Zolpidem-Related Emergency Department Visits Triple over 5 Years
By Amy Orciari Herman
The number of emergency department visits related to the insomnia drug zolpidem (e.g., Ambien) more than tripled in the U.S. from 2005 to 2010, according to a report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Overall, the number rose from 6111 to 19,487. Females were especially at risk, accounting for over two thirds of visits in 2010. (In January 2013, the FDA halved the recommended dose of zolpidem in women, noting that women process the drug more slowly than men.) One third of visits involved adults aged 65 and older.
The report concludes: "Physicians and pharmacists can emphasize the importance of using zolpidem safely and only for short-term problems with insomnia. This may be especially crucial for older adults, for whom insomnia is a common complaint and who often take other prescription medications.
