Spontaneous Adverse Event Reports Associated with Zolpidem in the United States 2003–2012

Abstract

Although our results indicate that zolpidem reports have higher odds for the ADR of interest even before the media publicity cluster, negative media coverage greatly exacerbated the reporting of these adverse reactions. The effect of such reporting must be borne in mind when decisions around drugs which have been the subject of intense media publicity are made by health professionals or regulatory bodies.

Time Trends in the Family Physician Management of Insomnia: The Australian Experience (2000–2015)

“…22,25 Between 2009 and 2015, insomnia management remained stable at a lower rate. Over the study period there was no change in the proportion of female patients (approximately 62%) but there was a change in the age distribution of patients managed for insomnia.…”

“…The apparent decrease in the management rate of "old" insomnia problems between 2006 to 2008 was not statistically significant using the nonoverlapping 95% CI rule. However, because of our previous observations about the stimulated reporting event year, 22,25 we then decided to apply the same z test to data pooled before and af- …”

“…23,24 Only the United States and Australia seem to have been subject to sustained media interest in these side effects. 21,25 In Australia, from April 1998 to March 2016, FP activity was monitored by the Bettering the Evaluation And Care of Health (BEACH) program, 26 an annual nationally representative cross-sectional survey of FP clinical activity. Earlier cross-sectional analyses of these data (2006)(2007)(2008) 27 found that pharmacotherapy was prescribed by FPs at a rate of 95.2 medications per 100 insomnia problems.…”

“…Earlier cross-sectional analyses of these data (2006)(2007)(2008) 27 found that pharmacotherapy was prescribed by FPs at a rate of 95.2 medications per 100 insomnia problems. Since that report was published, significant changes in insomnia management are likely to have occurred due to the zolpidem-related stimulated reporting event 21,22,25,28 and the introduction of important new hypnotics such as slow-release melatonin (marketed as Circadin in Europe since 2007 and Australia since 2009). 29,30 In addition, there have been anecdotal reports of off-label prescriptions of low doses (50 mg) of the antipsychotic quetiapine (tradename: Seroquel) for insomnia.…”

Pharmacists' perceptions and communication of risk for alertness impairing medications

“…10,11 Many AIMs are also often implicated in cases of accidental poisoning. 12 Much research in the area of risk management (e.g.…”