SMRs in problematic polypharmacy: insomnia focus – your questions answered

In this podcast Emma Bryant (Mental Health Lead at NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service) speaks with Dr Rania Ward, Principal Pharmacist for Sleep Medicine, who answers some of the questions posed in the chat during our recent webinar, SMRs in problematic polypharmacy: insomnia focus (14 April 2026). 00.45 - Sleep cycle and shift patterns 03.23 - Cumulative sleep 04.45 - Red flags 10.22 - Treat the underlying cause or start hypnotics 12.34 - Pharmacological options 15.07 - Melatonin 20.11 - Serious mental illness (SMI) and insomnia 22.22 - New medicines for insomnia (daridorexant) 26.46 - Non-pharmacological treatments 31.12 - More information and training Dr Rania Ward; Principal Pharmacist for Sleep Medicine, Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Emma Bryant; Mental Health Lead, Medicines Use and Safety, NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service Useful links SMRs in problematic polypharmacy: case based discussions https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/smrs-in-problematic-polypharmacy-case-based-discussions/ National Sleep Pharmacy Network https://nspn.co.uk/ RCGP Learning (Insomnia) https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/course/info.php?id=824 PCPharm (Insomnia Learning Programme) https://courses.learning.rpharms.com/product?catalog=RCP-Clinical-19