Sleep Web

/Home/ARTICLES: Sleep

A World of Sleep Resources

Home
Sleep Overview
Sleep Disorders
Sleep Therapies
Sleep Labs/Centers
Sleeping Pills
Get Answers to All Your Sleep Questions
Sleep Quizzes
Sleep Associations
Sleep Labs Directory
Sleep Products
Sleep Videos
Beds & Mattresses
Site Map

Mission Statement
This website was created with one major goal: to provide You, the consumer, with the most comprehensive one-stop resource possible for information about sleep disorders, the causes of sleep deprivation, and it's treatment. Our goal is to collect and present to you FREE, authoritative, and unbiased information about…
* Sleep disorders (among men, women, teens, and seniors)
* Treatment methods (conventional and alternative)
* Over-the-counter Sleep aids
* Prescription Sleeping Pills
* Sleep labs/centers and specialists
* Products that can act as effective sleep aids (medical and retail)
* New research, news, articles and videos related to sleep issues

Information has been gathered from a wide variety of the most up-to-date public and private sector sources: government agencies, sleep disorder associations, market research studies, sleep disorder experts and consultants, as well as original research by Sleepweb.com analysts.

The Status of Sleep in America
Some say that "sleep is the new sex"... we want it, need it, and can't get enough of it! Sleep researchers say that between 10% and 15% of Americans experience serious insomnia (defined as not getting a good night's sleep for a month or more), but only 8% take prescription drugs.

According to surveys by the National Sleep Foundation, which is partly funded by pharmaceutical companies, 37 million seniors suffer from frequent sleeplessness, and 51% of Americans report occasional restless nights. According to the National Institutes of Health, about 18 million Americans, many of whom go undiagnosed, suffer from sleep apnea.

Poor sleep hygiene/habits, increased societal stress and anxiety, obesity, women entering menopause, too much caffeine, uncomfortable mattresses are are all to blame, fueling a multi-billion dollar "sleep market". Don't worry, there's plenty of help.

The Problem
In the U.S. alone, there are approximately 40 million adults in the U.S. who suffer from sleep disordered breathing. According to the National Institutes of Health, about 18 million Americans, many of whom go undiagnosed, suffer from sleep apnea.

There are 85 recognized sleep disorders, the most recognizable of which may be insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and restless legs syndrome.

Sleep researches say that between 10% and 15% of Americans experience serious insomnia (defined as not getting a good night's sleep for a month or more), but only 8% take prescription drugs.

The industry's potential pool of customers in far larger than that: according to surveys by the National Sleep Foundation, which is partly funded by pharmaceutical companies, 37 million seniors suffer form frequent sleeplessness, and a full 51% of Americans report occasional restless nights.

The Treatments

Sleeping Pills/Drugs
Sleep drugs could be the next antidepressants - moderately useful drugs turned into blockbusters by aggressive marketing. Says Sepracor CFO David Southwell, sleep is "like depression before Prozac".

Three major new prescription sleep drugs are slated to make their debuts in the next year; Estorra, Ramelteon, and Indiplon.

There's almost no public funding for for studying sleeping pills, - which means that information about these drugs comes almost solely form company- sponsored research.

There's a huge financial incentive for drug companies to turn the volume up full blast. With few breakthroughs in the pipeline and several blockbusters- the cholesterol medication Zocor and the antidepressant Paxil, for instance - about to lose their patent protection, big pharmaceutical companies are desperate for new revenue streams. Compared with the $11 billion spent yearly on antidepressants, according to the pharmaceutical consulting firm IMS Health, the $1.7 billion sleeping pill market is virtual virgin territory.

Psychiatrists and gerontologists are most likely to write prescriptions for sleep aids