Treating insomnia with hypnotic drugs in elderly patients has many adverse effects. This study aims to assess the effect of two discontinuation methods of hypnotic drugs during acute hospitalization. We conducted an open-label randomized controlled trial that included participants aged 60 and above taking benzodiazepines or Z-Drugs for at least 3months as a treatment for insomnia and were admitted to the hospital. In the prospective arm, patients were randomly assigned into two intervention groups. In the Minimal Intervention (MI) group, patients received an explanation of the dangers of long-term treatment and a recommendation to stop the treatment. In the Tapering Down Intervention (TDI) group, in addition to the explanation, patients received a tapering down table. In the retrospective arm (control group), we examined the use of hypnotic drugs among hospitalized patients 3months after hospitalization, similar to the patients in the prospective arm. 46 patients were enrolled in the MI group, 55 patients in the TDI group, and 114 patients in the control group. The mean age in the three groups was 75.0±8.2, 75.9±9.0, and 75.0±7.9years respectively (p=0.85). After 3months, seven (15.2%) of the patients in the MI group, 15 (27.3%) in the TD group, and 2 (1.8%) in the control group (p=0.00003) were weaned from the hypnotic drugs treatment, without a significant difference between the intervention groups (p=0.221). A short intervention during hospitalization results in a significant decrease in hypnotic drug use.