Treatment of insomnia in the elderly patients
Common causes of insomnia in the elderly are discussed. 25% of elderly men and 50% women report unsatisfactory sleep. More than 10% of elderly patients are frequent or regular users of hypnotic drugs. Strategy of treatment of insomnia in such patients implies management of background disease and use of non-specific methods. In case of inefficacy of the treatment, administration of hypnotic drugs should be considered regarding for phenomenology, duration and etiology of insomnia, presence of concomitant disorders and risk of adverse effects.