A recent Norwegian study* published in The Journal of Sleep Medicine showed clinical evidence of no improvement of sleep quality between test subjects taking Ambien and Lunesta, compared to the control group who took only placebos. Yet over $ 4.5 billion worth of these medications were perscribed to Americans in 2009.
Both Ambien and Lunesta belong to a classification of drugs called “sedative hypnotics”. And true to their name they place the brain into a sedated, hypnotic state. The problems related to these drugs are that when the brain is locked into this state, it’s difficult for it to achieve the restorative sleep cycles needed to wake up feeling rested and refreshed. And of all the reported side effects, the pain of trying to get off these meds seems to be the most difficult. Patients complain of major irritability, loss of memory and a multitude of sleepless nights. Those who try tapering off on their own readily fail, throwing up their hands and out of exhaustion, resume their dose.
Copyright 2011 Sleep Recovery Centers, Inc. All rights reserved.
Website Design by EmergingDesigns.com
Recent Comments