Study: Sleeping Pills Linked with Early Death

[RKP5637]

Just passing this along FYI, someone sent it to me. I have no idea of its validity.

See >>> http://healthland.time.com/2012/02/28/study-sleeping-pills-linked-with-early-death/

"In the study, which compared 10,529 people who received prescriptions for sleep aids with nearly twice as many people with similar health histories who did not take sleeping pills, researchers found that those who had prescriptions were more than four times as likely to have died during the study’s 2.5-year follow-up as those who didn’t take the drugs.

What’s more, the researchers also documented a 35% increased risk of cancer among people taking sleeping pills, compared with the non-prescription group. The risk of developing lymphoma, lung, colon or prostate cancer associated with sleeping pills was greater than the effect from smoking, says the study’s lead author, Dr. Daniel Kripke, co-director of research at the Scripps Clinic. Kripke says users aren’t warned adequately enough about these risks on the drug’s label. “The results were pretty surprising, and as far as I know, the mortality and cancer risks are not reflected in any labels,” he says."

For more see >>> http://healthland.time.com/2012/02/28/study-sleeping-pills-linked-with-early-death/

[Warren Stupidity]

1. To sleep - perchance to dream. Aye there's the rub.

[Control-Z]

2. One has to question

whether it is the sleep or the drug.

Sleep is supposed to be reparative...

[otohara]

3. More Reason to Legalize Pot

couple hits of a nice Indica strain at night
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[RKP5637]

4. +1, n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. I would be interested in their definition of sleeping pills.

Are they talking only about the newer meds designed especially for sleep
or
are they including the older tricyclic antidepressants, which work as sleep aids if taken before bed
or
are they counting OTC sleep meds which have antihistamine like compounds?

[RKP5637]

6. It's on the local news now, I just missed it ... I wonder if they're including things

like melatonin too, etc.

[Warpy]

8. No, just prescription sleeping pills

Non prescription stuff wasn't included.

[Warpy]

7. That only says that people with chronic insomnia die faster

Unless, of course, the control group were just sleep deprived instead of getting medication. The article was unclear on that. Also, "The study had some weaknesses: for one thing, it did not say why patients were prescribed sleeping pills and it did not control for psychiatric conditions. Also, the overall number of deaths was small."

So once again we have an hysterical headline covering up a badly done study.

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2012/02/28/study-sleeping-pills-linked-with-early-death/#ixzz1ni2idaSF

[RKP5637]

9. That was my initial thought too, that some key metrics were missing. Often I think

people/groups do these studies to grab the headlines. We've seen this sooo many times, for example, the studies on the effect of coffee, etc.

[flamingdem]

10. A scientist at USC

University of Southern California gave a lecture on this and said as much. I wonder what the mechanism is -- it damages alpha wave sleep apparently. But how could it relate to cancer. They need to get on top of this, so many people take these drugs. Frightening.

There is a reluctance to admit that they are very addictive. They make you feel good because the drug makes you high essentially and stays in your system the next day to a small extent.

[RKP5637]

11. I think Ambien is the most prescribed prescription drug in the US? It is scary, if true,

because so many people take Ambien, for example.

[Heddi]

12. Not true. Not even in the top 10

http://www.webmd.com/news/20110420/the-10-most-prescribed-drugs

Hydrocodone (combined with acetaminophen) -- 131.2 million prescriptions
Generic Zocor (simvastatin), a cholesterol-lowering statin drug -- 94.1 million prescriptions
Lisinopril (brand names include Prinivil and Zestril), a blood pressure drug -- 87.4 million prescriptions
Generic Synthroid (levothyroxine sodium), synthetic thyroid hormone -- 70.5 million prescriptions
Generic Norvasc (amlodipine besylate), an angina/blood pressure drug -- 57.2 million prescriptions
Generic Prilosec (omeprazole), an antacid drug -- 53.4 million prescriptions (does not include over-the-counter sales)
Azithromycin (brand names include Z-Pak and Zithromax), an antibiotic -- 52.6 million prescriptions
Amoxicillin (various brand names), an antibiotic -- 52.3 million prescriptions
Generic Glucophage (metformin), a diabetes drug -- 48.3 million prescriptions
Hydrochlorothiazide (various brand names), a water pill used to lower blood pressure -- 47.8 million prescriptions.

[RKP5637]

13. Thanks Heddi !!! n/t