Sleep-Driving Put Nurse in Jail

Q. I had a terrible experience with Ambien about a month ago. I took the drug at bedtime, then had hallucinations and got in my car to escape. I don’t remember a thing, but the police stopped me and my boyfriend had to bring me home.

A short time ago, I tried taking Ambien again. This time too I had terrible hallucinations and got in my car and drove. I don’t remember a thing about it, but I was arrested and spent 24 hours in jail. Because of the Ambien, I slept almost the entire time. I had to have an attorney and have lost my job as an RN. Have you heard of other people who have had such serious problems with Ambien?

A. There are reports of hallucinations, sleepwalking and sleep-driving associated with the sleeping pill Ambien. In one case a woman (another nurse) walked out of the house on a cold Colorado night wearing just a thin nightie. She got into the car and drove until she had an accident. When she was being arrested, she became violent with the officers, but later could remember nothing about the event. Sleeping pill-induced amnesia has been reported for years.

Q. About five years ago, I discovered a treatment for hangovers: a few activated charcoal capsules with a lot of water at bedtime and then another few capsules around 7 am with another glass of water. By 9 am, you are not feeling perfect, but much better than if you just drank water.

I have since married and now have two kids, so I rarely have more than two drinks. But when I do, four drinks make me feel like I've had way too much. I only take the charcoal remedy occasionally, but it may help someone else.

A. Activated charcoal is frequently used to adsorb toxins. It is also an important component in water and air purification systems. Activated charcoal capsules are also sold to help relieve flatulence.

There is little evidence that activated charcoal can adsorb alcohol or lower blood levels so we’re not sure how it could possibly help a hangover.

Q. I have been taking statin drugs, including Pravachol, Lipitor and now Zocor, for over ten years to control my cholesterol.

I have always been warned that grapefruit and grapefruit juice inhibit the effectiveness of statin drugs. Every container of a statin drug I've ever been given has a warning on it to avoid grapefruit in any form. I was shocked to read that you said someone could eat grapefruit while taking Lipitor. Where do you get off with this?

A. You and dozens of other people were quite upset by the column in which a reader asked if he could cut his Lipitor in half and take it with grapefruit to save money. We recommended that he check with his doctor and pointed out that grapefruit raises blood levels of statin-type drugs like Lipitor.

The idea that grapefruit interferes with the effectiveness of these cholesterol-lowering drugs is mistaken. It actually boosts concentrations in the blood. This might increase the risk of side effects if the dose is not adjusted properly.

We are sending you our Guides to Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs and Grapefruit Interactions with detailed information on the many medications affected by this fruit. Anyone who would like copies, please send $2 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped (63 cents), self-addressed envelope: Graedons' People's Pharmacy, No. JL-97, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.