Sleeping with Today Tonight

[LOCO XP]

Turned up to work today to hear some drummed up story on Today Tonight last night about further dangers on the sleeping medication Stilnox(R). Now, I'll be straight and state that I missed this particular instalment of trashy B-Grade "SHOCK EXPOSE!" media. My understanding is that it demonstrated some people "having fun" on this medication, via the potential hallucinogenic or bizarre behaviours that may ensue. Now, I'm not here to condone the practice of this medication being prescribed for legitimate insomnia indications, and I'm definately not suggesting that this is a good medication to abuse for fun. It is a dangerous thing in the wrong hands and can vouch for this first-hand. If anybody caught this, or has had any experience from using this prescription-only sleeping medication, I'd be interested to know.

[DBourne]

if TT hadnt made a fuss about it, the mass public wouldnt have a clue and it wouldnt be such a problem.

now ppl are going to run off and give it a shot

[Dave_au]

Actually there has been a general noise surrounding the perceived dangers of Stilnox for some time now, and there are other as near effective sleeping pills on the market.

[DJL351]

Google it, read some of the news reports. As Dave au said, this has been around for sometime now.

[The Monty]

Used to use them when a mate had a script that he didnt want.
Lets just say when you wake up on a footpath in the morning and you live on a main road, you really start to think are they worth taking.
I was also fired twice while using them to due an extremely short temper they gave me on the mornings after.

[LOCO XP]

Yes I'm aware of this being a problem for some time. Being a pharmacist I have read several case reports dating at least 4 years ago noting bizarre behaviours (eg. one woman painting her door red, with no recollection except for the fact of the paint on her hands). I've also on the other end having it prescribed to me a couple of years ago and having a rather spun and unpleasant experience of its effects. Definately true that the media will blow the issue out of proportion, and encourage plenty of impressionable tools to do as they have seen on Today Tonight and You Tube. In any case I won't be surprised to see it pulled off the market or re-scheduled by the TGA in the not-to-distant future. Seems the media is off the mark by a few years, and now that they have caught on, they're not letting the issue go. I recall it being touted as the new wonder drug with a favourable side-effect profile and practically no issues with addiction etc, hence threatening benzodiazepine-type sleeping tablets which have been available for many years and are well understood......interesting how things turn out. Some may remember a similar story with the drug thalidomide.....

[herbs]

Title should be 'Sleeping with Anna Coren' I always take these shows with a grain of salt. Who's to bet derros will go out and look for this stuff now, like with those Bindeez beads. :

[fmc351]

Originally Posted by SgtBourne

if TT hadnt made a fuss about it, the mass public wouldnt have a clue and it wouldnt be such a problem.

now ppl are going to run off and give it a shot

People who abuse these things already have an amazing network for information flow. Obviously they get a Chinese whisper version, but the pill name and its supposed 'benefit' remain. I dont condone that hack show, but assuming the media releasing information is the problem is a tad naive. Without it, parents for example wont be informed a problem exists as they usually arent in the loop.

Theres a downside of course, but the benefit of informing parents etc outweigh that small increase in negative awareness. The media will of course over tell the story until the listeners arent interested anymore.

[Van D]

Just don't take them with other drugies :

They can give some pretty weird experiences.

I also saw the add however (though didn't watch it) and thought it was going to be an over hyped piece of junk, so i skipped.

Anyone actually watch it?

[RED FGII]

I used them when i was on nights, had no dramas.....

[[Tonko]]

Sounds like fun....


jokes...:

[Rodp]

Today Tonight would put me to sleep. Too scared to watch.

[normxb]

I've learnt to research Any drug prescribed for me now , last March I was prescribed a drug called "Lyrica" to reduce Cramps & Pain . The Melb. Specialist said there was only "Minimal Side Effects" , but in the 23 day's I took it , I thought I was going Crazy . One of my mates said he'd been given the drug mid last year and was still suffering the same side effects as me . So I looked up Pfizer and it told me next to nothing , then Googled for the "side effects" , man , a whole different story .

8 months later and I've still got 2/3 the side effects . The medication does work , but now my local Doc is worried "how long the effects will last" .

Here's some of them from a private study :-

• dizziness
• feeling tired or drowsy
• increase in appetite, weight ( I've been 53/4 kgs for 30 odd years , in 6 weeks I went to 76 kg's & can't lose it )
• mood changes, such as feeling irritated or excited
• aggression
• forgetfulness, loss of concentration or confusion
• unsteadiness when walking, reduced co-ordination, shaking or tremors
• difficulty speaking
• disturbed sleeping patterns ( I can sleep anything from 1/2 hr to 36 hours)
• dry mouth
• fungus under finger/toenails
• numbness or tingling in hands or feet
• flu like symptoms
• blurred or double vision
• constipation or excessive gas in the stomach or bowel
• bruising
• vomiting
• swelling of hands, ankles or feet
• muscle pain, tenderness and weakness
• shortness of breath
• frequent or more severe seizures (fits)
• sudden signs of allergy such as rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, wheezing or difficulty breathing
- Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people .

And this is supposed to be a "painkiller"

I think it's advisable to double check ANY medication before taking it , including "Stilnox"

[Duke]

I take Stilnox on occasion and have a script from the Doc for several repeats.
I've never had any issues with it, but we're all different aren't we.

[LOCO XP]

With regard to side effects, any medication has them, no matter how safe or mild in nature it may be. The list of adverse effects needs to be taken into context, ie. a risk to benefit factor needs to be considered. Drug product information, which should be offered once any medication is prescribed or dispensed for the first time, tends to list almost everything and anything that was encountered during clinical trials or in post-marketing surveillance, regardless of its significance or frequency. For example, a drug may cause nausea in 1 out of 10 patients studied, and in the same trial, the placebo arm of the study (the control patients who think that they are getting the drug, but are getting the inactive) may experience similar frequency of nausea. On the same token, some listed adverse effects may occur in less than 1 in 100,000 patients. Regardless, if it has been observed, it must be listed. Whether a prescriber or pharmacist tells you all of these side effects (which would make for a lengthy consultation) is unclear, however some printed info should be provided if available, or if not, it will be available quickly on request. Most prescribing and dispensing software has this available.

Anyway Norm, shame to here that you have some residual side effects, I have had no experience with Lyrica as yet so I'm unable to tell you much about it myself. But wise words to research things before you commit to them, and always consider the potential risk of side effects as opposed to the benefits that you are supposed to obtain. If in doubt, ask questions and get the printed info.