AUTHOR: Romie
DATE: 3/16/2007 03:45:00 PM
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BODY:
<div style="clear:both;"></div>Earlier in the week we talked about the issue of <a href="http://www.addictionhelpservices.com/blog/2007/03/do-not-operate-heavy-machinery-like-car.html">driving under the influence of other drugs besides alcohol</a>.  One of the cautionary points included sleeping medication – sedative drugs such as Ambien, Restoril and Lunesta.

Just a couple of days ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested that all manufacturers of these types of drugs strengthen their product labeling to include stronger language concerning potential risks. These risks include severe allergic reactions and complex sleep-related behaviors, which may include sleep-driving. Sleep driving is defined as driving while not fully awake after ingestion of a sedative-hypnotic product, with no memory of the event.

Steven Galson, M.D., MPH, director of FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research was quoted in an FDA release as saying, "…after reviewing the available post-marketing adverse event information for these products, FDA concluded that labeling changes are necessary to inform health care providers and consumers about risks."

Other recorded incidents from taking these drugs included making phone calls and even cooking and eating – all with no recollection afterward due to the hypnotic state.

The medications that are the focus of the revised FDA labeling include the following 13 products: 
Ambien/Ambien CR (Sanofi Aventis)
Butisol Sodium (Medpointe Pharm HLC)
Carbrital (Parke-Davis)
Dalmane (Valeant Pharm)
Doral (Questcor Pharms) 
Halcion (Pharmacia & Upjohn)
Lunesta (Sepracor) 
Placidyl (Abbott)
Prosom (Abbott)
Restoril (Tyco Healthcare)
Rozerem (Takeda)
Seconal (Lilly)
Sonata (King Pharmaceuticals) 

Aside from individuals asking for and receiving prescriptions from their doctors for these drugs, especially when seeing the clever marketing campaigns on television, more than a quarter million people used the drug non-medically in 2004.  Nearly 60 percent of people who used these drugs without prescriptions said they got them from a friend or relative for free.

Despite some of these drugs seeming relatively benign in concept and promotion, this is yet another example of dangerous side effects being found after being released on the market. 
 
Do you have any examples of things like this happening to people you know?

<i>Article by Eric</i>

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AUTHOR: Romie
DATE: 3/06/2007 01:45:00 PM
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BODY:
<div style="clear:both;"></div>Driving under the influence of alcohol or another drug is actually more of an issue than most people recognize.  Sure, there are groups against drunk driving, such as MADD, which help bring to light some of the issues. 

While alcohol is the main culprit, being easily available and readily served, it is not the only substance we should be concerned about.  Alcohol is still the most dangerous in terms of numbers of crashes, loss of life and damage caused to society.  In 2005, there were more than 31 million people over the age of 12 who reported driving under the influence of alcohol.

During the same year over 10 million people aged 12 or older also reported driving under the influence of an illicit drug.  Whether someone is nodding out from opiates such as heroin, oblivious to others on marijuana or driving aggressively because of stimulants like meth or cocaine, they’re still a menace on the streets.

There have been additional threats in recent years though, and that is people driving under the influence of drugs legally prescribed to them.  Even at the recommended dose some of these drugs can be very dangerous when combined with driving.

Last year the New York Times and MSNBC reported that there was a major increase in the number of DUI arrests involving the prescription sleep aid Ambien across the country.  The category is not just limited to sleeping pills. Other types of medications can be equally as hazardous.  An article from a teacher was posted on About.com where she talked about getting arrested for driving under the influence of her prescription because she was weaving in her lane and failed a field sobriety test.

Despite most people knowing that it’s there and ignoring it, the label on these drugs says, “Do not operate heavy machinery” and is there for a reason.  So, it might be good to do yourselves and others a favor and not let people on these medications drive, regardless of how long they’ve already been doing it.  It might just keep them from going to jail or injuring themselves or someone else.

<i>Article by Eric</i>

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COMMENT-AUTHOR:<span class="anon-comment-author">Anonymous</span>
COMMENT-DATE:Mar 10, 2007 2:31:00 PM
COMMENT-BODY:Yet another scary aspect of the drug culture of today - prescrpition drugs- not just some teenagers smoking Pot but millions of americans on drugs as part of their daily lives. There is no drug without side effects and it seems like this is one of them that doesnt just affect the user but random people as well.
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COMMENT-AUTHOR:<span class="anon-comment-author">jbr2525</span>
COMMENT-DATE:Mar 13, 2007 11:43:00 AM
COMMENT-BODY:If people could just realize that everytime they get high it effects other people besides themselves we would all be better off.
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