Tuesday, April 03, 2007
One More Opinion
Sleep aids can have unexpected consequences:
By Phillip T. Alden – San Mateo Daily Journal
For publication April 3, 2007
The recent development of new sleep aids like Ambien and Lunesta have been a boon to people who have a hard time getting a good night's sleep, but recent warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about unexpected side-effects mean those taking these new drugs have to do so with caution.
There is a term in medicine that everyone should know. It's called an Adverse Drug Reaction, or ADR for short. An ADR can range from a slight rash to sudden death, and they are one of the greatest concerns doctors have when prescribing a new drug for a patient. Doctors and their families tend to be notorious for avoiding pills of any kind because they know how dangerous even highly-refined pharmaceutical drugs can be.
And there have been a great number of ADR reports among people taking this new generation of sleep aids, although most seem to be behavior related. Sleepwalking, hallucinations and nocturnal binge eating are some of the reported side-effects. While these are serious, there have also been reports of violent outbursts and driving while asleep.
Last May in Washington, Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-Rhode Island) blamed Ambien when he crashed his car near the Capitol building in the middle of the night. At the time he stated he was on his way to cast a vote on a crucial bill.
The FDA has also had reports of people making phone calls, purchasing items over the Internet and even having sex. (How much fun can that be? You have sex and don't even remember it afterwards!)
Seriously though, aside from sleepwalking these effects are mostly unique to these sleep aids, and they are quite worrisome to both patients and their doctors. That people can do all kinds of things under the influence of these drugs opens the door to a myriad of possibilities. What if a person commits a serious crime? Can they be held to account for their actions under those circumstances?
So far, the scariest reported effect has been driving while asleep. Like an alcoholic blackout, there is no control over the vehicle, and a serious accident could occur. Most of us don't think about the fact we're pushing two tons of metal around when we get behind the wheel, or just how much damage we could do.
(As an aside, one of the most worrying behaviors among law enforcement and other authorities is talking on a mobile phone while driving, which has a level of distraction comparable to driving while drunk.)
Some of these cases involve both a sleep aid and alcohol, prompting doctors to warn people away from drinking while taking these drugs.
If you're starting one of these drugs there are a few things you should do. The first is to warn your spouse or partner that you're starting on this drug. The second is to only take these drugs if you're getting at least eight hours of sleep – every time. You should also take your first dose on a weekend so you don't have to be anywhere the next morning. Be aware that you may experience serious psychoactive side-effects and don't be afraid to call the paramedics if you feel you may be a danger to yourself or others.
These are wonderful medications. I personally take Ambien on occasion and it really helps me sleep. But aside from these strange side-effects, these drugs can be habit-forming or even addictive, so use them with wisdom and caution.
Sleep aids can have unexpected consequences:
By Phillip T. Alden – San Mateo Daily Journal
For publication April 3, 2007
The recent development of new sleep aids like Ambien and Lunesta have been a boon to people who have a hard time getting a good night's sleep, but recent warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about unexpected side-effects mean those taking these new drugs have to do so with caution.
There is a term in medicine that everyone should know. It's called an Adverse Drug Reaction, or ADR for short. An ADR can range from a slight rash to sudden death, and they are one of the greatest concerns doctors have when prescribing a new drug for a patient. Doctors and their families tend to be notorious for avoiding pills of any kind because they know how dangerous even highly-refined pharmaceutical drugs can be.
And there have been a great number of ADR reports among people taking this new generation of sleep aids, although most seem to be behavior related. Sleepwalking, hallucinations and nocturnal binge eating are some of the reported side-effects. While these are serious, there have also been reports of violent outbursts and driving while asleep.
Last May in Washington, Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-Rhode Island) blamed Ambien when he crashed his car near the Capitol building in the middle of the night. At the time he stated he was on his way to cast a vote on a crucial bill.
The FDA has also had reports of people making phone calls, purchasing items over the Internet and even having sex. (How much fun can that be? You have sex and don't even remember it afterwards!)
Seriously though, aside from sleepwalking these effects are mostly unique to these sleep aids, and they are quite worrisome to both patients and their doctors. That people can do all kinds of things under the influence of these drugs opens the door to a myriad of possibilities. What if a person commits a serious crime? Can they be held to account for their actions under those circumstances?
So far, the scariest reported effect has been driving while asleep. Like an alcoholic blackout, there is no control over the vehicle, and a serious accident could occur. Most of us don't think about the fact we're pushing two tons of metal around when we get behind the wheel, or just how much damage we could do.
(As an aside, one of the most worrying behaviors among law enforcement and other authorities is talking on a mobile phone while driving, which has a level of distraction comparable to driving while drunk.)
Some of these cases involve both a sleep aid and alcohol, prompting doctors to warn people away from drinking while taking these drugs.
If you're starting one of these drugs there are a few things you should do. The first is to warn your spouse or partner that you're starting on this drug. The second is to only take these drugs if you're getting at least eight hours of sleep – every time. You should also take your first dose on a weekend so you don't have to be anywhere the next morning. Be aware that you may experience serious psychoactive side-effects and don't be afraid to call the paramedics if you feel you may be a danger to yourself or others.
These are wonderful medications. I personally take Ambien on occasion and it really helps me sleep. But aside from these strange side-effects, these drugs can be habit-forming or even addictive, so use them with wisdom and caution.
# posted by Phillip T. Alden @ 6:20 PM 
