CBT-I vs. Sleep Medication: What the Research Actually Says
Somnera Clinical Team··6 min read
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine as the first-line treatment for chronic insomnia, ahead of medication.
Unlike sleeping pills, which manage symptoms while you're taking them, CBT-I targets the behaviors and thought patterns that perpetuate poor sleep — which is why its benefits tend to last well after the program ends.
This doesn't mean medication has no role. For some people, short-term use alongside CBT-I can help break an acute crisis. But as a long-term strategy, the evidence consistently favors behavioral treatment.