Patrick Kennedy Ambien Arrest Brings New Attention to William Head’s Legal Defense Experience
Is sleep driving a reality?
U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy's claim he had taken prescribed doses of the sleep aid Ambien and an anti-nausea medication before his accident outside the capitol Thursday raised awarness about claims the drug and nocturnal activity.
One Minnesota doctor says he has documented dozens of cases in which people were found sleepwalking after taking Ambien.
What these people claim to be doing in their sleep is putting themselves and everyone else at risk.
Police video shows a man taking field sobriety test after being stopped by officers - he appears drunk, but he may actually be asleep.
He says he was sleep driving the night he was arrested -- after taking two Ambien tablets.
"I went to bed. I was reading. The next thing I know, there was a police man at my car door," said the man - who wants to remain anonymous.
According to him, he doesn't even remember getting into the car.
"At some point, I got up. I got dressed. I came downstairs. I got my car keys," he says. "I drove to the grocery store that is probably three minutes away from home. That's where the police report says."
His case is on appeal after being convicted for driving under the influence.
"He took it for the first time and the next thing he knows, he is in
handcuffs," says Attorney William C. Head.
All this might sound bizarre, but Judie Evans says she knows just what those people are talking about. Six years ago, the 59-year-old grandmother started taking Ambien for insomnia.
"I would go to sleep and I would sleep all night long. At least I thought I was asleep," Evans says.
A few weeks later, her son caught her turning on the oven and stove, and taking food from the refrigerator in her sleep.
"I was afraid I could have burned myself, killed myself, killed other people," she says. "I don't remember a thing."
Evans says she stopped taking Ambien, and the sleepwalking stopped.
Doctor Carlos Schenk says he has documented 32 cases of people with no previous history of sleepwalking - who began sleepwalking including walking, eating, even driving while sleeping under the influence of Ambien.
"These people remember nothing," Schenk says. "Ambien causes does increase slow wave sleep and that is linked to sleepwalking."
Doctors wrote more than 26 million prescriptions for Ambien last year, making it far and away the most used sleeping pill.
In a statement, Ambien's manufacturer - Sanofi-Aventis - said it could not comment on specific cases, adding this:
"It is important to emphasize that although sleepwalking may occur during treatment with Ambien, it may not necessarily be caused by it. It is difficult to determine with certainty whether a particular instance of sleepwalking is drug-induced, spontaneous in origin, or a result of an underlying disorder."
There is no large study to gauge the risk. But for the vast majority of Ambien users, Dr. Schenk says don't worry, and to follow the warning labels provided with prescriptions.
"Even a sip of alcohol with Ambien could be dangerous...even a sip," Schenk says.
And if you ever do sleepwalk after taking the drug, you should stop taking it. This man wishes he had.
"I had no intention on driving. And I want people to know that. In particular, the judge that hears my appeal."
