep poorly for a day or two after you stop taking sleeping pills, and then see whether normal sleep has resumed," the NYU researcher said.

Each year, an estimated 30 percent of the population experiences some difficulty sleeping. About half considers the problem serious.

Insomnia lasting three weeks or less is most often caused by anxiety-provoking events such as the death of a family member or friend, or a major life change such as starting a new job.

Insomnia may also be a result of physical discomfort, as from injury or surgery; psychological disorders, such as depression or anxiety; or medical problems, such as an overactive thyroid gland.

If insomnia becomes distressing or lasts more than a few weeks, evaluation is appropriate. A physical examination can help rule out medical causes. An interview may reveal depression or anxiety, which generally are treatable conditions.

by CNB