Australian scientists are trialling a new technique to help chronic suffers potentially get a better night’s sleep without the use of sedatives.

Sedatives are the most common treatment for insomnia, but doctors warn there are side-effects.

“Sedatives should only be used for two weeks at a maximum, so long-term treatment should be discouraged,” Doctor Daniel Judge said.

Researchers are now trialling a new treatment, which involves sleep restriction therapy with the addition of a drug to combat the side effects of resulting fatigue.

A new sedative-free insomnia treatment could mean better sleep for sufferers.

Sleep restriction therapy involves a sleep psychologist limiting the amount of time in bed to a minimum of five hours. The sleep window gradually increases over weeks.

“It's about trying to reboot a patient's sleep habits with their inner-circadian rhythm, it's also about improving efficiency in sleep. Making sure when patients are in bed, they get good quality sleep,” Dr Judge said.

While this form of mild sleep deprivation is very effective, it's difficult for people to function the next day.

To combat feelings of grogginess and tiredness, patients are then given a medication named Armodafinil, which helps keep people awake the day after.

The drug has been currently used to treat disorders such as narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnoea.

Armodafinil helps keep people using sleep restriction therapy awake the next day.

It is hoped the innovative treatment could benefit more than one third of Australians who experience insomnia from time to time.

Kelly Berger, 27, has struggled with insomnia for most of her life, and said the condition slows her down considerably the morning after.

“It's almost like permanent jetlag I think. You wake up and you feel so exhausted,” Ms Berger told 9NEWS.

“You're just tired you're on autopilot, you can't concentrate, you can't retain information.”

She said that since using Armodafinil, her life has changed for the better.

“It’s been fantastic,” she said.