PHARMACOTHERAPY OF INSOMNIA IN GENERAL-PRACTICE

Around 10% of the German population suffers from pronounced difficulties falling asleep or insomnia. As with all conditions, the basic medical principle of applying causal treatment applies. The limited supply of diagnostic centres (sleep laboratories) in Germany and the considerable effort involved in non-medicamentous management (e.g. behaviour therapy) means that hypnotics will remain indispensable in the foreseeable future. These must be based on strictly controlled prescribing practices with time limits imposed on the duration of use (no more than 4 weeks' daily administration) and the well-considered choice of the suitable agent.