Concerns Arise Over Sleeping Pills
Experts Seeing Increase In Prescriptions
POSTED: 6:55 am EST February 7,
2006
UPDATED: 10:40 am EST February 7,
2006
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BOSTON -- There are new concerns about the amount of sleeping pills Americans are taking these days.About 42 million sleeping pill prescriptions were filled last year. That's a 60 percent increase over the year 2000. Some experts worry the drugs are being overprescribed without enough regard for side effects or implications of long-term use. More people are also turning to a new generation of sleep aids such as Ambien and Lunestra. Some researchers said these new sleep aids can sometimes cause strange side effects, such as sleepwalking and short-term amnesia.Ambien's maker said the drug is effective and safe when taken as prescribed.
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