What may increase your risk of a sleep problem?

Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medicines, and diseases may interfere with your ability to sleep. You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your health professional.

Conditions

• Age older than 60
• History of a traumatic brain injury
• Previous suicide attempt
• Family history of suicide or attempted suicide

Lifestyle choices

• Excessive caffeine use
• Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
• Drug abuse or withdrawal
• Smoking or other tobacco use

Medicines

• Blood pressure medicines, such as clonidine, propranolol, atenolol, and methyldopa
• Chemotherapy or radiation therapy
• Cold medicines or nonprescription medicines that contain caffeine
• Diet pills, such as Adipex and phentermine
• Hormones, such as birth control pills, thyroid, cortisone, and progesterone
• Medicines that depress the nervous system functions (depressants), such as tranquilizers, sedatives, or pain pills
• Medicines used to treat asthma, such as theophylline, albuterol, and salmeterol
• Medicines used to treat irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), such as quinidine
• Medicines used to treat seizure disorders, such as phenytoin
• Medicines used to treat Parkinson's disease, such as levodopa
• SSRI antidepressants, such as fluoxetine and paroxetine
• Steroids, such as prednisone
• Stimulants, such as methylphenidate, cocaine, or amphetamines

Diseases

• Alzheimer's disease
• Anemia
• Asthma
• Cancer
• Chronic bronchitis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema
• Coronary artery disease
• Cystic fibrosis
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Fibromyalgia
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Heartburn
• High blood pressure
• History of a mental health problem, such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety attacks, or schizophrenia
• Huntington's disease
• Hyperthyroidism
• Hypothyroidism
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Migraine or cluster headaches
• Painful conditions such as arthritis, back pain, and sickle cell disease
• Parkinson's disease
• Peptic ulcer disease
• Prostate enlargement (benign prostatic hypertrophy [BPH])
• Sleep apnea
• Tourette's disorder