Is Stilnox the Answer to my Insomnia?

The prescription drug has been abused by athletes previously, with Grant Hackett being the most recent high-rpofile case.

By Aaron Scott

WHAT’S HAPPENED?
The Olympic gold-medallist is back from the US, where he underwent rehab for addiction to Stilnox. That trip followed an incident last February in the foyer of Melbourne’s Crown Casino, where Hackett was found wandering about – semi-naked and delusional – in the small hours.

Hackett’s troubles came on top of six Australian swimmers mixing Stilnox with caffeine to bring on a buzz in a bizarre bonding session before the London Olympics.

HOW WOULD SOMEONE LIKE HACKETT GET MIXED UP WITH STILNOX?
Hackett, with medical support, started using it when injury, as well as punishing training and travel schedules, were playing havoc with his sleep in 2006. The reasoning was simple: people underperform when sleep-deprived. That applies whether you’re prepping for an Olympic 1500 . . . or a job interview.

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WHAT IS STILNOX EXACTLY?
Available in Australia since 1996, it’s a prescription-only sleep med containing the active ingredient zolpiden. All brands of medicine containing this ingredient work in more or less the same way: by encouraging drowsiness through stimulation of the brain’s chief inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA.

IS IT DANGEROUS?
Misused, Stilnox (like all sleeping pills) can be addictive, with sustained use leading to side effects such as hallucinations and sleepwalking. Some users have reported incidents including crashing cars, binge eating and having sex while apparently asleep. “But if sleeping tablets are taken appropriately, in terms of dose, duration and timing, then the vast majority of people don’t have any side effects,” says Dr David Hughes, chief medical officer at the Australian Institute of Sport.

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SO WHAT’S MY MOVE? TAKE A PILL OR COUNT SHEEP?
Hopefully neither. First, analyse your sleep (or lack thereof). For chronic insomnia, Hughes advises sorting out the underlying issues. “If you aren’t sleeping,” he says, “it’s normally because you’re churning things over in your head and you need to learn how to switch off. That’s a mind skill that can be acquired like any other skill.”

For episodic bouts of sleeplessness (perhaps brought on by nerves, jet lag or grief), either ride it out or try an over-the-counter option like melatonin, a sleep-producing hormone. Still not sleeping? Ask your GP about something stronger. But in no circumstances, Hughes cautions, make sleeping-pill use routine.

If you’re prescribed a pill, follow these three steps:
1 Only take the pill once you’re in bed and ready for sleep.
2 Don’t take sleeping pills in conjunction with any other medication or alcohol.
3 Never take sleeping pills for more than three consecutive nights. Addiction can sink its claws in after a single week of regular use.

HOW CAN I SCORE MORE TIME WITH CAPTAIN SNOOZE?
Developing good sleep habits is your best bet for unfettered access to the Land of Nod

- Go to bed and rise at the same time each day. Consistent sleep patterns will deep-groove your circadian rhythms.
- Get some morning rays. Sunlight is crucial for the production of melatonin. Twenty minutes should be sufficient.
- Use your bed only for sleep (and sex). You want your brain to associate your bed with sleep. Treating your bed as a daytime couch disrupts this connection.
- Keep your bedroom cool. A temperature band of 18-22ºC is considered ideal sleep territory.