Ambien Statistics and Facts

Ambien is a popular prescription medication given to individuals who experience insomnia. This is meant to help them good a good night's sleep and wake up in the morning feeling refreshed. It is not meant to be used for long periods of time, only short use for most patients. It's a sedative-hypnotic medication that is very powerful for sleep, but it can become addictive for certain individuals.

Insomnia Statistics

Ambien has done many studies on insomnia in order to create an effective drug that can help people who are suffering. Unfortunately this is a sleep disorder that many people suffer from today, which is why Ambien is in such high demand. These are some of the most recent statistics on insomnia:

• 37% of adults in the United States suffer from it
• 83% of people who went to their doctor were prescribed officially with insomnia
• 41% of those diagnosed were given prescription
• 41% of those diagnosed were left untreated
• 70% of individuals who aren't diagnosed are untreated
• 90% of sufferers with major depressive disorder have insomnia as well
• 44% of patients with generalized anxiety disorder have insomnia

All of these and many other insomnia statistics were found by Ambien when doing a number of different studies. With all of the sufferers who don't have treatment, more and more people are starting to develop psychological issues as a result. Sleep is vital for the brain and the body and severe lack of it can cause a number of problems.

Ambien Facts

• Ambien is a scheduled IV controlled substance. This means it's only available through prescription that is written by a licensed doctor.
• When taken properly, this prescription is said to have no side effects for most people. This does depend on the individual; some people experience drowsiness as well as sleepwalking.
• Extreme drowsiness, fatigue, loss of balance and loss of muscle control are common side effects of abuse. When patients take Ambien in a way that they were not prescribed, these are the side effects they may feel that can range from mild to severe.

Ambien Statistics

• In 2008 there was a study done that found over 600,000 people in the country have abused prescription drugs, including Ambien. This study was done by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health; it's well documented and more information about it can be found online.
• There was another study done by the Drug Abuse Warning Network back in 2008. This survey found that ER visits from over 17,000 were due to Ambien related abuse, including overdose.
• Sleep driving, sleep eating, sleep conversations and other activities have been experienced by a number of individuals who take Ambien. These can be extremely dangerous, especially since a person has no control over what they are doing.
• Use of Ambien can result in allergic reactions for some. Face swelling is the most common reaction that has been seen in a small amount of individuals.
• Taking Ambien and other medications or even alcohol can result in death or decrease of heart rate
• Ambien has a special coating to prevent it from being crushed up. This is supposed to prevent snorting, but there are still users who have crushed it using various methods.
• Ambien causes cognitive thoughts and memory to become impaired, which results in unusual behavior in a small percent of people who take it.
• 44% of six million users with prescriptions were younger than 18, as found by a study done by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Students who get high with Ambien have a hard time finding sleep according to a study done by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Many studies have been done on younger users in high school to help prevent addictions in children under the age of 18. This is a group that is more likely to develop problems with use because Ambien can be so easy to get a hold of. There are more and more studies being done on the effects of older users as well, especially when it comes to side effects.

What to do about Ambien abuse?

Individuals who they think or someone they love has a problem with addiction to Ambien should seek medical attention right away. Drug rehab programs or close doctor supervision can mean getting help and overcoming problems with this.