Drug and alcohol overdose continues to be a problem, but in some cases adverse reactions to substances are not due to overuse or misuse. Recent emergency room visits have been the result of adverse reactions to the insomnia medication zolpidem, the active ingredient in the drugs Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar and Zolpimist.
A recent study shows that the number of zolpidem-related ER visits involving adverse reactions increased nearly 220 percent between 2005 and 2010. Of those who sought help after taking the prescription meds two thirds were women and three quarters of those in distress were 45 years of age or older. A full one third of those visiting the ER were 65 or older. Adverse reactions may include daytime drowsiness, dizziness, hallucinations, behavioral changes (e.g., bizarre behavior and agitation) and complex behaviors such as sleepwalking and "sleep driving."
Not all the issues were traced solely to zolpidem. Half of the ER visits involved zolpidem combined with other pharmaceuticals including narcotic pain relievers (26 percent) and other anti-anxiety and insomnia medications (16 percent).
Sleep aids are big business with an estimated 50 to 70 million Americans suffering from chronic sleep disorders which can affect performance on daily tasks and lead to negative health consequences. Zolpidem is a medication approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for short-term treatment of insomnia. Historically the FDA has recommended that the dose of most drugs containing zolpidem should be reduced by half when prescribed for the elderly, but older populations are often being prescribed the higher dose. This may account for at least some of the adverse reactions.
In a January 2013 safety announcement the FDA took further steps by requiring drug manufacturers to lower the recommended doses of medications containing zolpidem by half for females; similar action was recommended, although not required, for males.
If you or someone you love is misusing sleep aid or other prescription medications, call La Paloma at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.
