Q. What will happen when I stop taking my insomnia medication?

A. It is possible that you will sleep poorly, particularly if the cause of your insomnia has not changed. In other words, if the original reason you were sleeping poorly is still present, you may resume sleeping poorly. In addition, some people experience rebound insomnia when they stop taking an hypnotic. Rebound insomnia refers to an experience of sleeping even worse than before you took the medication. Rebound insomnia occurs only with shorter-acting hypnotics, is more likely to occur with high hypnotic doses, and generally lasts only one night. It can be avoided by gradually tapering the dose over a few nights rather than stopping it abruptly.

Read other Frequently Asked Questions about medications.