Rising Threat of Zombie Drivers on U.S. Roads

[Ivan Seeking]

Zombie drivers — motorists driving under the influence of the popular prescription sleeping pill Ambien, possibly while sleepwalking and unaware they are doing so — are a rising threat on U.S. roads, according to a report published in the New York Times Wednesday [continued]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,187230,00.html

 

[moose]

Can you imagine waking up and noticing that you are driving??!? O___O

 

[Moonbear]

Yikes! When I first read the title, I thought you were going to be saying something about people who are too tired to be driving getting into accidents. But, actually taking a sleeping pill then getting into a car without even realizing it?! That explains the driving of the morning commuters a bit better though.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Following their arrests, many of the Ambien drivers claim to have no recollection of getting behind the wheel, according to the report. In many of the cases the drug appears to have been taken incorrectly, combined with alcohol or other drugs or taken in overdose quantities; several of the cases suggest, however, that even when the drug is used properly, a sleepwalking side effect may lead to sleep driving, the Times reported.

As long as they're asleep I guess the drug works as advertized.

 

[Moonbear]

As long as they're asleep I guess the drug works as advertized.

That's awful...but still funny. Hey, I'm sure it already has a warning on the label not to drive or operate heavy machinery, so it's not their fault if people sleepwalk to the car, right? :zzz:

 

[Evo]

I can't believe that anyone taking Ambien would accidently drive. I can see them driving and have no memory of it, however. Ambien is some weird stuff, I'm surprised it's legal. It is a strong hallucinogen and memory loss is almost 100% if you do not go to sleep.

Anyone found driving on the stuff needs to be locked up and smacked silly.

I take Ambien due to my severe sleep deprivation and DON'T TAKE AWAY MY AMBIEN! I found out that half of the people in my office take it due to stress. But I realize the side affects and only take it when I am going to bed.

 

[Moonbear]

I found out that half of the people in my office take it due to stress. But I realize the side affects and only take it when I am going to bed.

People take it at times other than when they're supposed to be going to bed? Have I missed something? I thought it was a sleep aid. Why would you take it at any other time? The stuff sounds like valium...puts you to sleep and you don't remember anything if you're awake?

 

[Evo]

People take it at times other than when they're supposed to be going to bed? Have I missed something? I thought it was a sleep aid. Why would you take it at any other time? The stuff sounds like valium...puts you to sleep and you don't remember anything if you're awake?

People are idiots, 'nuff said. It's nothing like valium, well maybe valium in huge quantities.

One 10mg tab of Ambien and you will see purple flying worms extending across the room.

Sure the tv commercial shows a bunch of puppies taking it and waking up refreshed. That's why they showed the puppies, right?

 

[zoobyshoe]

People are idiots, 'nuff said. It's nothing like valium, well maybe valium in huge quantities.

One 10mg tab of Ambien and you will see purple flying worms extending across the room.

People are getting prescriptions of this specifically to help them sleep, but taking it during the day instead to stave off stress??

How do they work around all the purple worms?

 

[Moonbear]

People are idiots, 'nuff said. It's nothing like valium, well maybe valium in huge quantities.

One 10mg tab of Ambien and you will see purple flying worms extending across the room.

Sure the tv commercial shows a bunch of puppies taking it and waking up refreshed. That's why they showed the puppies, right?

I just looked into what it is, exactly. It acts at the same receptor as benzodiazepams! The generic name is zolpidem, if anyone is interested in delving further.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I have done something like this but due to stress and lack of sleep, not drugs. I had been pushing as hard as I could for months - working typical 18 hour days, 7 days a week. It seems that one night I came down to my office and worked, perhaps even with live 220 VDC circuits, while asleep.

For some time I found a number of oddities in the circuits being built that were most perplexing, and I found an equipment case assembled, which was most distressing since I KNEW that I had not done that. The first serious clue came when Tsu got up one night about 3AM - I was gone and I don't know where. She assumed that I had gone down to work, but as far as I knew I had fallen asleep on the couch earlier, and woke up there the next morning. Only later did it all make sense.

 

[Evo]

People are getting prescriptions of this specifically to help them sleep, but taking it during the day instead to stave off stress??

How do they work around all the purple worms?

I don't think they're taking it during the day, although the article doesn't say the time these drivers were on the road. I'm sure the fools decided to drive somewhere and then the Ambien kicked in and they didn't remember getting in the car.

 

[zoobyshoe]

I'm talking about the people in your office.

 

[Evo]

I'm talking about the people in your office.

They take it at night to go to sleep. Stress keeps them awake. They don't take it during the day.

 

[Moonbear]

People are getting prescriptions of this specifically to help them sleep, but taking it during the day instead to stave off stress??

How do they work around all the purple worms?

That just sounds insane to me, and their physicians should have their heads examined too for prescribing it. Just a quick search shows me that it's considered a hypnotic...that's certainly not just your run of the mill anxiolytic. It's not helping you to sleep because you're just relaxed and stress-free, it's putting you to sleep because it's knocking you out! Hallucinations are listed as a common side effect, as is memory loss if you don't fall asleep right away. It sounds like it can develop dependence very easily too, and withdrawal symptoms sound pretty bad. Sleep deprivation sounds better than this stuff.

 

[zoobyshoe]

I just looked into what it is, exactly. It acts at the same receptor as benzodiazepams! The generic name is zolpidem, if anyone is interested in delving further.

Would this actually act as an hallucinogen as Evo says?

 

[Moonbear]

They take it at night to go to sleep. Stress keeps them awake. They don't take it during the day.

Oh, the way you said it, I thought you meant they were taking it during the day to cope with stress.

 

[Moonbear]

Would this actually act as an hallucinogen as Evo says?

Sounds like it; it acts on one of the subunits of the GABA-A receptor, which is all over the brain. If you're just randomly activating that receptor everywhere in the brain, it's going to have all sorts of effects. I'm also coming across lists of articles of it being abused as an IV drug, so I'm guessing others have figured out the hallucinogenic part. (I'm not reading them, just scanning titles at the moment to get an overall sense of what issues are being or have been studied related to this drug.)

Edit: hallucinations are definitely listed as a side effect. http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/DVH/Uses/0,3915,712%7CAmbien,00.html

 

[zoobyshoe]

That just sounds insane to me, and their physicians should have their heads examined too for prescribing it. Just a quick search shows me that it's considered a hypnotic...that's certainly not just your run of the mill anxiolytic. It's not helping you to sleep because you're just relaxed and stress-free, it's putting you to sleep because it's knocking you out! Hallucinations are listed as a common side effect, as is memory loss if you don't fall asleep right away. It sounds like it can develop dependence very easily too, and withdrawal symptoms sound pretty bad. Sleep deprivation sounds better than this stuff.

Wow. Explains the sleep-driving. Evo's right: it's surprising it's legal.

 

[Evo]

The hallucinations go away after continued use, but will reappear if you stop for awhile and then start back up.

The memory loss doesn't stop.

 

[Evo]

Wow. Explains the sleep-driving. Evo's right: it's surprising it's legal.

Moonbear's right, it will knock you out, which is what I need, but it wears off in about 3 hours with no side affects, no groginess, and it's physically non-addictive. I've used it for short periods on and off for 8 years. Going for 4 years without it, then needing it periodically. I use it during the week so I can get some sleep so I can function at work, I don't take it on the weekends when I don't need to fall asleep early.

 

[Moonbear]

Moonbear's right, it will knock you out, which is what I need, but it wears off in about 3 hours with no side affects, no groginess, and it's physically non-addictive. I've used it for short periods on and off for 8 years. Going for 4 years without it, then needing it periodically. I use it during the week so I can get some sleep so I can function at work, I don't take it on the weekends when I don't need to fall asleep early.

Well, no side effects for you, but there are definitely side-effects listed, including groginess the next day, or a "hung-over" feeling. I'm also coming across case reports of patients developing dependence. From the link I posted in response to Zooby, it sounds like the way you take it is the way it's supposed to be prescribed...occassional use, not regular use. It could be that the dependence develops if you used it every day, long-term.

 

[Evo]

Well, no side effects for you, but there are definitely side-effects listed, including groginess the next day, or a "hung-over" feeling. I'm also coming across case reports of patients developing dependence. From the link I posted in response to Zooby, it sounds like the way you take it is the way it's supposed to be prescribed...occassional use, not regular use. It could be that the dependence develops if you used it every day, long-term.

I'm sure people abuse it and people probably take more than one.

 

[moose]

Evo is right. My friend's brother once took a few too many and woke up in a hospital or something under arrest. He learned that he did a bunch of weird things, and punched a cop, etc... He didn't remember any of it.

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

Wow... My ex used to fall asleep at the wheel but somehow was able to keep going without much effect to her driving than that she would start to decelerate and the car would drift back and forth in the lane a little bit. One night she was driving to the place she had just moved into and I was following in my car. She drove right past her last turn and kept going. I tried waving at her and flashing my lights at her but she didn't respond. I honked my horn. I slowed and she kept going. I pulled up next to her and she never looked over at me. I thought of getting in front of her and slowing to a stop but was afraid that she would run into me. She didn't stop until the street ended in a parking lot and suddenly she was wondering where she was. I was really scared that night especially since we hit every single green light and I wasn't sure if she would have stopped if we hit a red light.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Wow... My ex used to fall asleep at the wheel but somehow was able to keep going without much effect to her driving than that she would start to decelerate and the car would drift back and forth in the lane a little bit. One night she was driving to the place she had just moved into and I was following in my car. She drove right past her last turn and kept going. I tried waving at her and flashing my lights at her but she didn't respond. I honked my horn. I slowed and she kept going. I pulled up next to her and she never looked over at me. I thought of getting in front of her and slowing to a stop but was afraid that she would run into me. She didn't stop until the street ended in a parking lot and suddenly she was wondering where she was. I was really scared that night especially since we hit every single green light and I wasn't sure if she would have stopped if we hit a red light.

Was this from Ambien, or was she a narcoleptic?

 

[Evo]

Wow... My ex used to fall asleep at the wheel but somehow was able to keep going without much effect to her driving than that she would start to decelerate and the car would drift back and forth in the lane a little bit. One night she was driving to the place she had just moved into and I was following in my car. She drove right past her last turn and kept going. I tried waving at her and flashing my lights at her but she didn't respond. I honked my horn. I slowed and she kept going. I pulled up next to her and she never looked over at me. I thought of getting in front of her and slowing to a stop but was afraid that she would run into me. She didn't stop until the street ended in a parking lot and suddenly she was wondering where she was. I was really scared that night especially since we hit every single green light and I wasn't sure if she would have stopped if we hit a red light.

I'm sorry, but people that knowingly have this problem and still get behind the wheel of a car should be "locked up and smacked silly".

Why would ANYONE in their right mind drive if they know they fall asleep? Can someone give me a rational answer?

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

Was this from Ambien, or was she a narcoleptic?

I'm sorry, but people that knowingly have this problem and still get behind the wheel of a car should be "locked up and smacked silly".

Why would ANYONE in their right mind drive if they know they fall asleep? Can someone give me a rational answer?

She wasn't on Ambien and wasn't a narcaleptic.
She actually was quite used to driving long distances between the IE and Orange County on a regular basis commuting to work. That's a two hour or more drive depending on traffic. So it's not like she habitually zonked out behind the wheel. It only occurred when she got behind the wheel and was really tired. As I mentioned she had just moved into a new place, we were driving back and forth between there and her old place (in the Inland Empire) all day and she just became really groggy at the very end of the last trip. There were a couple of other occasions where something similar happened under similar circumstances but she generally tried to always have someone in the car with her if she thought that such a thing might happen.
--edit--
That is if she had someone in the car with her it wouldn't happen. So she was avoiding the issue instead of dragging someone else along for the ride.

 

[Evo]

She wasn't on Ambien and wasn't a narcaleptic.
She actually was quite used to driving long distances between the IE and Orange County on a regular basis commuting to work. That's a two hour or more drive depending on traffic. So it's not like she habitually zonked out behind the wheel. It only occurred when she got behind the wheel and was really tired. As I mentioned she had just moved into a new place, we were driving back and forth between there and her old place (in the Inland Empire) all day and she just became really groggy at the very end of the last trip. There were a couple of other occasions where something similar happened under similar circumstances but she generally tried to always have someone in the car with her if she thought that such a thing might happen.

Oh, ok. My ex boss was narcoleptic.

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

Oh, ok. My ex boss was narcoleptic.

They give drivers liscences to narcoleptics?

 

[Evo]

They give drivers liscences to narcoleptics?

I don't believe they ask for that information when you get a license.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Oh, ok. My ex boss was narcoleptic.

Did he fall asleep at work?

 

[Evo]

Did he fall asleep at work?

Constantly. When we had meetings with our VP, I would sit on one side of him and someone else would sit on the other side and we'd take turns kicking him in the shins when his eyes would start to close.

I was in a very important client meeting once and he attended. I was presenting when I noticed the clients were all staring at him. His head was thrown back, his mouth open and he was sound asleep. I never let him go out with me again.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Constantly. When we had meetings with our VP, I would sit on one side of him and someone else would sit on the other side and we'd take turns kicking him in the shins when his eyes would start to close.

I was in a very important client meeting once and he attended. I was presenting when I noticed the clients were all staring at him. His head was thrown back, his mouth open and he was sound asleep. I never let him go out with me again.

That's amazing. I don't know anything about it, what causes it. But I gather there's no medication? Caffein pills, maybe?

 

[zoobyshoe]

I don't believe they ask for that information when you get a license.

With people at risk for seizing while driving, their neurologist contacts the DMV directly, himself, and gets them put on a list of people who can't legally drive. If they're seizure-free for a certain amount of time, they can usually get it back, but it's up to the discretion of the neurologist. I would thnk the same would apply with narcolepsy.

 

[Evo]

With people at risk for seizing while driving, their neurologist contacts the DMV directly, himself, and gets them put on a list of people who can't legally drive. If they're seizure-free for a certain amount of time, they can usually get it back, but it's up to the discretion of the neurologist. I would thnk the same would apply with narcolepsy.

If they're being treated, I don't think he was.

 

[zoobyshoe]

If they're being treated, I don't think he was.

So, it was kind of a situation where he fell asleep all the time, pretended it was no big deal, and no one mentions the word "Narcolepsy"?

 

[Evo]

So, it was kind of a situation where he fell asleep all the time, pretended it was no big deal, and no one mentions the word "Narcolepsy"?

Well, we all mentioned narcolepsy. It was a huge deal. But I don't think he ever went for treatment.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Well, we all mentioned narcolepsy. It was a huge deal. But I don't think he ever went for treatment.

Could be he'd check into it and realized he'd be restricted if he got that diagnosis.

 

[Evo]

Could be he'd check into it and realized he'd be restricted if he got that diagnosis.

Probably why he didn't go to the doctor. We had to have afidavits that we could drive, had clean driving records and furnish proof of insurance to retain our jobs. It became a requirement for all management employees since we had access to company cars.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Probably why he didn't go to the doctor. We had to have afidavits that we could drive, had clean driving records and furnish proof of insurance to retain our jobs. It became a requirement for all management employees since we had access to company cars.

Yeah, he wouldn't have met those criteria with a diagnosis of narcolepsy.

 

[Evo]

Yeah, he wouldn't have met those criteria with a diagnosis of narcolepsy.

So, he never drove, one of us always drove.

 

[zoobyshoe]

So, he never drove, one of us always drove.

I see. The narcoleptic rode shotgun, and the ambien sleep-drivers took the wheel. All works out.

 

[Evo]

I see. The narcoleptic rode shotgun, and the ambien sleep-drivers took the wheel. All works out.

 

[Moonbear]

I see. The narcoleptic rode shotgun, and the ambien sleep-drivers took the wheel. All works out.

Evo, is this all at your current job, or in a different state? I just want to know in which state I should be watching out for the sleep-driving narcoleptics. And I thought I had enough to worry about with drunk drivers.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Oh-oh. You responded with smileys only. I don't know what to say to a smiley. They're too non-verbal. I feel like I'm talking to a mime.

 

[Moonbear]

Oh, I'm reading posts in backward order and just realized Evo was talking about an EX-boss, so not the current job.

 

[Moonbear]

Wow... My ex used to fall asleep at the wheel but somehow was able to keep going without much effect to her driving than that she would start to decelerate and the car would drift back and forth in the lane a little bit. One night she was driving to the place she had just moved into and I was following in my car. She drove right past her last turn and kept going. I tried waving at her and flashing my lights at her but she didn't respond. I honked my horn. I slowed and she kept going. I pulled up next to her and she never looked over at me. I thought of getting in front of her and slowing to a stop but was afraid that she would run into me. She didn't stop until the street ended in a parking lot and suddenly she was wondering where she was. I was really scared that night especially since we hit every single green light and I wasn't sure if she would have stopped if we hit a red light.

I'm kind of...no...really worried about a friend right now who seems to be chronically sleep-deprived. He works in NY and commutes an hour each way on top of 12 to 14 hour work days, plus just returned from a trip across the country, so is jet-lagged too. I spoke to him on the phone yesterday, before he was leaving work, and not only was he just zoning out of the conversation, but at one point, said something so totally incoherent I was sure he was just talking in his sleep! I plead with him to just get a room and sleep in the city when he's that tired (he can afford it), but he stubbornly insists he's fine if he just cracks the window open when driving. It always leaves me worried I'm going to get a call one day that he was in some horrible accident on the way home because he fell asleep at the wheel. Yes, he should be smacked silly for it.

 

[Integral]

Yikes! When I first read the title, I thought you were going to be saying something about people who are too tired to be driving getting into accidents. But, actually taking a sleeping pill then getting into a car without even realizing it?! That explains the driving of the morning commuters a bit better though.

I thought that he was talking about me driving home after a 12-14hr graveyard shift!

 

[Evo]

Don't take my ambien away.

Just make these bad people stop taking it.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060315/ts_nm/insomnia_dc

Bizarre events linked to sleeping pills in US

"Strange behavior by insomniacs taking prescription drugs, ranging from binge eating to having sex while asleep, have raised safety questions about anti-insomnia medications like Sanofi-Aventis' Ambien."

I had a conversation on the phone recently with someone that called me after I had taken Ambien, and they don't believe I don't remember most of the conversation. That's what is weird, you sound fine, your speech isn't slurred, but you don't remember.