Insomnia

After an initial autopsy proved inconclusive as to cause of death, toxicology tests released today revealed Heath Ledger died from "acute intoxication" due to prescription medications. The following statement was released from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in New York:

"Mr. Heath Ledger died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine. We have concluded that the manner of death is accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications."

Chronic pain syndromes, such as arthritis, have a long term history of causing sleep disturbances.

The usual treatment has been to use medications and other alternative therapies at least 3-4 hours prior to the desired sleep time.

Now a new study indicates that taking long acting opiates in the morning, increases the total amount slept during the night by one hour, and reduces the time getting to deep sleep from 2 to 1 hours.

FDA Approves First Generic Versions of Ambien (Zolpidem Tartrate) for the Treatment of Insomnia
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved the first generic versions of Ambien (zolpidem tartrate) immediate-release tablets. Zolpidem (ZOLE-pi-dem) tartrate is a sedative-hypnotic drug indicated for the short-term treatment of insomnia.

"The FDA’s Office of Generic Drugs ensures that generic drugs are safe and effective for the American public through a rigorous scientific and regulatory process," said Gary J. Buehler, director, Office of Generic Drugs. "This approval offers Americans more alternatives when choosing their prescription drugs."

"There just is not enough enough time in the day to get everything done". This complaint has been echoed several times by most of us. Now, we may get our wish to have more time in a day.

According to BBC News, researchers from the United States and France have conducted an experiment suggesting that stretching our day to 25 hours is not impossible.

Twelve people took part in a study to discern what the 'magic number of hours' was natural to our circadian rhythms. They were subjected to artificial light; all natural light was blocked.

Sleep and Pain

Fifteen percent of the adult population reported having chronic pain; however, that rate rose to 50% when looking at older adults.

Of those people experiencing chronic pain, almost 70% reported disruptions to their sleep cycle, or inadequate sleep.

The problem with pain and sleep increased, as opiates were prescribed to control the pain.

Media reports have recently highlighted links between Ambien and sleepwalking, binge eating, and even dangerous nighttime driving (see "Sleepless Nights for Drugmakers"). The side effects aren't new, but they're attracting increased attention as analysts, consumers, and the media try to draw distinctions between existing remedies and those coming down the pike.