A study of more than 30,000 patients has concluded that those who take popular prescription sleeping pills like Ambien, Lunesta or Sonata are at a greater risk of dying over the next several years. The patients included approximately 10,000 who were prescribed sleeping medications. They were carefully matched for age, gender, marital status, ethnicity and general health to 20,000 people not taking sleep aids. In the 2.5 years of study follow-up, people on sleeping pills were roughly four times more likely to die. They were also 20 to 35 percent more likely to be diagnosed with certain cancers.
The researchers point out that this study can only establish association and not causation. But they estimate that if their figures can be extrapolated, between 300,000 and 500,000 people died needlessly in the U.S. in 2010. They suggest that the risks of sleeping pills may outweigh any benefits.
[BMJ Open, Feb 27, 2012]
The People's Perspective on Medicine