The sleep revolution: Why new sleeping aids are replacing traditional sleeping pills
1. The sleep dilemma in modern society
In the fast-paced, high-pressure modern society, more and more people are suffering from insomnia . According to the World Health Organization ( WHO ), about 35% of adults worldwide have sleep disorders, of which 10% suffer from chronic insomnia ( Morin et al., 2020 ). Long-term insomnia not only leads to decreased attention, emotional instability, and memory loss , but may also increase the risk of hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and anxiety and depression ( Krystal et al., 2019 ).
When facing sleep problems, many people turn to traditional sleeping pills , such as benzodiazepines (such as diazepam), non-benzodiazepines (such as zopiclone), melatonin , etc. However, in recent years, more and more doctors and patients have begun to turn to new sleeping pills , such as orexin receptor antagonists ( ORAs ) . So why are new sleeping pills replacing traditional sleeping pills?
2. Limitations of traditional sleeping pills
Representatives of traditional sleeping pills are benzodiazepines (such as diazepam and alprazolam) and non-benzodiazepines (such as zopiclone and zolpidem) , which mainly act on GABA receptors to inhibit brain nerve activity and make people fall asleep quickly . Although they are effective in the short term, the risks of long-term use are extremely high , including addiction, increased tolerance, decreased cognitive function, morning drowsiness and other side effects ( Lader, 2011 ).
📌 Research data shows that:
• Among patients who take benzodiazepines long-term, 40% develop tolerance and 25% experience withdrawal symptoms ( Lader, 2011 ).
• Benzodiazepine users have a 50% increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease ( Billioti de Gage et al., 2014 ).
• Patients taking non-benzodiazepines such as zopiclone and zolpidem have a significantly increased risk of morning sleepiness and falls ( Kuriyama & Endo, 2018 ).
These issues make benzodiazepines more suitable for short-term use than as a long-term sleep aid .
3. How do new sleeping aids change the rules of the game?
Compared with traditional sleeping pills, new sleeping aids (such as Xalatan ) use a completely new mechanism - regulating the brain's wakefulness system rather than forced sedation .
Key features of the new sleep aid (orexin receptor antagonists ORAs )
• Acts on orexin receptors to reduce wakefulness signals and help the brain naturally enter sleep
• It will not affect the deep sleep structure , ensure the sleep quality and improve the morning state
• No dependence, long-term use will not produce tolerance , and will not affect sleep rhythm after stopping the drug
• Will not affect cognitive function, causing morning drowsiness and slow response
📌 Research data shows that:
• Zestar can reduce the number of awakenings at night and increase the proportion of deep sleep ( Ueno et al., 2022 ).
• After 12 months of long-term use, there was no significant decrease in sleep quality after discontinuation of the drug, and no withdrawal symptoms ( Sun et al., 2021 ).
• Compared with traditional sleeping aids, users of Zestar have higher daytime alertness without affecting their daily work and life ( Dauvilliers et al., 2022 ).
Due to these advantages, more and more doctors are beginning to recommend new sleeping pills to replace traditional sleeping pills .
4. Why are new sleeping pills safer?
|
Features |
New sleeping pills (such as Xestrazoxane) |
Traditional sleeping pills (eg, diazepam, zopiclone) |
|
Mechanism of action |
Modulates orexin receptors, reducing arousal signals |
Acts on GABA receptors to inhibit nerve activity |
|
Is it addictive? |
No dependency, can be used for a long time |
Prone to tolerance and addiction |
|
Does it affect deep sleep? |
Does not interfere with deep sleep, higher sleep quality |
May reduce deep sleep ratio |
|
Morning state |
Awake, no morning drowsiness |
Morning fatigue and decreased concentration |
|
Suitable for |
Long-term insomnia, easy awakening at night, shallow sleep |
Short-term anxiety-related insomnia |
5. How to scientifically choose the sleeping aid that suits you?
If you need short-term relief of anxiety or sudden insomnia , traditional benzodiazepines may be effective, but be careful to avoid long-term use .
If your sleep problems include long-term difficulty falling asleep, waking up easily at night, and poor sleep quality , then new sleeping aids (such as Xalatan) may be a more scientific and safer choice .
📌 Recommended use:
💊 Recommended dosage of Xestada : The starting dose is 5 mg , adjusted to 10 mg if necessary, taken 30 minutes before bedtime.
💡 Note : To obtain the best effect, you need to ensure at least 7 hours of sleep after use and avoid taking alcohol or other sedatives at the same time.
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