Bizarre and Dangerous Sleep Aid Side Effects

Well-known and heavily prescribed sleeping pills Ambien and Lunesta are demonstrating increasingly common (and extremely odd) side effects, reports today’s New York Times:

The [FDA] review was prompted, in part, by queries to the agency from The New York Times last year, after some users of the most widely prescribed drug, Ambien, started complaining online and to their doctors about unusual reactions ranging from fairly benign sleepwalking episodes to hallucinations, violent outbursts, nocturnal binge eating and — most troubling of all — driving while asleep.

Night eaters said they woke up to find Tostitos and Snickers wrappers in their beds, missing food, kitchen counters overflowing with flour from baking sprees, and even lighted stoves.

Sleep-drivers reported frightening episodes in which they recalled going to bed, but woke up to find they had been arrested roadside in their underwear or nightclothes. The agency said that it was not aware of any deaths caused by sleep-driving.

The FDA is requiring that 13 sleep aids use stronger warning labels, and insisting on patient fliers for safe use instructions.

Contents © Copyright 2007 Kristen King