Zolpidem related surge in emergency department visits

From 2005 to 2010, emergency room visits increased 220% involving zolpidem which is a sleep aid medication. The numbers rose from 6,111 to 19,487 visits, the majority being women being 45 years and older. A large chunk of people in the United States have sleeping disorders, ranging from 50 to 70 million people.

In 1992 the Food and Drug Administration approved zolpidem as a sedative hypnotic short term treatment of insomnia. After its approval, the FDA suggested that the dose of zolpidem be reduced when prescribed to older patients due to the possibility of adverse reactions. Reactions include dizziness, hallucinations, agitation, sleepwalking, daytime drowsiness, and driving while not fully awake. The drug can also be negatively enhanced while being combined with different substances such as anti-anxiety or narcotic pain relievers.

Over half of all emergency hospital visits related to substances with zolpidem as an active ingredient were mixed with other drug use. About 40% of visits were related to mixing drugs that were mixed with drugs that depressed the central nervous system. Such drugs include anti-anxiety medicines for example benzodiazepines, narcotic pain relievers, and alcohol.

It has been recommended that even though insomnia medications may help patients, they need to be heavily monitored by patients as well as their doctors to assure that they are not misused. 

Mitka, Mike. "Zolpidem Related Surge in Emergency Department Visits." The Journal of the American Medical Association 309.21 (2013): n. pag. PubMed. Web. 23 June 2013. <http://jama.jamanetwork.com.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/article.aspx?articleid=1693885>.