Ambien Linked To Traffic Arrests

Ambien, the nation's best-selling prescription sleeping pill, is showing up as a factor in traffic arrests, sometimes involving drivers who later say they were sleep-driving and have no memory of taking the wheel after taking the drug.

One state identified Ambien in the toxicology tests of 187 drivers. Another state official has mentioned reports of sleep driving, where a user takes the pill while driving, with the hope that it would kick in after they got home.

Ambien's competitors -- Lunesta by Sepracor and Sonata by King Pharmaceuticals -- are not as widely used in this country, and do not seem to be cropping up with any frequency on police blotters.

Sanofi-Aventis, who makes Ambien, says that while sleepwalking may occur while taking Ambien, the drug may not be the cause. It also notes that the warnings with Ambien specifically instruct patients not to use it with alcohol. However, it appears that some of the problems are caused by users not following the directions.

The Food and Drug Administration will be looking into some of the episodes, but is not ordering any changes to the label at this time.