Do We Need 8 Hours of Sleep?

Peter ForsterInsomnia, Insomnia Treatment

A recently published study that looked at patterns of sleep in three different hunter gatherer societies challenges the long-held notion that we all need to sleep 8 to 9 hours a night and that many of us in Western society are chronically sleep deprived. The results are summarized in an article we just published in our companion website MoodSurfing.com. Tantalizing …

Melatonin and Sleep

Peter ForsterBasic Science, Insomnia, Insomnia Treatment, Psychobiology

What is the relationship between melatonin and sleep? And why are the results that people have from taking melatonin supplements to help induce sleep so variable? A recent article has suggested that the two melatonin receptors, melatonin one (M1) and melatonin two (M2) that have been shown to existing humans may have different effects on sleep. A quick review may …

New Drug with New Mechanism for Insomnia – Suvorexant

Peter ForsterInsomnia, Insomnia Treatment

Belsomra (suvorexant) was approved earlier this week by the FDA for use as needed to treat difficulty in falling and staying asleep. ​ The drug blocks receptors for orexin – also known as hypocretin – the master hypothalamic regulator of the sleep-wake cycle. There are, in fact, two forms of orexin, A and B; hence it is a dual orexin …