Sleep medication
Temazepam (Normison) belongs to the group of benzodiazepines. These can be prescribed as a short-acting sleep aid. In the Netherlands, the number of users in 2005 was estimated at 1.9 million. Its use can have the following side effects: drowsiness, fatigue, nightmares, nausea, habituation, addiction and gastrointestinal symptoms (Sitsen, 2006). Given the additional risks of sleeping pills for older people, restraint in prescribing sleeping pills is desirable. Older people are more sensitive to the effect of sleeping pills, and the effect may be prolonged, which means that lower doses must be used. Among older people, the opposite effect of what is intended is occasionally found: the patient becomes restless and excited instead of sleepy. This mainly occurs with cerebral abnormalities. An often unrecognized side effect of long-term use of benzodiazepines is the adverse effect on memory function. Research shows that the minor benefits of short-term use of a sleeping aid do not outweigh the greater disadvantages associated with its use, such as a 50% increased risk of hip fracture and, especially with long-acting benzodiazepine (agonists), more urinary incontinence. The likelihood of side effects with benzodiazepine (agonists) appears to be twice as great as the likelihood that sleep will improve.
Melatonin and valerian are natural substances that have less dangerous side effects than temazepam. One should still be careful with these substances, however, because they also cause drowsiness. Herbal remedies containing valerian, for example, have not been as well researched as other medicines. This means that it is not certain what the long-term side effects will be.
The most common side effects of melatonin are diarrhoea, headache, dizziness, nausea, palpitations, insomnia, unusual dreams and nightmares. These side effects are not listed in all package leaflets. The most well-known side effects of valerian are drowsiness and gastrointestinal complaints such as nausea and abdominal pain.
Bron: Bleijenberg, N. in : Bakker T., Habes V., Quist, G., Van der Sande, J., Van de Vrie, W. (2019) Klinisch redeneren bij ouderen. Functiebehoud in levensloopperspectief. Bohn Stafleu van Loghum.