<P> Nocturnal awakenings can be mistaken as shift work disorder . </P> <P> Middle - of - the - night insomnia is often treated with medication, although currently Intermezzo (zolpidem tartrate sublingual tablets) is the only Food and Drug Administration - approved medication specifically for treating MOTN awakening . Because most medications usually require 6--8 hours of sleep to avoid lingering effects the next day, these are often used every night at bedtime to prevent awakenings . Medication may not be prescribed in some cases, especially if the cause turns out to be the patient ingesting too much fluid during the day or just before they go to sleep . </P> <P> Sleep restriction therapy and stimulus control therapy as described in insomnia have shown significance in treating middle of night insomnia . Some studies have shown that zaleplon, which has a short elimination half - life, may be suitable for middle - of - the - night administration because it does not impair next day performance . </P>

Waking up after 4 hours of sleep every night