Report says popular sleep aid causes binge eating and memory loss

By Elizabeth Rhein

Published on March 17, 2006

Over the last few weeks, Ambien patients have come forward with strange stories of driving in the middle of the night or cooking, then eating, entire meals. Most people had no recollection of their escapades until the morning, when they woke up with candy wrappers surrounding their beds. Some were not as lucky, and woke up in jail or in the hospital with injuries from car accidents.

In response to this phenomenon, New York City attorney Susan Chana Lask has filed a class-action complaint on behalf of people who have been negatively affected by Ambien. In the document, she cites behaviors such as shoplifting, and eating raw eggs; in one case, a woman was assaulted after she opened the door to a stranger -- all while in a zombie-like state. Lask claims that she has heard from about 200 people who have similar complaints against the drug.

Ambien's manufacturer, Sanofi-Aventis, stands by its drug and maintains its safety when used as directed. Currently, the FDA only recommends that Ambien be used for 10 days or less, as side effects have not been studied in patients taking the drug for longer periods of time.

Patients currently taking Ambien are encouraged to speak with their doctors about the possible side effects of the medication and whether an alternative is right for them.

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