In the early 1900's a new class of drugs was developed which represented an important advancement in sleep disorder therapy.  The drugs in this class are known as barbiturates, such as amobarbital, pentobarbital, secobarbital and phenobarbital.  They were known to be quite effective in promoting sleep and were quite commonly used until the 1960's, when safety concerns and newer therapeutics resulted in a decline in prescriptions.  Barbiturates were found to have a wide variety of effects on the body, associated with multiple adverse effects, and extremely dangerous, or lethal, when taken as an overdose.

In the 1960's benzodiazepines were introduced for the treatment of insomnia, and as prescription medications for fibromyalgia.  These medications were shown to be effective and "safe."  Most notably, they were much less likely to produce adverse effects as with barbiturates, and less likely to be FATAL when taken as an overdose.  Benzodiazepines are still in use today for the treatment of insomnia, anxiety, seizures and as Fibromyalgia medicatations for sleep symptoms. They are less often prescribed now than in the past because of concerns regarding abuse, dependence, impairment in memory and movement, and next day "hangover" or residual effects.