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Symptom: Insomnia



Introduction: Insomnia

Insomnia: Inability to fall or stay asleep. See free access online books about Insomnia below. See detailed information below for a list of 257 causes of Insomnia, including diseases and drug side effect causes.

» Review Causes of Insomnia: full list

Causes of Insomnia:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Insomnia. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

  • Common problems with the sleeping environment include:
    • Sleeping area distractions
    • Noise
    • Extreme temperatures
    • Poorly ventilated bedroom
    • Stuffy bedroom
    • Hot bedroom
    • Cold bedroom
    • Wrong mattress
    • Too soft mattress
    • Too hard mattress
  • Some possible causes of infant or child sleep problems include:
  • Common causes of mild insomnia:
    • Stress
    • Anxiety
    • Normal aging - a reduction in sleep requirements often accompanies aging.
    • Caffeine before bedtime
    • Overeating - eating too much before bedtime can cause insomnia.

See full list of 257 causes of Insomnia

» Review Causes of Insomnia: full list

Causes of Types of Insomnia:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Insomnia:

See full list of 39 types for Insomnia

Insomnia: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Insomnia, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

See full list of 1121 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Insomnia

Home Diagnostic Testing and Insomnia

Home medical tests possibly related to Insomnia:

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Insomnia

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Insomnia:

Diagnostic Guides for Insomnia

12 MEDICAL SYMPTOM BOOKS: FULL TEXT ONLINE! Read the full text of published book sections related to Insomnia from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Insomnia. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Insomnia

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE!
Full text. Free access (no registration).
  • "In a Page: Signs and Symptoms"
  • "Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care"
  • "Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)"
  • "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)"
  • "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter"
  • "Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses"
  • "Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms"

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Misdiagnosis and Insomnia

Insidious cancer misdiagnosed as mental health condition: Pancreatic cancer is fortunately relatively rare, but this dangerous condition can be misdiagnosed as a mental condition in its...read more »

RLS sleep disorder causing night-time leg sensations often misdiagnosed: A common but relatively unknown sleep-related disorder called Restless Leg Syndrome...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Insomnia

Diagnostic tests for Insomnia:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Insomnia. Some of these are listed below :

  • Blood tests
    • Thyroid function test, if suspect hyperthyroidism
  • Urine tests
    • Urine drug screen, if appropriate
  • Sleep diary

See full list of 7 diagnostic tests for Insomnia

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Insomnia. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

  • How long have you had problems with insomnia? - to determine if acute or chronic. Transient insomnia can last up to 3-4 weeks and after that it is considered to be chronic.
  • Is the sleep disturbance problem with sleep onset (initial insomnia), sleep maintenance (middle insomnia) or premature awakening (late insomnia)?
  • What is the sleeping environment? - Common problems with the sleeping environment that may contribute to insomnia and sleep disturbance include noise, extreme temperatures, poorly ventilated room, hot bedroom, cold bedroom, mattress that is too soft or hard, too much light in bedroom.
  • Do you take day time naps? - may cause or prolong the problem of insomnia.
  • What is the age of the person with insomnia? - a reduction in sleep requirements often accompanies aging. If the sleep disturbance is in a child or infant must consider hunger, colic, indigestion, dirty diaper, too hot, too cold, teething.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Insomnia (27 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Insomnia) may include:

  • Night urination? - causes of night time urination such as cystitis, prostatitis, benign enlargement of the prostate, prostate cancer, diuretic usage and diabetes may effectively cause insomnia due to the practical need to urinate.
  • Pain or physical discomfort? - any disease that causes any discomfort may interfere with sleep such as chronic back pain, arthritis pain, peptic ulcer pain, angina chest pain, skin ulcer pain, ear ache, tooth ache, anal itch, leg cramps.
  • Shortness of breath at night? - any disease that causes shortness of breath especially at night may interfere with sleep such as congestive heart failure, asthma, emphysema.
  • Symptoms of hyperthyroidism? - e.g. loose bowel motions, intolerance to heat, sweating of hands, muscle weakness, increased appetite, weight loss, heart palpitations, emotional disturbance, sleep disturbance.
  • Symptoms of menopause? - e.g. hot flushes, night sweats, heart palpitations, lightheadedness, dry vaginal, dry skin, headaches, disturbed sleep due to night sweats and hot flushes.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Insomnia (27 listings)

Stories from Users for Insomnia

Real-life user stories relating to Insomnia:

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Insomnia or relevant symptoms:

Videos for Insomnia

Back-to-school Sleep

Back-to-school SleepGoing back to school is tough for families who have been enjoying a relaxed summertime schedule. Learn how to get sleep back on track for the whole...

Sleep Inventory

Sleep InventoryPoor sleep is a fact of life for lots of tired Americans. What most never realize is that they may be contributing to their own restless nights. What...

 

Trauma and Sleep

Trauma and SleepThe tragedy of life-altering events can turn your world upside down. It can have a tremendous emotional impact as well as the potential for causing...

Sleep Problems

Sleep ProblemsAs people age, there are lots of changes. Some are welcome, like retirement and a chance to pursue new activities. But then there are some changes...

 
See full list of 28 related videos

Patient Surveys for Insomnia

Causes of Insomnia listed in Disease Database:

Other medical conditions listed in the Disease Database as possible causes of Insomnia as a symptom include:

See full list of 257 causes of Insomnia
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Medications or substances causing Insomnia:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Insomnia as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

  • Various common substances can cause insomnia:
    • Caffeine - especially before bedtime, but even in the afternoon for some people.
    • Coffee - coffee contains caffeine
    • Tea - contains caffeine
    • Colas - many contain caffeine

See full list of 286 medications causing Insomnia

Drug interactions causing Insomnia:

When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Insomnia as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

  • Cipro (Ciprofloxacin) and Aerolate interaction
  • Cipro (Ciprofloxacin) and Bronkodyl interaction
  • Cipro (Ciprofloxacin) and Elixophyllin interaction
  • Cipro (Ciprofloxacin) and Slo-bid interaction
  • Cipro (Ciprofloxacin) and Theobid interaction

See full list of 1667 drug interactions causing Insomnia

Article Excerpts about Insomnia

Insomnia is the perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep because of one or more of the following:

  • difficulty falling asleep

  • waking up frequently during the night with difficulty returning to sleep

  • waking up too early in the morning

  • unrefreshing sleep

(Source: excerpt from Insomnia: NWHIC)

Insomnia is the perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep because of one or more of the following:

  • difficulty falling asleep

  • waking up frequently during the night with difficulty returning to sleep

  • waking up too early in the morning

  • unrefreshing sleep

(Source: excerpt from Insomnia: NWHIC)

Definitions of Insomnia:

Insomnia: Inability to sleep, in the absence of external impediments (e.g., noise, a bright light) during the period when sleep should normally occur; may vary in degree from restlessness or disturbed slumber to a curtailment of the normal length of sleep or to absolute wakefulness. SYN: sleeplessness. [L. fr. in- priv. + somnus, sleep]
Source: Stedman's Medical Spellchecker, © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Disorders characterized by impairment of the ability to initiate or maintain sleep. This may occur as a primary disorder or in association with another medical or psychiatric condition.
- (Source - Diseases Database)

An inability to sleep; chronic sleeplessness
- (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Difficulty in going to sleep or getting enough sleep.
- (Source - National Cancer Institute)

Organs affected by Insomnia:

The list of organs typically affected by Insomnia may include, but is not limited to:

Detailed list of causes of Insomnia

The list below shows some of the causes of Insomnia mentioned in various sources:

See full list of 257 causes of Insomnia

How Common are these Causes of Insomnia?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Insomnia. Of the 257 causes of Insomnia that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

  • 20 causes are "very common" diseases
  • 17 causes are "common" diseases
  • 1 causes are "uncommon" diseases
  • 2 causes are "rare" diseases
  • 7 causes are "very rare" diseases
  • 231 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 257 causes of Insomnia

Conditions listing symptoms: Insomnia:

The following list of conditions have 'Insomnia' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

A

  • Abuse dwarfism syndrome ... insomnia
  • Acrodynia ... insomnia
  • Acute intermittent porphyria ... insomnia
  • Alcohol Withdrawal ... insomnia, sleep disturbance
  • Alcohol-induced pseudo-Cushing syndrome ... insomnia
  • Alcoholism ... difficulty sleeping, insomnia
  • Aldehyde syndrome ... sleeplessness
  • Allergic tension-fatigue syndrome ... insomnia
  • Ambien withdrawal ... insomnia
  • Amphetamine abuse ... difficulty sleeping, restless sleep
  • Andropause ... sleep disturbance
  • Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ... sleeping difficulty
  • Anemia, Refractory, with Excess of Blasts ... sleeping difficulty
  • Anemia, Refractory, with Excess of Blasts, type 1 ... sleeping difficulty
  • Anemia, Refractory, with Excess of Blasts, type 2 ... sleeping difficulty
  • Aplastic anemia ... sleeping difficulty
  • Asbestosis ... sleep disturbances
  • Ascariasis ... disturbed sleep
  • Ativan withdrawal ... insomnia
  • Autoimmune thyroid diseases ... insomnia

    B

  • Barbiturate abuse ... insomnia
  • Benzodiazepine abuse ... insomnia
  • Bipolar disorder ... difficulty sleeping, insomnia, trouble sleeping
  • Brain Concussion ... insomnia
  • Buerger's disease ... insomnia
  • Burnout syndrome ... insomnia

    C

  • Carbon monoxide poisoning ... sleep disturbance
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ... sleeplessness, difficulty sleeping
  • Chronic vitamin A toxicity ... insomnia
  • Circadian rhythm sleep disorder ... insomnia
  • Cluster headache ... insomnia
  • Cocaine abuse ... insomnia
  • Cocaine withdrawal ... sleep disturbance
  • Codeine withdrawal ... insomnia
  • Congenital hepatic porphyria ... sleep disturbance
  • Crack withdrawal ... sleep disturbance
  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease ... insomnia
  • Cushing's syndrome ... sleep disturbances

    D

  • D'Acosta ... insomnia
  • Demerol withdrawal ... insomnia
  • Depression ... difficulty sleeping, waking too early
  • Depressive disorders ... difficulty sleeping, waking too early
  • Dexedrine withdrawal ... disturbed sleep
  • Dilaudid withdrawal ... insomnia, restless sleep
  • Discontinuation syndrome ... insomnia
  • Dysthymia ... difficulty sleeping, waking too early

    E

  • Earache ... Sleeping difficulty
  • East African Trypanosomiasis ... insomnia at night
  • Ecstasy abuse ... insomnia
  • Ecstasy withdrawal ... sleeplessness
  • Eczema ... difficulty sleeping

    F

  • Fatal familial insomnia ... Insomnia
  • Fibromyalgia ... sleep disturbances, difficulty sleeping
  • Folic acid toxicity ... insomnia
  • Food allergies ... poor sleeping

    G

  • Generalized anxiety disorder ... trouble staying asleep, trouble falling asleep
  • Ginseng overuse ... insomnia
  • Glénard syndrome ... insomnia
  • Glucose transport defect, blood-brain barrier ... sleep disturbance
  • Graves Disease ... insomnia
  • Guarana overuse ... insomnia

    H

  • Hydrocodone withdrawal ... insomnia
  • Hyperthyroidism ... insomnia

    I

  • Inborn amino acid metabolism disorder ... sleeping difficulty
  • Insomnia ... frequent night waking, unrefreshing sleep, difficulty returning to sleep, waking too early, difficulty falling asleep
  • Insomnia with sleep apnea ... insomnia

    J

  • Jet lag ... insomnia

    M

  • Marie-Seé Syndrome ... insomnia
  • Menopause ... insomnia
  • Methamphetamine withdrawal ... disturbed sleep
  • Middle ear infection ... Sleeping difficulty
  • Mild Traumatic Brain Injury ... insomnia
  • Morphine withdrawal ... insomnia
  • Mountain sickness ... sleep disturbances
  • Mycosis fungoides ... insomnia
  • Mycosis fungoides, familial ... insomnia

    N

  • Narcolepsy ... tossing and turning, Disturbed nighttime sleep, frequent nightly waking, frequent awakenings

    O

  • Obstructive sleep apnea ... frequent arousals, restless sleep
  • Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy ... trouble sleeping
  • Opioid withdrawal ... insomnia
  • Opium withdrawal ... insomnia
  • OxyContin withdrawal ... insomnia

    P

  • Percocet withdrawal ... insomnia
  • Periodic limb movements in sleep ... trouble staying asleep, trouble falling asleep
  • Phenol sulfotransferase deficiency ... insomnia
  • Pineal Teratoma ... insomnia
  • Pinealoma ... insomnia
  • Pituitary tumors, adult ... insomnia
  • Postconcussive syndrome ... insomnia
  • Postpartum psychosis ... insomnia
  • Premenstrual dysphoric disorder ... insomnia
  • Premenstrual syndrome ... insomnia
  • Primary insomnia ... insomnia, difficulty staying asleep, difficulty falling asleep
  • Prion diseases ... insomnia
  • Problem Sleepiness ... poor sleep, not enough sleep
  • Pyridoxine deficiency ... insomnia

    R

  • Rénon-Delille syndrome ... insomnia
  • Rape trauma syndrome ... sleep disturbances
  • Resistance to thyroid stimulating hormone ... insomnia
  • Restless Legs Syndrome ... sleep onset insomnia, difficulty sleeping, difficulty staying asleep
  • Rett's syndrome ... sleep disturbances
  • Ritalin withdrawal ... insomnia

    S

  • Sedative dependence ... Insomnia
  • Shift work sleep disorder ... insomnia
  • Silo unloader syndrome ... insomnia
  • Sinusitis ... disturbed sleep
  • Sleep apnea ... frequent arousals, restless sleep
  • Sleep Apnea Syndromes ... insomnia, restless sleep
  • Sleep deprivation ... poor sleep
  • Sleep disorders ... Insomnia
  • Sleep Disorders, Extrinsic ... insomnia
  • Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic ... insomnia
  • Sopite syndrome ... sleep disturbances
  • Steroid withdrawal syndrome ... insomnia
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome ... sleep disturbance

    T

  • Thiamine deficiency ... sleep disturbance
  • Thyroid disorders ... insomnia
  • Tranquilizer withdrawal ... sleep disturbance
  • Trigeminal neuralgia ... difficulty sleeping

    V

  • Variegate porphyria ... insomnia
  • Vicodin withdrawal ... insomnia
  • Vitamin B1 toxicity ... insomnia

    W

  • Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome ... insomnia
  • West African Trypanosomiasis ... insomnia at night
  • Whiplash ... sleep disturbances
  • Whiplash Injuries ... sleeplessness
  • Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome ... Sleeping difficulties

    X

  • Xanax withdrawal ... sleep disturbance

    Conditions listing complications: Insomnia:

    The following list of conditions have 'Insomnia' or similar listed as a complication in our database. The distinction between a symptom and complication is not always clear, and conditions mentioning this symptom as a complication may also be relevant. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

    A

  • Alzheimer's Disease ... sleeplessness
  • Amphetamine abuse ... chronic insomnia, insomnia, insomnia

    B

  • Bipolar disorder ... insomnia

    P

  • Pierre Robin's sequence ... sleep disturbance

    Join in at the forums

    Ask or answer a question about symptoms or diseases at one of our free interactive user forums.

    Medical story forums: If you have a medical story then we want to hear it.

    See a list of all the medical forums

  • Causes of Insomnia Based on Risk Factors

    This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Insomnia based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient:

  • Travel - has the patient travelled recently?
  • Diabetes - history of diabetes or family history of diabetes?

    Doctors and specialists: Who should I consult about Insomnia?

    Depending on the seriousness of the onset of Insomnia, you may want to consult one of the following medical professionals.
    Important:In extreme cases, always seek advice from emergency services :

    What are the alternative names for Insomnia:

    Sleep disturbance, Dyssomnia
    - (Source - Diseases Database)

    Classifications of Insomnia:

    Subtypes of Insomnia:

    Sleep disturbance (19 causes), Sleeping difficulty (8 causes), Sleeplessness (4 causes), Yawning Excessively, Dream disturbance

    Medical Conditions associated with Insomnia:

    Sleep symptoms (437 causes), Sleeping problems (309 causes)

    Symptoms related to Insomnia:

    Restlessness (170 causes)

    Insomnia as a disease:

    For a more detailed analysis of Insomnia as a disease, please see our Disease Center information for Insomnia.

    Medical articles on signs and symptoms:

    Doctor-patient articles related to symptoms and diagnosis:

    These general medical articles may be of interest:

    See full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis

    Medical News summaries about Insomnia

    Our news pages contain the following medical news summaries about Insomnia and many other medical conditions:

    Related medical articles from our Disease Center for Insomnia:


    More Ways To Research Medical Signs and Symptoms:


     » Next page: Causes of Insomnia

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