Primary Insomnia Treatment

• Sleep hygiene plays an important role in the treatment of primary insomnia. Sleep hygiene recommendations are listed in Self-Care at Home.
  
  
• If the sleep hygiene recommendations are followed and the person continues to have insomnia, medications including benzodiazepines can be used. However, before starting therapy, one must keep a sleep log for 2-4 weeks. This log, in which the person’s record of bed and wake times, sleep duration, and daytime naps and activities are maintained, gives the health care provider a clearer picture of the degree of sleep disturbance and allows him or her to better tailor the treatment.