The ideal hypnotic drug should have the following characteristics: rapid induction of sleep, no interference with the natural sleep structure, no residual effects during the day, no effect on memory function, and no addiction or hangover reaction. The use of selective benzodiazepine receptor agonists (non-benzodiazepine hypnotics) including zopiclone, zolpidem and zaleplon has received increasing attention in clinical practice since the 1980s. Compared with the most widely used traditional benzodiazepines (Valium), these non-benzodiazepine hypnotics have no anxiolytic, muscle relaxing and antitussive effects in sedation and hypnosis, are not easily tolerated and have residual effects during the day when taken for a long time, do not affect the normal sleep structure, do not damage psychomotor and cognitive functions, and are not likely to cause rebound insomnia. Therefore, the treatment of insomnia should be based on etiological treatment and cognitive-behavioral therapy, and non-benzodiazepine short-acting hypnotics are preferred. Two-thirds of insomnia patients are chronic and require long-term treatment. However, long-term nightly use of any hypnotic drug significantly increases the risk of drug dependence, tolerance, and can lead to more severe insomnia when the drug is suddenly discontinued. Since insomnia does not occur every night in 72% of people with insomnia, it is not necessary to take the medication every night. The principle of hypnotic use currently advocated is on-demand treatment: a flexible, non-continuous approach based on the pattern and characteristics of insomnia. It is recommended to be used when you cannot fall asleep 30 minutes before going to bed at night, when you wake up five hours before normal waking and cannot fall asleep again, when you have important work or things to do the next day; do not take the medication when the next day is a weekend. For severe insomnia, two non-benzodiazepine hypnotics can be used alternately. Taking medication on demand prevents chronic insomniacs from taking unnecessary medication when they can fall asleep on their own, reducing both the dose of medication and the drug dependence, tolerance and addiction associated with long-term daily medication use, offering the possibility of long-term treatment for people with chronic insomnia.