Treatments

Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders Treatments

Northwestern Medicine offers a variety of treatments that are available for individuals suffering from a circadian rhythm sleep disorder. Your physician may recommend:

• Lifestyle changes: Your physician may recommend modifying your exposure to daylight, making changes to your daily routine and strategically scheduling naps.
• Sleep hygiene: Northwestern Medicine can help you develop healthy sleep habits and teach you how to avoid certain behaviors that affect sleep cycles, such as naps, caffeine and other stimulants.
• Light therapy: Used to advance or delay sleep, light therapy (bright or dark) can be used depending on how your circadian rhythm needs to be shifted.
• Medications: A hypnotic may be prescribed to promote sleep or a stimulant to promote wakefulness. Melatonin plays a key role in maintaining your sleep/wake cycle. By taking it at precise times, it may alleviate some of your symptoms.