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Cheaper Sleep Medications?
Guess what? The time has actually come for the patent of one of the most widely used sleep medications in the world -- Ambien -- to come to an end. According to a recent article in The Sleep Report:
This year alone, 10 brand-name medications with revenue exceeding $8.1 billion are expected to lose patent exclusivity, including the widely prescribed sleep medication Ambien (zolpidem tartrate).
- Ambien's US sales exceeded $2 billion last year.
- Medications to treat sleep disorders are one of the fastest growing categories of drug spending, rising 31.5% in 2005 alone according to Medco Health Solutions Inc, a pharmacy benefit manager.
- While seniors use the most hypnotics, younger adults showed the greatest increase in use of these drugs.
- According to Medco's analysis, the number of adults aged 20 to 44 years using sleeping medications increased by 128% between 2000 and 2005.
- According to pharmacy market analyst IMS Health, a one percent increase in generic utilization nationwide yields almost $4 billion in savings.
So what does this mean for those of you who are taking these valuable medications?
First, you should know that the makers of Ambien have done a great job of reducing the price of their newest medication, Ambien CR, so that it will match or come very close to the price of generic.
Next, I hope to see insurance companies recognizing that the use of these medications can in fact LOWER our healthcare premiums, but I doubt it.
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: The Sleep Doctor, sleeping pills, sleep medications, ambien, health and wellness
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8 Comments:
Hi Dr Mike !
I am a long time pat of yours from Atl and am a true believer in your advice.
My daughter has a thorny problem related to not being able to get to sleep at night.
Her problem is mostly the drugs she has been prescribed for bipolar disorder. Several including Geodone, Effexor and 2SSRI antidepressants. Her main problem is not being able to get up in the AM for work. She feels like she is in a chemical straight jacket so to speak. She is seeing an MD and Melatonin was recently added to help her get to sleep. I am afraid that taking 4 melatonin at night might be causing her problem of not being able to get up in the AM.
Would Ambien be better that the melatonin do you think??
Any other suggestions ???
She is really frustrated by this !
I will be glad to email you with my name and email if you wish.
Thanks
Easy78
Hi Easy78,
We encourage you to post your questions on our Sleep Disorders message board.
I have suffered from insomnia for many many years. About five years ago I started taking Ambien, Loved it, was actually able to sleep 3-4hours straight, it was great. Last year I moved to the generic brand Zolpidem Tartrate. It's been just as good, only getting 2-3 hours our it now, but over time it's effetiveness will diminish. Yesterday I got my refill and it said 'Zolpidem'...non tartrate? Anyone have any thoughts about that? I just thought it was weird.
I have been taking Melatonin for years. It says it non habit forming but as most people know most medications can be. When i 1st started taking melatonin it worked well with 1 a night. I just started taking 2. It helped faster but yes I did feel groggy the next morning. I was just put on Zolpidem Tartrate and it seems to be helping me get my sleep pattern the past few nights. Should really start on a low dosage of Mel before to see if it makes a difference. But that's what I did so I thought I'd share.
Hi DOC,WHATS UP?I Have INSOMNIA,I KNOW WHY I HAVE IT..MY SISTER GAVE ME AMPHETAMINES,AS A CHILD...SHE WAS AN ADULT..SHE FED THEM TO ME AT THE AGE OF 12 YRS OLD..I HAD a 3 MONTH NON SLEEP,CAUSE OF HER.I ENDED UP VERY ILL.MY CENRTAL NERVOUS SYSTEM,BROKE DOWN.TILL THIS DAY I HAVE TO TAKE XANAX,DEPRESSION PILLS N AMBIAN.I FEEL SO SAD,THAT A ADULT SISTER RUINED,MY NERVES 4 THE REST OF MY LIFE...PLUS IT HURTS EMOTIONALLY IN YOUR HEART..BUT,I SURVIVED..THANK GOD..MY ANSWER IS THAT CHILDREN IN SOCIETY,SHOULD NOT BE LABELED AS THERE CRAZY,JUST DRUGGED FROM A MISGUIDED DISFUNCTIONAL SISTER.AS PEER PRESSURE,CAN REALLY DAMAGE YOUR CENTAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.AMPHETAMINES THAT IS..ADVISE DONT USE DRUGS TO LOOSE WEIGHT..DO IT NATURALLY.
Hi Dr Mike
My cousin in law and his gilfriend smokes street drugs,and sometimes he stays awake for two to three days.The problem is his mother in law gives him ambien to help him fall asleep.So my question is should a person take sleep medication to fall asleep while on street drugs?
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