HealthPop
By

David W Freeman /

CBS News/ July 21, 2010, 1:25 PM

Ambien Addiction: Are Celebrities Playing with Fire?

Rachel Uchitel (AP Photo)

(CBS) Are celebrities like Lindsay Lohan, Tiger Woods, and his alleged mistress Rachel Uchitel sleepwalking their way into trouble with the prescription sleeping pill Ambien?

Uchitel is reportedly heading to "Celebrity Rehab" to tackle an Ambien addiction.

Lohan has convinced her jailers to give her the drug while serving out her 90-day sentence, according to TMZ.

And even Tiger Woods has allegedly gotten mixed up with the drug.

"Would it be possible for you to get us some more Ambien," Woods allegedly wrote to Uchitel in a November, 2009 email obtained by Radar Online. "OK, but we need to talk about this," she allegedly responded. "I don't know how to deal with us possibly being addicted to prescription meds.". 

If celebrities are abusing Ambien, they might be playing with fire.

Even when used appropriately, the drug can cause side effects ranging from aggressiveness, memory problems, hallucinations, depression, confusion, and thoughts of suicide, according to the federal government's National Center for Biotechnology Information.

And it's habit forming.

The center's website says "You should know that some people who took zolpidem (Ambien) got of out bed and drove their cars, prepared and ate food, had sex, made phone calls, or were involved in other activities while partially asleep."

Just don't call the tabloids.

© 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
5 Comments Add a Comment
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slbts1986 says:
Amazing courage - Thank you for sharing you are not alone.
http://www.soberlivingblog.wordpress.com
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slbts1986 says:
This is a very serious addiction, imagine if the only time you felt piece of mind is when you were in coma like stae of mind. many celebs
come to us to recover. http://www.soberlivingbythesea.blogspot.com
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tsigili says:
The drug culture is the US, is now being fueled heavily, by the TV advertising for prescription drugs.

TV advertising for prescription drugs should be totally banned.
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erasmus111 replies:
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It shouldn't matter if they are "advertised" or not. The key word here is "prescription". You can't get a "prescription" without a doctor. And doctors should not be prescribing anything that is addictive unless there is no other solution.
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carmenlight says:
This prostitute was probably also doing other drugs before becoming involved with Tiger Woods!!!
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