Benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine hypnotic drugs are commonly used. Benzodiazepines include eszopiclone, lorazepam, diazepam, nitrazepam, and clonazepam, which have triple effects of sedation, muscle relaxation, and anticonvulsions. Benzodiazepines should be used with caution in the elderly to prevent ataxia, confusion, paradoxical movements, hallucinations, respiratory depression, and muscle weakness, which may lead to trauma or other accidents, and long-term heavy use may produce tolerance and dependence. Non-benzodiazepine hypnotic drugs mainly include zolpidem, zopiclone, zaleplon and other drugs, which only have hypnotic but not sedative, muscle relaxing and anticonvulsant effects, and do not affect the normal sleep structure of healthy people, and zolpidem and zopiclone in therapeutic doses generally do not produce insomnia rebound and withdrawal syndrome. Long-term, persistent insomnia should be administered under the guidance of a specialist, which can eventually safely and effectively relieve insomnia symptoms, restore social function, and improve the patient’s quality of life. The non-benzodiazepine hypnotic drug zolpidem can be used as the drug of choice for primary insomnia. When patients feel able to self-control their sleep and their insomnia symptoms are effectively relieved, discontinuation of the drug can be considered. Discontinuation should be stepwise and take several weeks to several months. If symptoms recur during discontinuation, the patient should be reassessed. A common method of dose reduction is to gradually decrease the use of hypnotic medications and not to abruptly discontinue medication, as insomnia rebound is likely to occur.