The surprising side effects of Z-drugs for sleeping
People who have trouble getting a good night’s sleep have been told that their wakefulness is undermining their health. They may worry that sleep deprivation could increase their risk for dementia, depression, high blood pressure, diabetes, weight gain and reduced immunity.
If they complain to their doctors about insomnia, they might get a prescription for a sleeping pill. Historically, that would have likely been a barbiturate like amobarbital (Amytal) or secobarbital (Seconal). Such sedatives were easily abused, and some high-profile deaths occurred when these drugs were combined with alcohol.
The next generation of popular sleeping pills belonged to the benzodiazepine class of medications. Drugs such as alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), estazolam (ProSom), flurazepam (Dalmane), temazepam (Restoril) and triazolam (Halcion) have all been prescribed for insomnia.
The trouble with such prescriptions is that the official prescribing information often cautions doctors to prescribe them for a short period of time, such as a week or two. Many people with chronic insomnia need longer-lasting solutions.
Another drawback of benzos is that they can lead to dependence. When people rely on such medications either for anxiety or for insomnia, they may find it difficult to stop without suffering withdrawal symptoms.
This leads us to the category of sleeping pills called Z-drugs. That’s not because they help you get your ZZZs, although they can help people fall asleep. All of their generic names contain a z: zolpidem (Ambien, Edluar and Zolpimist), zaleplon (Sonata) and eszopiclone (Lunesta).
A new article from the Food and Drug Administration draws attention to a disturbing complication linked to Zdrugs: “complex sleep behaviors.” That barely begins to reveal the seriousness of this side effect.
“The FDA has received reports of people taking these insomnia medicines and accidentally overdosing, falling, being burned, shooting themselves, and wandering outside in extremely cold weather, among other incidents.”
Readers of this column have described how devastating these events can be. Some are concerned about a loved one: “My husband has been taking Lunesta every night for about two years. I have witnessed episodes of sleep-driving and other bizarre behaviors. He doesn’t believe that these things have happened, and it has caused a huge strain on our relationship. I’m so afraid that someone will get hurt before he believes he has a problem with this medication.”
Others report their own experience, like this person: “I got a DWI for sleepdriving while taking Ambien. I lost not only my driver’s license but my career. I never misused the drug, but I lost my job because of it.”
One woman had been taking zolpidem for several months: “I started noticing empty cracker and cereal boxes in my bed in the morning and had NO clue I had eaten them. I woke up one morning to make lunch for work and found my lunch already made. I had no recollection of doing that.
“My friends made comments on my odd emails in the middle of the night and phone calls that sounded strange. Then, the worst happened. I crashed my car and didn’t even know I was driving.”
People who would like tips on overcoming insomnia without relying on Zdrugs may be interested in our “eGuide to Getting a Good Night’s Sleep.” This online resource is located under the Health eGuides tab at www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.
In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of King Features, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803, or email them via their website: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Their newest book is “Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them.”