Home > Plasmid: Science and bio-tech research blog > Archives > 2006 > June > 07 > Entry
Having Trouble Falling Asleep?
At least you’re not alone.
The Vioxx scare caused people to think twice before taking pain relievers last year, data shows. But we didn’t let us keep us awake at night — we gulped down sleeping pills like never before.
A report by drug benefit manager Medco found that spending in the sleep/seditive category grew by 31.5 percent in 2005, driven mostly by sales of Ambien and the new sleep drug, Lunesta,.
Much of the growth was among young adults ages 20 to 44. Their use of sleeping pills popped 128 percent between 2000 and 2005, Medco’s 2006 Drug Trend Report said.
Use of pain relievers tanked. Spending on the COX-2 class took a dive of 65 percent, due mostly to the removal of Vioxx and Bextra from the market. Celebrex use also dropped.
Marketing may have had something to do with it. The makers of Ambien reportedly spent $130 million on ads in 2005.
But will sleeping pills’ rise continue? Or will unintended side effects continue making headlines?
In March, The New York Times exposed bizarre and sometimes dangerous side effects that it linked Ambien, such as binge eating, sleepwalking, and most frightening, driving while sleeping.
Have you tried Ambien? Did it work? Did you get the munchies? What about Lunesta? Are the prescription pills better than over-the-counter drugs like Tylenol PM?
The Times’ Stephanie Saul described some astonishing anecdotes about Ambien binge eating in her reports.
“Judie Evans, said she began taking Ambien while recovering from back surgery. At the time, she was in a full body cast and needed assistance to get out of bed. …It was not until her son came to spend several nights that Ms. Evans said she realized that despite the body cast, she was getting up to eat while she was asleep. …The first night her son was there, he found her standing in the kitchen, body cast and all, frying bacon and eggs. … Later that night her son arose to find her standing in the kitchen again. ‘I had turned the oven on,’ she recalled. ‘I store pots and pans in the oven and I had turned it to 500 degrees.’
Lunesta sells itself as a safe alternative for long-term use. But its patient insert includes warnings similar to Ambien’s, minus the eating disorder wording:
Lunesta should only be taken immediately before bedtime. Be sure you have at least eight hours to devote to sleep before becoming active. You should not engage in any activity after taking Lunesta that requires complete alertness, such as driving a car or operating machinery. You should use extreme care when engaging in these activities the morning after taking Lunesta. Do not use alcohol while taking any sleep medicine. Most sleep medicines carry some risk of dependency. Do not use sleep medicines for extended periods without first talking to your doctor. Side effects may include unpleasant taste, headache, drowsiness and dizziness.
If you’ve tried both Ambien and Lunesta, tell us the difference.
Comments
By Pris Campbell
June 8, 2006 7:47 AM | Link to this
I have CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfuction Syndrome). One of the many symptoms is sleeping disorders, primarily insomnia. I tried Ambien one night. It caused intense pain in my upper stomach, keeping me awake. My doctor had never heard of such a side-effect, but I later happened to mention this to a friend who used Ambien for a year after chemo left her sleepless. She told me her doctor had been treating her for an ulcer that entire year due to stomach pain. She went on a trip, ran out of Ambien, and the pain disappeared. Her pain was in the same place as mine. Upper stomach. Her doctor was also surprised at the side-effect.