From the Guidelines

Benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BzRAs) are safe for insomnia in a hospital setting.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) recommends BzRAs as a first-line pharmacotherapy for insomnia 1.
BzRAs have been shown to be effective in improving sleep outcomes, such as sleep-onset latency (SOL) and wake after sleep onset (WASO) 1.
However, potential adverse effects of BzRAs include residual sedation, memory and performance impairment, falls, and undesired behaviors during sleep 1.
The FDA has approved BzRAs for short-term use (4 to 5 weeks), and patients should not continue using the drugs for extended periods 1.
Other pharmacologic treatments, such as benzodiazepine hypnotics, melatonin, and trazodone, have insufficient evidence to support their effectiveness and safety for insomnia disorder 1.

BzRAs, such as zolpidem or eszopiclone, can be used as a first-line pharmacotherapy for insomnia in a hospital setting, with careful consideration of the potential risks and benefits 1.
Patients should be closely monitored for adverse effects, and the medication should be discontinued if necessary 1.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) should be considered as a primary intervention for chronic insomnia, with pharmacotherapy used as an adjunctive treatment if necessary 1.

From the Research

Melatonin has been identified as a safe treatment for insomnia in hospital settings, with a low likelihood of adverse effects and drug-drug interactions 2.
Non-pharmacological interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), environmental modifications, and individualized sleep promotion, may also be effective in improving sleep quality in hospitalized patients 3, 4, 5.
Physical sleep aids, relaxation, manual therapy, and music interventions have been shown to improve sleep quality in hospital settings, with medium to large improvements noted in meta-analysis 5.

Barriers to promoting safe sleep practices in hospital settings need to be addressed, including organizational, individual, and cultural level barriers 6.
Healthcare providers should model safe sleep practices and consider the development of safe sleep programs that take into account the specific needs of hospitalized patients 6.
Individualized sleep promotion strategies, such as those using mobile health (mHealth) technology, may be effective in improving sleep quality in hospital settings 4.

Benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine benzodiazepine receptor agonists are relatively contraindicated for patients over the age of 65 due to the risk of increased falls, cognitive decline, and potential for withdrawal symptoms after long-term use 2.
Melatonin is considered a safer alternative to sedative-hypnotics, with a lower risk of adverse effects and drug-drug interactions 2.