Sleep Disorders Health Center
Insomnia: Symptoms and Causes
Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is characterized by inadequate sleep quality and quantity. People with this sleep disorder have one or more of the following insomnia symptoms:
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Waking up often during the night and having trouble going back to sleep
- Waking up too early in the morning
- Feeling tired upon waking
- Sleepiness during the day
- Irritability and problems with concentration or memory
What Causes Insomnia?
Insomnia can be its own medical problem (primary insomnia) or it can be caused by a separate issue (secondary insomnia) such as a side effect from medication. Insomnia may be an acute (short-term) problem, meaning it lasts less than 1 month, or it can be chronic, lasting 1 month or longer.
Situations that may cause a period of acute insomnia can include:
- Stress (for example, job loss or change, death of a loved one, divorce, or moving)
- Illness
- Emotional or physical discomfort
- Environmental factors like noise, light, or extreme temperatures (hot or cold) that interfere with sleep
- Some medications (for example those used to treat colds, allergies, depression, high blood pressure and asthma)
- Interference in normal sleep schedule (for example, jet lag or switching from a day to night shift)
Causes of chronic insomnia can include:
- Depression and/or anxiety
- Chronic stress
- Pain or discomfort at night
Reviewed by The Sleep
Medicine Center at The Cleveland Clinic.
WebMD Medical Reference provided in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic![]()
TOPAMAX is approved for migraine prevention in adults only.
TOPAMAX is not used to stop a migraine after it starts.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Serious risks associated with TOPAMAX include lowered bicarbonate levels in the blood resulting in an increase in the acidity of the blood (metabolic acidosis). Symptoms could include hyperventilation (rapid, deep breathing), tiredness, loss of appetite, irregular heartbeat or changes in the level of alertness. Call your doctor immediately if you get these symptoms. Your doctor may want to do simple blood tests. Chronic, untreated metabolic acidosis may increase the risk for kidney stones or bone disease.
Other serious risks include decreased sweating, increased body temperature, kidney stones, sleepiness, dizziness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, and increased eye pressure (glaucoma). Call your doctor immediately if you have any decrease in vision or eye pain. These problems can lead to blindness if not treated right away.
More common side effects are tingling in arms and legs, loss of appetite, tiredness, nausea, diarrhea, taste change and weight loss.
Tell your doctor about other medications you take. Please see full U.S. Prescribing Information.
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