Affordable insomnia treatment online.  

At its core, insomnia is a condition that disrupts your sleep. Symptoms of insomnia include:²

• Lying awake for a long time before you fall asleep.

• Sleeping for only short periods.

• Being awake for much of the night.

• Feeling as if you haven't slept at all.

• Waking up too early.

Insomnia is a complex condition that can be caused by a wide variety of health, lifestyle, and mental triggers. Common causes of insomnia include:³

• Stress. Anything that is causing stress in your life like work, financial problems, or relationships.

• Travel. Travel, especially between time zones, can disrupt your circadian rhythm.

• Work schedule. A shift that is not compatible with your circadian rhythm, like an overnight shift.

• Poor sleep habits. Stimulus that can affect your sleep like using screens, an uncomfortable bed, and light in the bedroom.

• Eating too close to bedtime. A meal or snack right before bed can cause stomach discomfort or heartburn that keeps you awake.

• Mental health conditions. Anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions can contribute to insomnia.

• Medications. Certain medications can upset your sleep like antidepressants, pain relievers, and more.

• Medical conditions. Conditions linked with insomnia include chronic pain, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), overactive thyroid, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

• Sleep-related conditions. Sleep apnea and other sleep-related conditions can cause insomnia and affect the quality of sleep.

• Caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants that can keep you awake. Alcohol inhibits deeper sleep cycles and can cause you to wake up in the middle of the night.

Yes, insomnia has two types: acute (short-term) and chronic (ongoing).

Acute insomnia is common and typically lasts for a few days or weeks. Common causes include stress at work, family pressures, or a traumatic event.

Chronic insomnia lasts for a month or longer. Most cases of chronic insomnia are secondary which means they are the symptom or side effect of another issue. Common causes of chronic insomnia include medical conditions, medicines, sleep disorders, and use of substances like caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol. Occasionally, chronic insomnia is the primary problem without a clear cause.⁴ 

Insomnia is not classified as a mental illness but does have a close relationship to mental health disorders. Insomnia can be both a symptom and a cause of mental illness.⁵

There is not a universal cure for insomnia but it can be successfully treated in individuals. Often treating the underlying cause will restore healthy sleep with habit changes, addressing medical or mental health conditions, switching medications, or reducing stress. There are also treatments that can help resolve insomnia if the cause is unclear or other methods fail, like: ⁶

• Cognitive behavioral therapy

• Relaxation techniques

• Prescription medication

• Over the counter sleep aids

1. National Library of Medicine

2. Mayo Clinic

3. MedlinePlus

4. National Library of Medicine

5. Mayo Clinic

6. WebMD

Yes! Insomnia can be treated at home with telehealth providers like RedBox Rx. Complete an easy online assessment and after a short video consult, one of our licensed providers will help you determine if medication could be right for you. If prescribed, medication is shipped directly to you.

Prescription medications are one effective treatment option for insomnia. Commonly prescribed medications for insomnia include:¹ 

• Dopamine agonists (anti-Parkinsonian drugs).

• Benzodiazepines, which are included in a class of drugs called hypnotics.

• Non-benzodiazepine hypnotics.

• Melatonin receptor stimulators.

• Anti-narcoleptics.

• Antidepressants or antianxiety medications.

• Orexin receptor antagonists.

Non-prescription treatment options for insomnia include:²

• Cognitive behavioral therapy – stimulus control, light therapy, sleep restriction, etc.

• Relaxation techniques – breathwork, meditation, biofeedback, etc.

• Over the counter sleep aids – antihistamines.

Short-term or acute insomnia is often caused by temporary stress or changes in sleep schedule due to travel or other circumstances. Often, once the trigger is removed, short-term insomnia will resolve itself.³ Over-the-counter sleep remedies can help in the short term like antihistamines,⁴ melatonin, chamomile, and valerian.⁵

Treatment for chronic or severe insomnia is usually more complex and takes longer for success. It can take a combination of multiple treatments including medication, relaxation techniques, lifestyle changes, improvement of sleep habits, and therapy. Chronic insomnia is often a symptom of another medical or mental health condition and can be resolved by addressing the primary condition.⁶

Commonly prescribed medications for insomnia include:⁷

• Eszopiclone (Lunesta®)

• Ramelteon (Generic Rozerem®)

• Zaleplon (Sonata®)

• Zolpidem (Ambien®, Edluar®, Intermezzo®, Zolpimist®)

• Hydroxyzine (Generic Atarax®)

• Trazodone (Generic Desyrel®)

• Mirtazapine (Generic Remeron®)

• Amitriptyline (Generic Elavil®)

Sleep medications vary in the time it takes affect. However, for most prescription sleep aids the recommended time to take is 30 minutes before bedtime.⁸ 

If you are treating chronic insomnia with an antidepressant, it can take three to four weeks for sleep to improve.⁹

Side effects of prescription sleep medications will vary depending on the drug. Some common side effects include:¹⁰ 

• Burning or tingling in the hands, arms, feet, or legs.

• Changes in appetite.

• Constipation.

• Diarrhea.

• Balance problems.

• Dizziness.

• Daytime drowsiness.

• Dry mouth or throat.

• Gas.

• Headache.

• Heartburn.

• Mental slowing or problems with attention or memory.

• Stomach pain or tenderness.

• Uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body.

• Unusual dreams.

• Weakness.

Prescription sleep medications start at $16.66 per month with RedBox Rx. No insurance required. Both HSA and FSA accepted. Start an online consult to see if prescription sleep medication is right for you.

Yes, you can get prescription medications for insomnia online with telehealth providers like RedBox Rx. Start an online consult to see if prescription sleep medication is right for you.

1. WebMD

2. Mayo Clinic

3. WebMD

4. Mayo Clinic

5. WebMD

6. Mayo Clinic

7. Mayo Clinic

8. National Library of Medicine

9. National Library of Medicine

10. WebMD