The FDA has announced it will require makers of certain sleeping pills to warn consumers about serious side effects including allergic reactions and sleep-driving. Somnambulism (sleep-walking) incidents involving complex tasks like driving, preparing and eating food, and having sex while asleep, with no memory of the tasks when awakened, have made the news in recent years. Now the FDA wants consumers and doctors to have direct warnings on labels and in brochures.
The Z-drugs are a class of drugs called pyrazolopyrimidines, the best-known being zolpidem (Ambien), eszopiclone (Lunesta, Imovane), and zalepron (Sonata). Considered better than addictive depressant drugs like Valium, they’ve become popular. But Z-drugs, in particular Ambien, have become notorious for bizarre and dangerous side effects like sleep-driving and sleep-eating.
Somnambulism does occur on its own, most commonly in childhood. There are centuries-old reports of sleep homicides and somnambulism is an established - if controversial - legal defence. Why Ambien in particular is linked to it, and why certain other drugs may or may not be, is unknown. Some sedating medications - including benzodiazepines - are actually used to treat somnambulism.
The FDA’s list of sedative-hypnotic drugs to carry the new warning include Seconal, a powerful barbituate rarely prescribed anymore, Halcion, an addictive benzodiazepine in use since the 1970s, Rozerem, a new drug that affects melatonin and is chemically dissimilar to all the other drugs on this list, and the Z-drugs. Somnambulism, especially sleep-driving, isn’t usually associated with the older drugs or Rozerem, and in a PubMed search I was only able to find one report of a similar event linked to zalepron. Barbiturates and benzodiazepines have well-documented serious risks of their own, of course, as do drugs that affect the hormone melatonin. (Search RxList to learn about each drug.)
It is curious, though, that the FDA has lumped this diverse group of medications together with the same blanket warning when they have different risks. Also, there are other medications commonly used as sleeping aids not listed (i.e. trazadone, olanzapine).
The FDA asked manufacturers to conduct more research. That seems quite understated.
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9 Comments to
“What Drives Sleep-Driving?”
I have been taking ambien for a good year and a half and have been told that my conversation in the middle of the night (my wife works the evening shift) range from discombobulated to intricately hallucintaroy - and she just goads me on, to her everlasting amusement. I, of course, am not responsible (!) and so far am deeply relieved that I am as nice a person at those times as I usually think I am.
i have been a sleepwalker for years that can perform many tasks including cooking.Almost a year ago i got hit by a drunkdriver 6 months after a guy on a four wheeler pulled out of his driveway and hit me and my stress level was out the roof.the drunk totaled my horsetrailer and i was brused pretty bad.anyway that night i had an sleepwalking attack that put me back in my truck and i drove to where my horses where.I had no idea this was happening until i wrecked and ended up in jail for dui.i am a cdl driver and now my livlyhood is at risk.I am a very responsable person,a nondrinker and was a school bus driver which i loved more then anything.I am fighting the charge but im sure the state will win.my point to all this is i had taken a zanex after the guy hit me and had no idea this could cause me to get a dui.nor did i know my stress would help make this worse.I want people warned that these drugs weather the affect is them or not will cause you to get a dui if you do have sleep disorders.my life is ruined because of this.no jobs i live in the country no buses.i was a horse trainer and i will not beable to haul out for my students.I would never have gotten behind the wheel in the right fram of mind.please be aware any of the relaxing drugs that say use caution when driving really means do not drive because god forbid if something happens like you wreck your own rig and it is in your system you will get a dui not to mention you could kill yourself or someone else.thanks deb
Sorry to hear your story, Deborah. I hope you get a good lawyer, as people can and do get off for sleepwalking. With the Xanax, I don’t know, how could they hold you responsible for a dui when you had no intent to drive?
I have been taking Ambien CR for almost a year. I had to stop taking it every night because of the oddities that it was giving me. The sleep driving, sleep walking, and even sleep shopping. I have drivin 2 times and don’t remember. I have been to the store (both driving times) and also several sleep walking instances and came back with what evidentally was food that I was craving but then put in the fridge and did not eat. At least I put it in the fridge.
I have also had very vivid dreams and am able to remember everything about them. I typically wake up soaking wet from sweating, typically related to my actively vivid dreaming. The good thing is that I typically sleep very sound and in the morning I am very rested.
On the bad side though, my memory issues continue throughout the day and I have a very hard time concentrating.
My name is Devin. After sleep driving and crashing on Ambien, I was given a DUI. I’ve started an Ambien victims database. If you’ve been injured in anyway by Ambien please contact me: 435-668-7050 or devindove@yahoo.com, or go to the website http://www.ambienoutrage.com.
My name is Holly and my boyfriend was taking ambien cr for about a year. He got hurt at work, called in sick. When i called him from work he said he was going to take his pills and go to sleep. I heard from him a few times that night and i knew he wasn’t fully awake. I kept telling him to go to bed but he kept saying he wasn’t tired. Although i was concerned as to what was going to happen to my apartment but i was not prepared for what we were going to go through. The last time i talked to him i hung up with him at 0600 and at about 0635-0640, my co-worker contacted me and said that the local police were on the phone for me. My boyfriend had left the apartment after we got off the phone he drove to the local gas station and literally drove into the building. He also hit vehicles. He is now facing charges and he lost his job. The worst part of the whole thing for him is that he tries to remeber what happened and can not and that people are still taking this. thankfully he didn’t hurt anyone but he and anyone who takes this can easily hurt or kill someone. SCARY
Well if I was really worried about sleep driving, i’d turn my car radio to the max when i get home so if i get in the car while sleeping the radio will shock me out of my sleep lol
Hi,
I have to go to court for an accident. I believe that I was sleepdriving because I was put on high doses of Effexor 300mg that was causing me to sleepwalk. Anyone else have Effexor stories?
Thanks
I haven’t had the incident of sleepdriving but I just had my doc switch me off Effexor 150mg yesterday because I had a whole afternoon of sleepwalking activity that I don’t remember this last weekend; I’ve had conversations before and walked around the house but not like this. It included eating, drinking a whole Nalgene 32oz bottle of water going to the bathroom twice before waking up and also going to the kitchen to attempt to start cooking before my husband interviened. Now I’m on Pristiq but hoping the same side effects will not be back. Anyone have sleepwalking/driving problems on Pristiq?
Thanks.
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Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 14 Mar 2007
