Prescription Sleep Aid Management

Your visit begins with a thorough look at what's keeping you awake—stress, schedule, medical issues, or other medications—because the cause shapes the plan. If a sleep aid is appropriate, Dr. Golian selects the lowest effective option and prescribes it for a defined, short-term window rather than open-ended use.

Sleep medication works best as one part of a broader strategy. We often combine it with behavioral changes and, when anxiety or depression are driving poor sleep, address those directly so you can eventually rest without relying on a pill.

Before your appointment, keep a simple sleep log for a week or two—roughly when you go to bed, how long it takes to fall asleep, and how often you wake. This gives us a clear picture to work from.

Bring a full list of your current medications and supplements so we can check for interactions; a medication reconciliation is often part of the visit. Note any alcohol use, caffeine habits, and whether you've tried sleep aids before, including what helped or caused side effects.

Sleep aids are not meant to run indefinitely. Dr. Golian schedules regular follow-ups to review how you're sleeping, watch for side effects or tolerance, and plan a gentle taper once your sleep stabilizes.

If your insomnia is complex or tied to a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea, we may arrange a specialist referral and coordinate care, including with Cedars-Sinai when subspecialty input is needed. The goal is durable, restorative sleep—ideally with the medication eventually phased out.