It's definitely not uncommon to see all kinds of crazy side-effects listed in the small print of prescription drug advertisements. But this ad for "Ambien CR" I saw in a Playbill was a bit beyond ridiculous. One full page for the ad, and two full pages for the small print. Yes, you read that correctly. Keep in mind that Ambien is a sleep aid.
Memorable excerpts include:
After taking AMBIEN CR, you may get up out of bed while not being fully awake and do an activity that you do not know you are doing. The next morning, you may not remember that you did anything during the night. ... Reported activities include:
- driving a car ("sleep-driving")
- making and eating food
- talking on the phone
- having sex
- sleep walking
That sounds a lot like being drunk. Not remembering what you were doing last night? And it seems just as dangerous. I can't imagine driving a car while asleep is any safer than driving while drunk. I wonder who you would call while you were asleep. I've heard of drunk-dialing. I wonder if it's more coherent than sleep-dialing.
What are the possible side effects of taking AMBIEN CR?
- abnormal thoughts and behavior. Symptoms include more outgoing or aggressive behavior than normal, confusion, agitation, hallucinations, worsening of depression, and suicidal thoughts or actions.
I know something else with similar side effects. I think it's called heroin.
