Also called trouble sleeping, sleeplessness, sleep disorder · Reviewed
Definition:Insomnia is trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or getting good quality sleep, even with the time and a good place to sleep. NHLBI calls it a common sleep disorder. Short-term insomnia can follow stress or a schedule change and last days or weeks. Chronic insomnia happens 3 or more nights a week for more than 3 months.
Labels that list it
Contrave lists insomnia among its most common side effects. Sleep disorders were 13.8% on Contrave vs 8.4% on placebo in the one-year trials.
Qsymia lists insomnia among the reactions at 5% or more and at least 1.5 times the placebo rate, rising with dose.
Thyroid hormone labels such as Synthroid list insomnia among the signs of too much thyroid hormone, along with nervousness and a fast heartbeat.
Stimulant-type weight loss pills (phentermine) and wake-promoting medicines such as Provigil list it too.
The sleep diary
NHLBI says a provider may ask about sleep habits and suggest a sleep diary to diagnose insomnia. A diary is a simple log of bedtime, time to fall asleep, wake-ups and wake time. When a medicine is new, adding the dose time to the same entry shows whether a late dose and a bad night line up.
Why it matters for your log
Sleep, mood and energy notes kept beside dose times turn a vague "I sleep worse" into dates and patterns a prescriber can use.
General education drawn from labels and published studies, not personal medical advice. Your prescriber, pharmacist and the label that came with your product are the final word.