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Several People use sleep medicine like Ambien, and just last week the FDA recommended that drug manufacturers lower the dose in pills.

Dr. Justin Puckett from Complete Family Medicine in Kirksville breaks it down for us.

Question: What’s all the worry?

• The FDA looked at data that showed that the blood levels of these medicines remained high enough in the morning to cause ongoing sedation and possibly affecting ability to perform some functions, like drive a car.

Question: So what are you recommending to patients who use these types of medications?

• Always consult your healthcare provider before making any alterations to your medications.
• I’m recommending the same thing I always recommend with any medication, to use the lowest effective dose!  And in the case of sleep aids, we really need to remember they are most effective when you use them just as needed.  So we are currently suggesting that patients try half a pill for the immediate release, and if they use a CR form, to get a smaller dose.
• This is especially true for women, whose bodies metabolize the Ambien slower.

Question: How can one tell if they are being overly sedated?

• That is a good question, which there is no clear answer
• We have the ability to often tell if our alertness is diminished and we should watch for this
• Also we need to get the input of others, they often can see our sluggishness
• Decreased reflexes are another clear clue that you are being affected by the medication
• Having an ongoing dialogue with your healthcare provider about the symptoms you are having is important.  In some instances, it may be necessary to have additional testing, like completing a driving test on the medication, similar to what we do in the elderly to insure they are safe to drive.
• The FDA is also looking at requiring sedating drug manufacturers to test the medication during trials using driving simulators to prove safety

So if someone wants to get away from Ambien or their other sleep aid, what can they do to help with Insomnia?

• Talk to your healthcare provider about your symptoms as it might be attributable to something else like Obstructive Sleep Apnea or other sleeping disorder
• Otherwise practice good sleep hygiene

• Get into a regular 7-day schedule
• Allow yourself enough time to sleep
• Avoid daytime sleeping
• Don’t eat or drink before going to bed
• Limit interruptions, awakenings
• Exercise daily
• Associate your bed with sleep
• Get plenty of daylight exposure

Dr. Justin Puckett

1611 S. Baltimore

Kirksville, MO. 63501

660-665-7575