Worst Pills, Best Pills

An expert, independent second opinion on more than 1,800 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and supplements

zolpidem (AMBIEN, AMBIEN CR, EDLUAR)


DRUG AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENT PROFILES

A comprehensive review of the safety and effectiveness of this drug. If the drug is not a Do Not Use product, information on adverse effects, drug interactions and how to use the medication are included.
Search results below include Drug and Dietary Supplement Profiles where your selected drug is a secondary subject of discussion.

zaleplon (SONATA)
  • We list this drug as a Do Not Use drug because it is less effective than related drugs and can cause addiction.

WORST PILLS, BEST PILLS NEWSLETTER ARTICLES

Search results below include Worst Pills, Best Pills Newsletter Articles where your selected drug is a secondary subject of discussion.

New Insomnia Medication is More of the Same: Limited Efficacy With Serious Safety Concerns
September 2022
Learn why we have designated the recently approved insomnia drug daridorexant (QUVIVIQ) as Do Not Use.
A Look at Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Patients With Other Medical Conditions
May 2021
In this article, we review results of new research that examined a specific form of nondrug psychological therapy, referred to as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, for management of chronic insomnia in patients with other major physical or mental disorders.
Dangers of Sleep Drug Suvorexant Still Outweigh Minimal Benefits
December 2016
Find out why Public Citizen’s Health Research Group has designated suvorexant as Do Not Use and what steps you can take to improve your sleep without relying on medications.
FDA Approves Suvorexant, Latest Dangerous Sleep Drug
November 2014
For many years, Public Citizen’s Health Research Group has recommended against using sleeping pills to treat insomnia. This article reviews the serious risks of the newest sleep medication approved by the FDA.
Eszopiclone (LUNESTA): Too Dangerous at Any Dose
October 2014
The Food and Drug Administration’s recent recommendation to lower the starting dose of the insomnia drug eszopiclone is insufficient to address the drug’s dangers. Learn why Public Citizen’s Health Research Group continues to designate eszopiclone as Do Not Use.
Dangers of Mixing Alcohol with Certain Medications or Diseases
August 2008
The article discusses 273 drugs that can have harmful interactions with alcohol. Also reviewed are several ways in which these harmful interactions can occur: 1/ Medications Can Increase Alcohol Blood Levels 2/ Additive effects of medications and alcohol. One of the best- known drug-alcohol interactions is when alcohol, a depressant, is taken with other sedative medications, and excessive sedation or depression of respiration can occur 3/Alcohol can increase the blood levels of some medications leading to toxicity of these drugs. 4/ Alcohol also can reduce blood levels of some medications causing them to be less effective. Although some of the interactions between alcohol and medications mainly occur in people who drink heavily (three or more drinks on one occasion), many of these interactions may occur with much lower amounts of alcohol use, such as one to two drinks on an occasion. We strongly urge you to tell your physicians and other health care providers how much alcohol you are drinking so they can effectively assess the risks and advise you about the safe use of alcohol and medications.
Don't Get Sold By Drug Ads on TV, Says Study
May 2007
Not only does this study find that consumer drug ads are not educational, it also says that the ads may oversell the benefits of the drugs and could put the public health in danger. For example, of the 24 drugs included in this advertising study, seven are listed as Do Not Use in Worst Pills, Best Pills publications. You should not rely on direct-to-consumer television advertisements as a source of drug information.