A recent study shows obese people have a higher risk of death while taking sleeping pills. Scripps Health says the medication slows breathing and causes problems with the sleep cycle.
Study results
The study looked at heath records of more than 40,000 patients and found people struggling with their weight were eight times more likely to die from the combination of weight and sleeping pills.
“Obesity emerged as a marker of increased vulnerability,” said Robert Langer, M.D., M.P.H. said.
“The associations between sleeping pills and increased mortality were present, and relatively stronger, even in people aged 18 to 54.” He added, “Obese patients appear particularly vulnerable, perhaps through interaction with sleep apnea,” said study co-author Daniel Kripke, M.D., a psychiatrist with Scripps Clinic’s Viterbi Family Sleep Center in San Diego.
Sleeping pills, big business
Sleeping pills are big business for pharmaceutical companies, bringing in $2 billion in annual sales. In the last few years, sales have soared as more and more doctors prescribe medications like Ambien so patients can rest. Sales have climbed by 23 percent in the last five years.
In some cases, patients become dependent on these medications, taking them more often than needed. Some sleep aids are even available over the counter.
The future of sleep medications
Langer hopes the findings will encourage doctors to be more careful when prescribing sleeping pills, particularly to those with weight issues.
“We hope our work will spur additional research in this area using information from other populations,” he said.
Patients also can benefit from practicing good sleeping habits and relaxation, as well as taking advantage of the body’s natural clock, which is driven by the rising and setting of the sun.
Those with problems sleeping should consult a doctor and not try to self diagnose the problem.
