Insomnia during menopause: how to fight, folk remedies, herbs, drugs

Everyone knows that to feel good, a person needs a quality night's rest - at least 7-8 hours. Only after getting enough sleep can we feel alert in the morning and maintain our working capacity throughout the day. But what if insomnia during menopause does not allow us to have a good rest?

Indeed, sleep disorders are considered one of the main manifestations of the climacteric period in a woman's life. Insomnia can be discussed already when a woman cannot fall asleep for half an hour, or often wakes up during the night. Of course, the body does not rest in such conditions. And in order to correct the situation, it is necessary to take appropriate measures, which we will talk about.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ]

Causes menopausal insomnia

It is clear that the true cause of insomnia during menopause is the onset of menopause itself. However, why do not all women suffer from insomnia, but only some of them? The fact is that insomnia can be aggravated by certain life circumstances and factors, which include:

• mental, physical and emotional overload;
• overeating, drinking coffee and strong tea (especially in the second half of the day);
• mental instability, neuroses, depression;
• taking certain medications that stimulate the nervous system;
• sedentary lifestyle, excess weight;
• smoking, drinking alcohol;
• chronic diseases;
• emotional lability.

Sleep disturbances – insomnia during menopause – can be aggravated by spending a long time in front of a computer monitor, watching emotional films and programs before bed, and reading newspapers.

Pathogenesis

Insomnia during menopause is the result of the influence of several factors at once.

The first factor is a sharp decrease in the amount of sex hormones in the blood. The most important hormones in this case are estradiol and progesterone, a decrease in the level of which has a direct effect on the state of the nervous system.

The second factor is estrogen deficiency, which results in attacks of night "hot flashes", increased sweating, and increased heart rate. All of these symptoms initially prevent a woman from having a normal rest.

The next pathogenetic factor is psychological problems associated with the onset of a woman's natural aging period. At this stage of life, many become depressed, tearful and restless. Growing stress contributes to the fact that a woman is visited by gloomy thoughts, a feeling of anxiety and apathy appears. Sleeping in this state becomes even more difficult.

Insomnia during menopause can worsen if a woman is overweight, moves little, drinks coffee, strong tea or alcoholic beverages, or smokes.

[ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ], [ 7 ], [ 8 ], [ 9 ]

Symptoms menopausal insomnia

In fact, the first signs of insomnia during menopause are obvious - these are difficulties falling asleep, frequent awakenings, or the inability to fall asleep again after waking up.

However, symptoms may vary depending on the individual organism.

Sometimes women claim that they fall asleep normally. But as soon as they fall asleep, they wake up immediately.

Sometimes so-called “unproductive” sleep occurs: a woman falls asleep normally and sleeps normally, but in the morning she feels sleep-deprived.

But the most common complaints are long and repeated attempts to fall asleep, which are absolutely unsuccessful. The woman tosses and turns, all sorts of thoughts visit her, she may be disturbed by ordinary household sounds: the ticking of a clock, the gurgling of an aquarium, the noise of cars outside the window - sounds that were previously not felt at all, or were not perceived so acutely.

If the listed symptoms are observed only occasionally, then it is too early to talk about insomnia during menopause. But if sleep disorders become a frequent occurrence, then it is necessary to take measures and consult a doctor.

[ 10 ], [ 11 ]

Complications and consequences

Insomnia during menopause should not be perceived as something obligatory and inevitable. Insomnia should be treated, since otherwise there is a gradual exhaustion of the nervous system, weakening of the immune system, deterioration of the quality of the heart and blood vessels.

With prolonged sleep disturbances, a person's concentration weakens, memory processes and performance deteriorate, and orientation is lost.

Lack of sleep leads to neuroses, irritability, which further aggravates existing depression. As a result, problems in relationships with family and friends often arise.

Remote complications that may manifest themselves months or even years later can also pose a great danger. We are talking about the increasing load on the cardiovascular system, which can subsequently cause heart attacks, hypertension, and cerebrovascular accidents. In addition, the endocrine system also suffers from insomnia during menopause, which can eventually lead to excess weight and even the development of diabetes.

[ 12 ], [ 13 ], [ 14 ]

Diagnostics menopausal insomnia

Menopause is a physiological period in a woman's life, and it would seem that diagnostics are not needed here. However, this is not so: diagnostic procedures are simply necessary: first of all, in order not to miss serious diseases that are hidden behind the mask of menopause, and also in order to determine the treatment regimen for climacteric symptoms.

What needs to be examined to determine the treatment tactics for insomnia during menopause?

• Blood tests for sex hormone levels (primarily estradiol, FSH and LH, sometimes AMH), blood biochemistry with an assessment of coagulation factors, sugar and cholesterol levels.
• Instrumental diagnostics: ultrasound examination of the uterus, ovaries, mammary glands; electrocardiography, angiography, bacterial culture from the vaginal walls, cytology of a smear from the cervix.

Most often, diagnosing insomnia during menopause does not cause difficulties, but consultations with specialized specialists may be required to conduct differential diagnostics with other somatic pathologies.

[ 15 ], [ 16 ]

Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnosis in most cases is carried out with nervous insomnia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Treatment menopausal insomnia

Considering that the primary cause of insomnia during menopause is a change in hormonal levels, hormone replacement therapy with estrogen drugs will affect both overall well-being and the quality of night rest.

If hormonal treatment is not used for some reason, the doctor may resort to prescribing barbiturates or fairly strong sedative tablets or drops that reduce the excitability of the nervous system and help normalize sleep. In addition, homeopathic treatment is recognized as very effective: such drugs are well accepted by the body, and the effect appears quickly and lasts for a long time.

The most important thing is not to ignore insomnia and be sure to visit a doctor as soon as possible. Any medications for menopause - and especially hormonal drugs - should only be prescribed by a doctor, since self-treatment can be very harmful to health.

Medicines

• Hormonal drugs to eliminate insomnia during menopause:
  • Estriol – replenishes the deficiency of endogenous estriol;
  • Divigel is an estrogen replacement therapy drug;
  • Progynova – contains a synthetic analogue of endogenous human estradiol;
  • Klimara is a hormonal agent in the form of a transdermal system with a slow release of estrogen.

Hormonal drugs and their dosage are prescribed only by a doctor. Self-administered hormonal treatment is unacceptable.

• Sedatives, tranquilizers:
  • Atarax is a hydroxyzine-based drug that relieves anxiety and internal tension;
  • Phenazepam – calms the nervous system, relaxes;
  • Adaptol is an anxiolytic drug with a moderate tranquilizing effect;
  • Seduxen is a tranquilizer, a benzodiazepine derivative, with muscle relaxant, sedative and anticonvulsant effects.
• Herbal remedies for insomnia during menopause:
  • Antistress – capsules containing valerian, hops, lemon balm, motherwort;
  • motherwort tincture
  • Dormiplant – tablets based on dry extract of valerian and lemon balm;
  • Sedavit – capsules or drops consisting of extracts of valerian root, St. John's wort, hawthorn berries, mint leaves, hops and vitamins;
  • Sedistress is a tablet based on passionflower extract.

Folk remedies

Among folk recipes for improving sleep during menopause, decoctions of calming plants are often used. These can be valerian roots, motherwort herb, mint or lemon balm leaves, thyme. For those who do not have time to brew and infuse herbs, pharmacies have a wide selection of tinctures and other preparations based on the listed plants.

One of the simplest and most useful methods for eliminating insomnia is brewing herbal tea. For example, if you brew half a tablespoon of dry mint leaves in 200 ml of boiling water and leave for 15 minutes, you can get a good calming drink. It is recommended to drink it in the second half of the day to prepare the body for quality sleep.

There is another old recipe - baked milk with honey added. A glass of warm drink should be drunk shortly before bedtime.

Essential oils will help you tune in to sleep. For example, the smell of lavender or mint helps to relax the body: the oil can be added to a warm bath or to an aroma lamp.

[ 17 ], [ 18 ], [ 19 ], [ 20 ]

Herbal treatment

To facilitate falling asleep, it is recommended to prepare herbal teas, which may consist of one or more medicinal components:

• hawthorn berries;
• motherwort herb;
• thyme, lemon balm, mint leaves;
• valerian rhizomes;
• shepherd's purse grass.

In addition, for insomnia during menopause, you can also pay attention to the following folk recipes:

• Brew 1 tbsp of chamomile flowers in 200 ml of boiling water and take half a glass before meals three times a day.
• Infuse 3 tablespoons of rosemary in alcohol for three days (you will need 200 ml of alcohol). Filter the infusion and drink 25 drops before meals daily.
• Brew 1 teaspoon of crushed burdock leaf in 0.5 l of boiling water, leave until completely cooled. Drink the infusion 100 ml 4 times a day for a month. After a 2-week break, the course can be repeated.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy does not cause harm to the body and does not cause addiction. With the help of homeopathy, brain activity is normalized, all internal processes are balanced, falling asleep is gentle and fast.

For insomnia during menopause, you can take the following medications, which act in a complex manner, affecting, among other things, the underlying cause of sleep disorders:

• Valerianaheel is prescribed three times a day, 15-20 drops.
• Klimadinon is taken 1 tablet in the morning and evening for three months.
• Qi-Klim is taken 1 tablet 2 times a day with food for six months.
• Klimaktoplan is prescribed 1-2 tablets three times a day half an hour before meals, dissolving in the mouth.

In addition, monodrugs can also be used:

• Coffee – improves sleep, eliminates anxious thoughts;
• Chilibukha – balances the nervous system, eliminates irritability;
• Arsenicum – relieves excessive anxiety;
• Ignatia – relieves the effects of stress, accelerates falling asleep.

Your doctor will tell you which medication for insomnia during menopause is right for you.

Surgical treatment

As a rule, surgical treatment to get rid of insomnia during menopause is not practiced.

Prevention

To prevent insomnia during menopause, you need to make some adjustments to your lifestyle:

• maintain physical activity, do regular exercises, ride a bike, swim and just walk in the fresh air;
• take a short walk just before bed;
• eat well, avoiding fatty and spicy foods, large amounts of sugar and salt, coffee and other stimulating drinks;
• maintain comfortable conditions for a night's rest by choosing comfortable underwear, ensuring normal air temperature and humidity in the room;
• establish a daily routine, where approximate hours of rest will be determined: it is no secret that the human body “gets used to” getting up and going to bed at the same time, which can serve as an additional preventative measure against insomnia.

To make it easier to fall asleep in the evening, you can do relaxing procedures - for example, take a bath with warm water, ask your family to give you a light massage, listen to light, pleasant music.

[ 21 ], [ 22 ], [ 23 ], [ 24 ]

Forecast

Insomnia during menopause can persist for several years, but with time it becomes easier for the woman. Only a small number of women do not get enough sleep for a long time. In such patients, the condition is successfully corrected with medication.

[ 25 ], [ 26 ]