Clinical Medicine Insights: Geriatrics

Insomnia is an increasingly common disorder in the elderly and can have a profound, negative impact on both health and quality of life. Effective management can mitigate the adverse effects on morbidity and mortality. When possible, treatment of insomnia in the elderly should focus on conservative, non-pharmaceutical strategies and control of any potential co-morbid medical or psychiatric conditions. When needed, pharmacologic agents can be both safe and effective. Several classes are available for the treatment of insomnia. However, given their efficacy, relative safety and tolerability, non-benzodiazepines such as eszopiclone should be considered the mainstay of therapy. Eszopiclone can be a safe and effective agent for the long-term treatment of insomnia in the elderly.