April 4, 2023 Dr. Dimitriu was published in Psychology Today in an article titled:

Sleep Medications for Insomnia: Limitations and Alternatives

A study published recently (January 2023) in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease is the latest confirmation of prior scientific warnings about a potential association between certain prescribed sleeping aids, including benzodiazepines, “Z-hypnotic drugs,” and trazodone, and a significant risk of developing dementia—as high as 79 percent in Caucasian adults, ages 71-77. Additional research suggests these medications also are linked to other adverse effects, namely increased risk of falls and resulting fractures, memory loss, and confusion among older adults and safety concerns. An article appearing in a 2019 issue of Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience contends that commonly prescribed benzodiazepines for anxiety and sleep suppress the central nervous system and the brain’s awake response to danger, causing some study participants to sleep through loud fire alarms.

But if left untreated, disordered sleep, which involves difficulties falling asleep or remaining asleep during a seven- or eight-hour period, poses problems that can be as disconcerting as the effects of the drugs used to treat it. In Nature and Science of Sleep, for example, scientists indicate short-term consequences of insomnia include increased response to stress, emotional and mood disorders, and cognitive, memory, and performance deficits.

Click HERE for the full article.

By Patty Onderko, Apr 3, 2023

Once underlying health conditions are either ruled out or managed, your doctor may suggest cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-i) as your first sleep “aid.” “CBT-i is the gold standard treatment for insomnia,” says Alex Dimitriu, M.D., a sleep medicine specialist and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in Menlo Park, CA. This therapy includes sleep education, stimulus control, sleep restriction, and relaxation training, explains Dr. Dimitriu. “The harder you try to fall asleep, the worse sleeplessness becomes,” he says, “so the goal of CBT-i is to make the bed a place of relaxation, associated with sleep.”

Click HERE for the full article.

By Nina Chamlou, Mar 30, 2023

“The primary causes of sleep apnea are typically related to physical [conditions], such as obesity or [a] blockage of the airway,” says Alex Dimitriu, M.D., who is double board-certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine. “Essentially it’s a problem with the air intake and when people fall asleep, the walls [of the throat] relax and get floppy, which can result in blockage.”

Click HERE for the full article.

By Hannah Yasharoff, Mar 25, 2023

There are also certain people who are at-risk for a negative experience, even with the proper setting and dosage. Dr. Alex Dimitriu, who specializes in psychiatry and sleep medicine, previously told USA TODAY that anyone with any personal or family history of schizophrenia should steer clear of these substances.

Click HERE for the full story.

By David Rossiaky, Mar 3, 2023

Dr. Alex Dimitriu, double board-certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in California, noted that an individual’s discipline and impulse control are a factor, too. “It could well be that the people that have the discipline to get good sleep also have the discipline to stick to a weight loss program. It is a virtuous cycle where the discipline helps sleep and, in turn, sleep helps discipline (and weight loss),” Dimitriu told Healthline.

Click HERE for the full article.

By Mary West, Feb 20, 2023

Medical News Today reached out to Dr. Alex Dimitriu, who founded Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine and is board certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine, for his definition. “Essentially, this is insomnia that is not due to any particular cause, such as anxiety, alcohol, caffeine, or jet lag,” explains Dr. Dimitriu. “It is also not associated with another sleep disorder and is not linked to a mental [health condition], substance use, or a general medical condition.” “The sleep disturbance causes significant impairment in occupational, academic, social, behavioral, or other areas of functioning,” adds Dr. Dimitriu.

Click HERE for the full article.

By Brie Schmidt, Feb 19, 2023

If you’re one of the lucky few that has feel-good recurring dreams, there’s likely no need to put an end to your happy nighttime fantasies. But if your dreams are disrupting your sleep and leaving you feeling uneasy, it’s time to take action. “Some recurring dreams are worthy of more attention [and therapy],” Dr. Alex Dimitriu, a psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist, explained to Good Housekeeping. “People with unresolved trauma that should be treated will experience an event in their nightmares, and people with sleep apnea may commonly dream of suffocating or drowning, when in reality, they cannot breathe.” An appointment with your doctor or therapist is the first step to putting an end to recurring dreams.

Click HERE for the full article.