Difficulty sleeping is one of the most prevalent and under-discussed health issues of the modern era.
A number of theories explain this trend of sleeplessness, including the use of electronics into the evening, the consumption of caffeinated and sugary beverages in the evening, a lack of prioritizing sleep, and general stress and anxiety.
As a response to the uptick in sleeplessness in the modern world, a number of interventions have helped, ranging from sleep trackers to proven sleep habits and new medications.
Rozerem® (ramelteon) is one medication that's helping people with insomnia get to sleep.
Below is a closer look at everything you should know about this medication and the benefits of getting a good night’s sleep.
What Should I Know About Rozerem?
Rozerem, known chemically and generically as ramelteon, is a medication with a more recent history compared to other sleep drugs like Ambien® (zolpidem). Rozerem is a medication that can help individuals with clinical insomnia that have a particularly difficult time getting to sleep.
The drug has a unique mechanism of action compared to other sleep aids, which allows it to be non-addictive and safer than narcotic sleeping pills. Rozerem is also not a controlled substance, like some sleep aids.
Below is a closer look at Rozerem, its history, how it works in the body, how it relates to melatonin, and how to take the medication.
History
Sleeping pills and sleep aid supplements have been around for quite some time, and while early solutions could help with sleep-related issues, they tended to have potential side effects such as reliance and risk of addiction.
In the early 1990s, the Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda set out to find a new effective way to treat insomnia. After years of research and clinical trials, ramelteon was approved by the U.S. FDA under the brand name Rozerem in 2005.
How Does Rozerem Work in the Body?
Most sleep aids work in the brain to impact receptors and chemicals that promote sleepiness, though they differ in which substances and receptors they may affect.
One of the main issues surrounding most sleep aids is that they can become problematic over time.
For example, you can only take Ambien for short periods because it impacts a neurotransmitter known as GABA in a way that can lead to long-term side effects and even addiction.
The mechanism of Rozerem is different and allows it to act as a non-addictive sleep aid.
Rozerem works within the body as a selective melatonin receptor agonist. Rozerem interacts with melatonin receptors to help promote sleep, much like the hormone melatonin itself.
Melatonin and Sleep
There are a number of chemicals that play a role in getting quality sleep and keeping your internal clock ticking.
The body’s internal clock, also known as the circadian rhythm, helps your body know when to wake up when to fade into sleep in the evening. When your circadian rhythm and sleep patterns are aligned, you get the best sleep possible.
Many chemicals within the body help regulate this internal clock, and one of the most important is melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone produced partly in response to darkness. As melatonin is released, it binds to melatonin receptors in the brain, which helps kickstart the transition to sleep.
Taking Rozerem piggybacks on this natural physiological response to help you get to sleep. Rozerem imitates melatonin and can bind to selective receptors in the brain.
With these receptors engaged, ramelteon acts similarly to natural melatonin and helps users get to sleep.
Rozerem Versus Ambien for Insomnia
Ambien is another commonly recognized sleep medication.
The primary difference between Rozerem and Ambien is that Rozerem is a "hypnotic" type sedative used to treat insomnia that is associated with having trouble falling asleep.
Ambien, while safer than older sleep medications called benzodiazepines, can lead to dangerous side effects when used for too long. It can also be addictive.
Unlike Ambien and some other sleep medications, Rozerem is not known to be habit-forming.
Common Rozerem Side Effects
Common side effects of Rozerem can include:
- dizziness
- tiredness
- daytime drowsiness
- nausea
- worsening sleep problems
How Should I Use Rozerem?
Every prescription medication has specific directions to ensure optimal absorption, efficacy, and safety.
When it comes to how to best use Rozerem, you should generally take it 30 minutes before you plan to go to bed.
The medication should be taken on an empty stomach and only at the dose prescribed.
While Rozerem tends to have less severe side effects when compared to other sleep aids like Ambien, it is still important to use it appropriately. The best method to ensure you're using your medication as intended is to follow the directions on the packaging and ask your pharmacist or physician if you have any questions regarding side effects, possible drug interactions, and general directions.
What Are the Benefits of Better Sleep?
Many people are unaware that they're experiencing sleep deprivation.
Maybe you think of insomnia and sleep deprivation as something that only occurs when you stay up for days on end.
While you can undoubtedly experience symptoms of sleep deprivation by staying up late into the night, most people begin to feel the symptoms of sleep deprivation as their sleep slowly deteriorates over days. Most people need 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night, so getting 6 to 7 hours nightly for days or weeks on end can create a "sleep debt" and feelings of sleep deprivation.
If you're consistently deprived of enough sleep, even by small amounts, you may believe that exhaustion you feel in the middle of the day is normal.
In fact, it isn’t.
When you finally get a good night's sleep, you may be surprised at the results in your mood and overall wellbeing.
Below is a closer look at some of the potential benefits you may experience when you start improving chronic sleep issues.
Mental Clarity
When it comes to the benefits of sleep, one of the most noticeable is its positive impact on cognitive abilities and ability to think clearly.
If you've ever had an all-nighter, you're familiar with the feeling of mental fogginess and diminished ability to make good judgment.
The effects of a lack of sleep on your mental capabilities are significant.
Being awake for 24 hours is equivalent to a blood alcohol content of 0.10% in terms of diminished coordination, judgment, and reaction time.
When you get better sleep, whether through a sleep-aid like Rozerem or other methods, you'll feel better and be more capable in terms of your thinking capability and stamina. Mid-day slumps may become milder, and you may even find it easier to problem-solve. Attitude and mood can improve, too, with less irritability and fewer mood swings compared to being sleep deprived.
Better Performance
Good sleep can physically help your body. Take recovery from a workout, for instance, where much of your muscle repair occurs while you're asleep.
The physical benefits of good sleep can also positively impact sexual health, too, like the ability to attain and maintain an erection if you have erectile dysfunction linked to chronic sleep deprivation or other conditions stemming from poor sleep.
The Takeaway
Rozerem (ramelteon) is one of many prescription sleep aid medications available today, and it is considered the least addictive of the prescription sleep medications available.
Rozerem is formulated to work with your body's natural sleep-inducing mechanisms, namely the hormone melatonin. Simply taking Rozerem 30 minutes before bed may help with falling asleep faster, and Rozerem is non-habit-forming compared to other sleep medications.
Sources
A review of ramelteon in the treatment of sleep disorders | NCBI
