Sleeping Pills Juneau AK

Changing regulators' attitudes toward sleep aids won't be the only hurdle for the makers of these new products. They'll also have to convince insomniacs that there's nothing wrong with taking sleeping pills. To that end, Sepracor and Neurocrine -- along with its Big Pharma partner, Pfizer Inc. (PFE ) -- are gearing up for major direct-to-consumer advertising blitzes. The strategy worked for Sanofi. When it pumped $55 million into U.S. print and TV ads for Ambien in 2002, annual sales of the drug jumped to $1.5 billion, nearly twice the level in 2000.

The scenario of whole societies popping insomnia and wake-up pills as if they were aspirin raises disturbing questions. Are drug makers so intent on seeding an insomnia market that they have grown insensitive to the hype their marketing campaigns may fuel? And what about the long-term impact of messing with the brain's natural sleep processes? Unknown. Until drug companies can point to long-term safety data, physicians, patients, and regulators can be forgiven for having some reservations.

Click the links below for detailed information by class of sleeping pills:

Antidepressants (Elavil, Rameron, Doxepin (aka Sinequan), Desyrel)

Benzodiazepines (LIBRIUM (diazepam), VALIUM, DIASTAT (flurazepam), DALMANE, and nitrazepam)

Non-benzodiazepines (Ambien, Sonata, Lunesta)

Melatonin Receptors (Rozerem)

Some of the more commonly prescribed sleep drugs include:

• Ambien, Ambien CR (zolpidem tartrate)

• Butisol sodium

• Carbrital (pentobarbital and carbromal)

• Dalmane (flurazepam hydrochloride)

• Doral (quazepam)

• Halcion (triazolam)

• Lunesta (eszopiclone)

• Placidyl (ethchlorvynol)

• Prosom (estazolam)

• Restoril (temazepam)

• Rozerem (ramelteon)

• Seconal (secobarbital sodium)

• Sonata (zaleplon)

  Retail, Non- Prescription Sleeping Pills

  More over-the-counter sleep aids are purchased than any other OTC drug, and 25% of Americans take some type of medication every year to help them sleep. Popular OTC brands include Benadryl, Nytol, Sominex, Tylenol PM, Advil PM and Nyquil. Their main ingredient is an antihistamine named diphenhydramine and in some case (Nyquil), alcohol.

  Historically, sleep aids have been linked with addiction, depression, and suicide. Even though newer drugs are designed to avoid such troubles, many physicians and insomniacs are frightened that there will be unforeseen complications.

  Click the link below for more deta...