There appears to be a small portion of people who experience sleep walking, "sleep driving", and a few other odd behaviors in conjunction with their sleeping pills. As a result, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has requested that all manufacturers of sedative-hypnotic drug products, a class of drugs used to induce and/or maintain sleep, strengthen their product labeling to include stronger language concerning potential risks. They want "sleep driving" to receive special emphasis.
"There are a number of prescription sleep aids available that are well-tolerated and effective for many people," said Steven Galson, M.D., MPH, director of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "However, after reviewing the available post-marketing adverse event information for these products, FDA concluded that labeling changes are necessary to inform health care providers and consumers about risks."
Because so many people with Parkinson's use sleep remedies, we want you to be aware of this. We do not know if these side effects occur in people with Parkinson's disease.
The medications that are the focus of the revised labeling include the following 13 products:
- Ambien/Ambien CR
- Butisol Sodium
- Carbrital
- Dalmane
- Doral
- Halcion
- Lunesta
- Placidyl
- Prosom
- Restoril
- Rozerem
- Seconal
- Sonata
