Addressing the problem of insomnia is a challenging multilayered task that demands the analysis of one’s psychological state as well as physiological ones. In the case under analysis, the mental well-being of a person who has sleep issues is questioned. By answering some of the questions, one will shed light on the misunderstanding at hand and the possible issues that the patient may have with the proposed treatment. Due to the possibility of developing a heart-related health issue, it will be best for the patient to avoid using Zolpidem and Tylenol, which is traditionally prescribed in cases of insomnia in postmenopausal women, and consider the application of therapy instead.
The current therapy goals for the patient include the reduction in the experienced emotional tension and the development of the treatment approach that S.H. can follow. The prescription of the medicine that would allow S.H. to reduce the blood pressure and cause the chances needed for the patient to experience the needed amount of relaxation is currently a highly questionable method of treatment in regard to the effect that it will have on S.H.’s heart. According to a recent statement regarding the outcomes of using insomnia medications by heart patients, “evidence is mounting for prospective links between insomnia and hypertension, cardiovascular events, and death” (American College of Cardiology, 2016).
To monitor the efficacy of the proposed therapy, one will need to establish clear criteria for success. In the case at hand, these criteria include the patient’s ability to relax, the improvement of the patient’s sleeping and waking patterns, and the ultimate education of the patient. Speaking of which, the parameters that will define the effective education process will be the patient’s ability to articulate their problem, their understanding fo the factors that affect it negatively, and the ability to control the negative factors.
Among the key adverse reactions to the proposed therapy, the inability of the patient to develop new sleeping patterns and resorting to the previously established pattern of Zolpidem consumption are the key failure criteria for the specified scenario. The patient’s ability to abstain from the use of Zolpidem is critical to their autonomy and the management of the problem, in general. However, given the high level of probability that the patient will be unable to withstand the pressure and the emotional weariness that they experience once they continue to utilize the suggested therapy, the consumption of non-benzodiazepine hypnotics may be suggested (Jehan et al., 2015).
However, apart from the specified options, the patient may also consider the medication such as antidepressive sedative medication. Moreover, change in lifestyle may also spur significant alterations in the sleeping patterns of S.H. Specifically , dietary habits such as the consumption of vegetables and low-fat dairy products may help address the current condition (Kauffman, Bakhshaie, Lam, Alfano, & Zvolensky, 2018).
Therefore, it will be required to experiment with the options that have the least harm and health implications on S.H. given her current heart condition and the post-menopausal state. In addition, drug-drug interactions for the medication in question may include problems with metabolic pathways.
Due to the threats that the consumption of Tylenol and Zolpidem will have on a patient with heart issues and the related postmenopausal conditions, it will be necessary to avoid using the specified drugs. Despite the fact that the medications in question is traditionally prescribed to patients in the specified context, the fact that S.H, has a weak heart implies that the specified type of treatment should be avoided at all costs to prevent the aggravation of S.H’s condition. Therefore, a therapy is highly recommended instead of the consumption of any kind of medication for treating insomnia.
References
American College of Cardiology. (2016). Insomnia and heart disease. Web.
Jehan, S., Masters-Isarilov, A., Salifu, I., Zizi, F., Jean-Louis, G., Pandi-Perumal, S. R.,… McFarlane, S. I. (2015). Sleep disorders in postmenopausal women. Journal of Sleep Disorders & Therapy, 4(5), 1-18. Web.
Kauffman, B. Y., Bakhshaie, J., Lam, H., Alfano, C., & Zvolensky, M. J. (2018). Insomnia and eating expectancies among college students: The role of emotion dysregulation. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 47(6), 470-481. Web.