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Is Excessive Intake Of Zolpidem Harmful To Health?
Brief Answer:
Yes,you need to discontinue
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.
Dear friend,
There have been several studies worldwide which have established cancer causing risk associated with regular use of sleep inducing drugs like Zolpidem,temazepam,eszopiclone,zaleplon and some others.Out of them,risk is best established with zolpidem.
It has been reported that more than 20 days of zolpidem tablets per year can increase cancer associated mortality rate significantly.Oral cancer,Renal cancer,esophageal cancers are the most associated.
If you would have presented as an outpatient to me,I would have asked you to discontinue the drug and get evaluated by a psychiatrist for insomnia so that he can identify the cause of insomnia and treat accordingly.
Please follow natural methods like meditation and yoga to reduce insomnia related anxiety and eventually better sleep. Arousal habits before bedtime like coffee or tea intake,taking bath should be avoided.Sleep enviornment should be hygienic and sleep friendly.Reduce your bedtime which will cause sleep deprivation ,thus resulting in a better sleep(which can later on be gradually increased).
Hope I have answered your query.If you have follow-up queries,I shall be glad to answer else, please close the thread-rate it and write a review.
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Yes,you need to discontinue
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.
Dear friend,
There have been several studies worldwide which have established cancer causing risk associated with regular use of sleep inducing drugs like Zolpidem,temazepam,eszopiclone,zaleplon and some others.Out of them,risk is best established with zolpidem.
It has been reported that more than 20 days of zolpidem tablets per year can increase cancer associated mortality rate significantly.Oral cancer,Renal cancer,esophageal cancers are the most associated.
If you would have presented as an outpatient to me,I would have asked you to discontinue the drug and get evaluated by a psychiatrist for insomnia so that he can identify the cause of insomnia and treat accordingly.
Please follow natural methods like meditation and yoga to reduce insomnia related anxiety and eventually better sleep. Arousal habits before bedtime like coffee or tea intake,taking bath should be avoided.Sleep enviornment should be hygienic and sleep friendly.Reduce your bedtime which will cause sleep deprivation ,thus resulting in a better sleep(which can later on be gradually increased).
Hope I have answered your query.If you have follow-up queries,I shall be glad to answer else, please close the thread-rate it and write a review.
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Dr XXXXXXX I have developed anxiety since I started to have abdominal pain last January, if you check my history,I have had many tests and constant worry. I also take Zoloft, Pamelor and occasionally Xanax and that does help. I plan to stop the Ambien, but how do you feel about Xanax and the other meds?
Brief Answer:
Zoloft,Pamelor and Xanax are not among the 'hypnotics' class as 'Ambien'.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for follow-up.
Of course,I came to know from your history about the anxiety you have been through.
Ambien(Zolpidem) is among the 'hypnotic' class of drugs and has been reported to have some association with cancers.It is advisable to stop it.
However,zoloft(sertraline),pamelor(nortriptyline) and xanax(alprazolam) are the drugs which do not belong to 'hypnotic' class of drugs. These are not the ones associated with cancers.
Please refer to a psychiatrist for your mental problems/anxiety and continue the medicines(out of zoloft,pamelor and xanax) which are needful. These medicines however need not be stopped for the association of cancer.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have follow-up queries, I shall be glad to answer else, please close the thread, rate it and write a review.
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Zoloft,Pamelor and Xanax are not among the 'hypnotics' class as 'Ambien'.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for follow-up.
Of course,I came to know from your history about the anxiety you have been through.
Ambien(Zolpidem) is among the 'hypnotic' class of drugs and has been reported to have some association with cancers.It is advisable to stop it.
However,zoloft(sertraline),pamelor(nortriptyline) and xanax(alprazolam) are the drugs which do not belong to 'hypnotic' class of drugs. These are not the ones associated with cancers.
Please refer to a psychiatrist for your mental problems/anxiety and continue the medicines(out of zoloft,pamelor and xanax) which are needful. These medicines however need not be stopped for the association of cancer.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have follow-up queries, I shall be glad to answer else, please close the thread, rate it and write a review.
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Dr XXXXXXX pursuant to your answers regarding The association with the use of Ambien and some cancers, I am one that now will be very concerned. I have been using Lunesta for most of the past 10 years and because of my medical insurance, I started Ambien in August of 2014. I have an MRI scheduled to look at the stability of two 1cm lesions in my pancreas that was seen one year ago. These cysts are side branch IPMN's. Should I tell the doctor, a Gastrenologist, who ordered the test about my Ambien use? Also, my PCP, who has to fill the prescription every 30 days, never mentions the risk of Ambien. I did have blood test done about 45 days ago because I had finger surgery and it was absolutley normal. I had an upper GI barium with follow through in April of last year and it also was normal. Finally, what do studies show when cancer could develop after hypnotic drug use?
Brief Answer:
'What do the studies show?'-depends on the type of symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
You had a long history of taking hypnotics.Though there are not much formal studies for 'Lunesta',but the recent studies suggesting cancer risk are mostly related to 'Ambien'.However, both of these drugs are 'hypnotics' and it is being presumed that though there are no studies regarding 'Lunesta',still it also may be having some risk.
As your pancreatic cysts are a new development,you should tell the gastroenterologist about the long term hypnotic use and further that-'as per my discussion with a neurologist'-chronic use of hypnotics may cause increased cancer risk.I am saying this because these studies are very recent and prior to these studies there was no such notion among physicians that 'hypnotics' when chronically used may cause cancer.
Finally it depends on the symptoms that what studies to do and what to expect from them,as I said that it has to be found to be associated with a variety of cancers like Oral,Esophageal,Breast,Kidney,Lung,Liver. However, Pancreas cancer was not reported.
As far as no symptoms are there,it is unnecessary to be fearful of just thinking that I may get a cancer,and till that time,there is no need to get studies.
Liver and Kidney cancer may be detected by Computerised tomographic(CT)scan abdomen.Breast cancer by mammography.That way,different studies for different cancers.
Final word-Try to stop your hypnotics and don'tbe fearful as there are just a few studies and the possibility of cancer development is in terms of 'MAY' and not 'MUST'.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have follow-up queries, I shall be glad to answer else, please close the thread, rate it and write a review.
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
'What do the studies show?'-depends on the type of symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
You had a long history of taking hypnotics.Though there are not much formal studies for 'Lunesta',but the recent studies suggesting cancer risk are mostly related to 'Ambien'.However, both of these drugs are 'hypnotics' and it is being presumed that though there are no studies regarding 'Lunesta',still it also may be having some risk.
As your pancreatic cysts are a new development,you should tell the gastroenterologist about the long term hypnotic use and further that-'as per my discussion with a neurologist'-chronic use of hypnotics may cause increased cancer risk.I am saying this because these studies are very recent and prior to these studies there was no such notion among physicians that 'hypnotics' when chronically used may cause cancer.
Finally it depends on the symptoms that what studies to do and what to expect from them,as I said that it has to be found to be associated with a variety of cancers like Oral,Esophageal,Breast,Kidney,Lung,Liver. However, Pancreas cancer was not reported.
As far as no symptoms are there,it is unnecessary to be fearful of just thinking that I may get a cancer,and till that time,there is no need to get studies.
Liver and Kidney cancer may be detected by Computerised tomographic(CT)scan abdomen.Breast cancer by mammography.That way,different studies for different cancers.
Final word-Try to stop your hypnotics and don'tbe fearful as there are just a few studies and the possibility of cancer development is in terms of 'MAY' and not 'MUST'.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have follow-up queries, I shall be glad to answer else, please close the thread, rate it and write a review.
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Answered by
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