June 1, 2005
Addictive Sleep Aids Popular
Older, Cheaper, More Addictive Sleep Aids Still Prescribed
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(CBS/AP)
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Benzodiazepines are used as tranquilizers and muscle relaxants, and they can be highly addictive. Valium is one example, though it is not recommended for treating insomnia.
"Benzodiazepines are usually effective for just a few weeks when used to treat insomnia," Balkrishnan says. "A person can develop a strong psychological and physical dependence on these drugs in a short time and experience severe withdrawal-like symptoms once he stops taking the medication."
Newer Sleep Aids More Expensive
Benzodiazepines are often cheaper than newer sleep aids, such as Ambien, which don't have the same addictive qualities.
"We need to understand the reasons for these disparities in order to stop this trend," Balkrishnan says. "There needs to be a move toward a more uniform prescription system, at least for certain types of medications. One possibility is to create guidelines that say let's reserve the most addictive benzodiazepines for patients for whom every other kind of treatment has been unsuccessful."
The study was funded by a grant from Takeda Pharmaceuticals of North America, which has applied for FDA approval for a new prescription sleep aid.
SOURCES: Balkrishnan, R. Sleep, 2005; vol 28(6): pp 709-713. News release, Ohio State University. News release, Takeda Pharmaceuticals of North America Inc.
By Sherry Rauh
Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, M.D.
© 2005, WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.
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