Home Symptoms Insomnia

Insomnia — what to take?

Insomnia = difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or non-restorative sleep, with an impact on daytime functioning. It affects 10-30% of adults.

Also known as: can't sleep poor sleep nighttime waking
5 recommended OTC drugs
8,260 pharmacies available

In short: Insomnia means trouble falling asleep, waking during the night, or unrefreshing sleep that affects how you function during the day, and it touches between 10 and 30% of adults. For mild, occasional episodes, pharmacies offer over-the-counter options such as melatonin, valerian, magnesium, passionflower, or diphenhydramine, each with a different profile. On HartaFarmacii you can compare the price of these OTC options across Dr. Max, Tei, Catena, and HelpNet, with prices updated daily. This information is for guidance only and does not replace a medical consultation; see a doctor if insomnia persists for more than three months without improvement.

Data verified on from public sources (OpenStreetMap, chain websites, ANM/MS) — updated daily.

OTC — no prescription

What you can take for insomnia

Informational only — HartaFarmacii is not an approved medical site. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine. Don't self-medicate. Emergencies: 112.

When to see a doctor

If any of these signs appear, consult a doctor — OTC treatment is not enough:

  • Insomnia lasting over 3 months without improvement
  • Loud snoring with breathing pauses
  • Thoughts of self-harm
  • Severe daytime sleepiness

Types of insomnia

Acute (under 3 months) — related to stress, travel, changes. Chronic (over 3 months) — requires a structured approach.

OTC treatment

Melatonin 1-3 mg, 30-60 min before bedtime. Useful for jet lag, shift work, or older adults. A higher dose is not more effective.

Valerian 400-900 mg in the evening. Mild sedative effect, good safety profile, does not cause dependence.

Diphenhydramine, doxylamine — antihistamines with a sedative effect. Can be used occasionally. Avoid in older adults.

Magnesium, L-theanine, passionflower — complementary supplements with moderate evidence.

Sleep hygiene — first line

  • Fixed bedtime and wake-up times, including weekends.
  • Dark, cool room (18-20 degrees C), free of noise.
  • No screens 1h before bedtime.
  • Avoid caffeine after 2:00 PM, and alcohol in the evening.
  • If you don't fall asleep within 20 min, get out of bed and do something relaxing.
  • Physical exercise during the day, NOT in the last 3h before bedtime.

CBT-I — the first-rank treatment

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia has superior efficacy to medication in the long term. Available through a psychologist or online apps.

Medical disclaimer: the information in this guide is for informational purposes only and does not replace the advice of your doctor or pharmacist. For diagnosis and treatment, consult a healthcare professional.

Medicines compared

Medicines used for insomnia

This list is for guidance only, generated automatically from the DCI/category match. It is not a medical recommendation — consult your doctor before starting any treatment.

This list is not a medical recommendation. Consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Search the pharmacy

Medicines for insomnia

Step by step

How to find a pharmacy fast for insomnia

Open the interactive map and grant location permission — you'll immediately see pharmacies sorted by distance, each with its opening hours and a one-tap route in Google Maps. If it's night or a weekend, switch on the 24/7 filter to keep only the on-call ones. For insomnia most of the listed remedies are over the counter, so you can walk in without a prescription, but check stock and prices on the comparator page first to avoid wasted trips.

If you have a preferred active ingredient (paracetamol, ibuprofen, etc.), search it in the comparator before you leave — you'll see which chain has it cheapest near you and whether it's in stock. For chronic prescriptions, save your favourite pharmacy in the app and turn on hours notifications — it saves unnecessary trips, especially when treatment for insomnia runs over weeks.

See also

Related symptoms and conditions

Symptom

Stres

Stresul e răspunsul fiziologic la solicitări. Cronic — afectează imunitatea, cardiovascular, somn, digestie, sănătate mentală.

 Symptom

Anxietate

Anxietatea e o stare de neliniște excesivă cu simptome fizice (palpitații, transpirații, tremor) și psihice (frica, îngrijorare). Tulburarea anxioasă afectează 10-15% dintre adulți.

 Symptom

Oboseală

Oboseala e lipsă persistentă de energie, peste ce e normal după efort. Cauzele variază de la lipsă de somn la anemie, hipotiroidie, diabet, depresie, boli cronice.

 Symptom

Durere de cap

Durerea de cap (cefaleea) e unul dintre cele mai frecvente simptome — aproape toți adulții o experimentează cel puțin o dată pe an. Majoritatea episoadelor se rezolvă cu odihnă și un analgezic OTC, dar câteva semne trebuie să te trimită rapid la medic.

 Condition

Depresie

Depresia e tulburare afectivă cu dispoziție tristă persistentă, pierdere de interes, modificări în somn/apetit/energie. Afectează 15-20% din populație pe parcursul vieții. Necesită tratament medical.

 Condition

Tulburări anxioase

Tulburările anxioase includ: TAG (anxietate generalizată), tulburare panică, fobie socială, agorafobia, fobii specifice, PTSD, TOC. Afectează 15-20% pe parcursul vieții.

Frequently asked

What else do you want to know?

Does melatonin cause dependence?
No — it does not cause physical dependence. It can be taken long term.
How many hours of sleep do I need?
Adults: 7-9h. What matters is quality, not just quantity.
Why can't I fall asleep even though I'm tired?
Hyperarousal (elevated cortisol), anxiety, poor hygiene, late caffeine.
Does alcohol help with sleep?
You fall asleep faster, but sleep is fragmented with nighttime awakenings.

See also

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