Many CPAPers take drugs to help them sleep

[FoxNewsFan]

This Sunday, 60 Minutes will have a startling exposé about how men and women react differently when taking drugs. Women taking Ambien have 40% more in their system than men. In simulated driving tests, the next morning, men passed and women failed after taking the same dosage.
All animals that these drugs are tested on are male. Until the recent past all humans that the drugs were tested on were male.
In the future, almost all drugs may be prescribed differently for men and women.
Ed

[billbolton]

This Sunday, 60 Minutes will have a startling exposé......Ed

That is extremely improbable. A current affairs beat up story to attract ratings is, however, extremely likely

[cherylgrrl]

Actually, I saw this story too. It is based on the actual amount of drug that appears in the bloodstream. With Ambien, women had 48% higher level of the drug in their blood compared with men at the same 10 mg. dosage level. But the only problem discussed was alertness level in the morning and possibility of impaired driving. I'm retired and never drive until I've had a leisurely breakfast with at least 3 cups of coffee so I'm not to worried about it myself!

[dave1013]

Not a drug but a supplement called "Calm" - a magnesium supplement added to water that I slam down in a pint glass before retiring. I'm not sure it's making a difference but the wife says it does.

[BlackSpinner]

All animals that these drugs are tested on are male. Until the recent past all humans that the drugs were tested on were male.
In the future, almost all drugs may be prescribed differently for men and women.
Ed

This has been common in the industry since day one. People have been write exposes on it since the 60's and the thalidomide fiasco. It is expensive to test of women because they get pregnant and have monthly hormone variations.

[sleeplessinaz]

I have a script for Ambian but I take one Motrin PM before bed. I have chronic hip muscle pain so it helps me relax and the benedryl makes me sleepy. It's a win win for me. I am not working at the moment so I don't have to drive anywhere in the early AM.

[chunkyfrog]

It is unlikely for a drug company to finance a study that may indicate half of the patients
it is prescribed for may only need half the dosage. A 25% drop in sales is not a happy scenario,
even if it meant all the ladies would no longer be overdosed, less risk to babies, etc.

[FoxNewsFan]

It is unlikely for a drug company to finance a study that may indicate half of the patients
it is prescribed for may only need half the dosage. A 25% drop in sales is not a happy scenario,
even if it meant all the ladies would no longer be overdosed, less risk to babies, etc.

CF,
When I saw your reply it brought a smile to my face.
You might be under estimating American business PR abilities.

I can foresee a company putting the 81mg aspirin that many of us take daily, put it in a pink bottle,
then state that it has been specially formulated for women. (Actually they just reduced it to 61mg.)
Put a picture of a mother and baby on the label and actually charge more for this SPECIAL FORMULATION.
(Less risk for pregnant women, babies, etc., etc.)
Then on top of that they will take the same old 81mg aspirin and put it in a blue bottle and say something
similar for men. They'll put George Clooney in a commercial and he will extoll the benefits of the new
aspirin just for men.
They will also get twice they shelf space they had previously because now they need space for the pink
bottles and the blue. I could go on and on but I think you get the picture.
Ed

[SleepyBobR]

60 Minutes? I'll be sure to miss it.

[chunkyfrog]

Good point, Fox.

[ems]

I see a respected sleep specialist (pulmonary sleep specialist). FWIW, she thinks there is something to this particularly study. As Cheryl mentioned, men apparently had a higher level of the drug (Ambien) in their system when tested the following morning. I think of it as, "interesting"... for the time being anyway.