Insomnia, transient: Insomnia that usually lasts less than a week and does not recur. If it recurs from time to time, the insomnia is considered intermittent. If the insomnia affects most nights and lasts a month or more, it is considered chronic insomnia.

Transient insomnia may not require treatment. For example, if it is due to jet lag, the biological clock will return to normal on its own. Short-acting sleeping pills may improve sleep and next-day alertness but, as with all drugs, there are potential side effects. The use of over-the-counter sleep medicines is not usually recommended for insomnia.