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19 years
My daughter complains being unable to sleep easily. She has no symptoms of any illness, yet can not sleep as long as needed. She's 19 years old. Any recommended medication for that ?
Jun 5, 2013
2nd opinion

Dr. Zakia Dimassi Pediatrics
Adolescence is a time of great biological, personal,&psychosocial changes, leading to frequent sleep-wake disturbances manifested as irregular sleep-wake schedules, insufficient sleep, insomnia, and daytime sleepiness. The most common is bedtime resistance, which becomes especially obvious when the child becomes in control of setting her bedtime. The result is: later bedtimes, irregular sleep schedules, &suboptimal sleep hygiene, which often disrupt sleep onset or sleep quality. Add to that the fact that there is a physiological tendency toward delayed circadian phase (Sleep-wake cycle) that develops later in childhood &that may make it difficult for the older child or adolescent to fall asleep at the time necessary to permit sufficient sleep on school nights, with resultant complaints of nighttime insomnia &daytime tiredness. One example is Delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS), the most common circadian disorder in adolescents. It's characterized by insomnia &substantially delayed sleep onset accompanied by difficulty or inability to wake at an appropriate time the following morning. DSPS is often accompanied by daytime napping (further delays timely sleep onset at night) &by late waking on non-school days, which may act to reinforce the abnormally delayed circadian phase.It can be worsened by school avoidance or participation in stimulating late-night activities. Another less common possibility is Psychophysiological insomnia, where the child thinks about performance anxiety regarding sleep, resulting in negative sleep associations.
Solution? Good sleep hygiene! Avoid all-night study sessions and last minute preparation. Regular exercise but not too close to bed time (boosts energy so could keep you up). Avoid heavy meals too close to bed time. Limit number &duration of naps (20-30 min tops). Limit caffeine from ALL beverages to 100-200 mg/day. Avoid TV before bedtime (it's very stimulating). Use bed only for sleeping. If all fails, seek psychological assistance.
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