Z Gerontol. 1991 Jul-Aug; 24(4): 179-84.

[Sleep disorders in old age]

Kaiser H.

Complaints about troubled and insufficient sleep increase with age. Sleep disorders are not a disease, but a symptom of different causes. The most important is the etiological treatment. For a symptomatic treatment, we dispose of psychological help, physiotherapy and phytotherapy. Hypnotic drugs should be used only if absolutely necessary and for a short time. One has to find the adequate drug for each case and the dose corresponding to the age of the patient. As up today there are no drugs inducing physiological sleep.