Posted by Gerry S. on July 5, 2001, at 10:22:46
In reply to Re: Long-Term Use of Ambien, posted by Elizabeth on July 4, 2001, at 22:03:50
The key issue is not one of habituation or withdrawal (although I disagree with you on that also, see for example, Guidelines for the Rational Use of Benzodiazepines, When and What to Use. Review Article from: Drugs 48 (1):25-40. 1994). Rather, the key issue I was trying to get across is that long-term use of rapidly-eliminated hypnotics can, and often does, cause daytime anxiety (as well as insomnia in the last third of the night).
There have been many studies of long-term use of short-acting hypnotics. It has been well known for 30 years that the consequences of this are daytime anxiety (e.g. for an early study see Morgan K, Oswald I. Anxiety caused by a short-life hypnotic. BMJ 1982; 284: 942). This fact is stated directly in the prescription monograph for Ambien as a warning against using it for more than 30 days (the period covered by the longest ambien studies).
poster:Gerry S.
thread:68930
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010701/msgs/69037.html