Common Insomnia Drugs Receive Black Box Warning

A black box warning about the risk of serious injury and potential death as a result of sleepwalking and other complex sleep behaviors has been added to the labeling of the sedative–hypnotic drugs zolpidem, zaleplon, and eszopiclone.Serious adverse effects from use of these drugs to treat insomnia include falls with serious injuries, fatal falls, fatal motor vehicle accidents, self-injury, and suicidal attempts and suicides, among others.NPs should not prescribe these drugs to patients who have a history of complex sleep behaviors after taking antiinsomnia drugs. The drugs should be discontinued if patients experience adverse effects.
Source: AJN - Category: Nursing Tags: Drug Watch Source Type: research