Ambien: Is Popular Sleep Medication Causing More Traffic Accidents?
Friday March 10, 2006
Ambien, a popular sleep medication, made headlines this week. Various media outlets reported that Ambien was causing an increasing number of bizarre traffic accidents nationwide. My ears perked up when I heard the story, realizing that it is not uncommon for some chronic arthritis sufferers to take a sleep medication, such as Ambien, to help with sleep problems often associated with chronic pain. Digging a little deeper, I found that what provoked the news reports which implicated Ambien was a small, six-patient study which was presented at the American Academy of Forensic Sciences meeting.
The toxicologist who presented the small, preliminary study emphasized that some patients are taking the drug inappropriately and taking to the roads while driving under the influence. Safe use of Ambien requires that patients follow the drugmaker's advice:
- do not exceed the 10 mg. dose (5 mg. for elderly people).
- do not drink alcohol.
- take Ambien immediately before going to bed.
- do not drive or operate heavy machinery before sleeping for a full 8 hours.
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Comments
Ambien, i tried it for 3 nights, it worked like a charm at night and the upsetting part was, itcontinued to affect myreaction timing especially while driving during the day. It was not something i wasconscious of at first, as i felt relaxed and thought i was at my usual level of alertness…until i noticedmyself having a number of near misses on the freeway, and then eventually an accident which was my fault..caused by my reaction times having slowed.This accident happened TWO weeks after i stopped the ambien. Eventually my drivingalertness returned although this was scary…I drive for my living and this wasnot acceptable.
First, is this the correct site to let others know the side effect I experienced with Ambien CR. I have been taking Ambien CR for over a year. It consistantly allowed me to sleep for 6 hours. I take the proper prescribed amount at the proper time. On 12/22/07, I took my medication and went to bed. Sometime during the night I left my home drove for 40+ miles and woke up as my car was going from one side of the highway to the other. My rear tire blew and I was able to not plunge off the road into a deep valley. This was about 5:00a.m. My car was towed and I was given a ride to my home. I cannot convey to you how terrified this experience made me feel. I could have killed people, or myself. I actually was unable to function normally. I was afraid to close my eyes. I talked to other Dr’s in town and heard many other horror stories. I STRONGLY FEEL THIS MEDICATION SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE MARKET. I have no recollection of why or how I left the house. Please, Please understand what I am trying to let you know.
Frankly, after watching my grandfather turn into a zombie while taking sleeping pills, I would not want my parents taking Ambien regularly. And they thought that first responders, including John McCain, are regular users gives me the creeps… part of the problem is that when taking these pills you are often unaware of the side effects.