Newspaper Page Text
INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS
Ambien CR* 6
MpMew tartrate extended-release tablets)
iwwiMTiaHHH wmensnimr imunoi
Your doctor has prescribed Ambwn CR to help vou sleep The bl owing infor
mation is intended to guide vou in the safe use of this medic-ne It is not
meant to take the pface of your doctor's instructions. If you have am questions
about Ambien CR tablets be sure to ask vour doctor or pharmacist.
Ambien CR is used to treat different hues of steep problems, such as.
• trouble tailing asleep
• waking up often dunng the night
Some people may have more than one ol these problems
Ambien CR belong, to a group of medicines known as the 'sedative/
hypnotics' or simpK. sleep medicines. There are mam different sleep
medicines mailable to help people sleep better Sleep problems are usualh
temporary, lequmng treatment for only a short time, usualh 1 or 2 davs up to
1 or 2 weeks Some people have chronic seep problems that mas require
more prolonged use of sleep medicine However, you should not use these
medicines for long periods without talking with vour doctor about the risks
and benefits of prolonged use
MXffKCTS
Most common side effects:
• headache
• somnolence sleepiness
• dimness
You may find that these medicines make vou sleepy dunng the dav How
drowsy vou feel depends upon how your bodv reacts to the medicine, whuh
sleep medicine you are taking, and how large a dose vour doctor has
prescribed Davtime drowsiness is best avoided by taking the lowest dose
possible that will still help you sleep at night Your doctor will work with vou
to find the dose of Ambien CR that is best for vou.
To manage these side effects while vou are taking this medicine:
• tt hen vou first start taking Ambien CR or anv other sleep mode me until vou
know whether the medicine will still have some carry over ehect in you the
nett day. use extreme care while doing anvthmg that requires complete
alertness, such as driving a car operating machinery or pilot ng an aircraft
• NEVER drink alcohol while you are being treated with Amtnen CR or any
sleep medicine Aicoboi can increase the s.de effects of Amijien CR or anv
other sleep medicine.
• Do not take anv other medicines without asking vour doctor first This
includes medicines vou can buy without a prescription Some medicines
can cause drowsiness and are best avoided while taking Ambien CR.
• Alwavs take the exact dose of Ambien CR prescribed by vour doctor Never
change your dose without talking to vour doctor first
SfECML CONCERNS
There are some special problems that may occur while taking sleep medicines.
“Sleep-Onving" and other complex behaviors: "here have been reports
of people getting out ol bed after taking a sleep medicine and driving their
cars while not fully awake, often with no memory of the event If you experi
ence such an event, it should be reported to your doctor immediately, since
'sleep-driving' can be dangerous This behavior is more likely to occur when
Ambien CR is taken with alcohol or other drugs such as those for the treatment
of depression or anxiety Other complex behaviors such as arepanng and
eating food, making phone calls, or having sex have been reported in people
who are not fully awake after taking a sleep medicine As with 'sleep-driving',
people usually do not remember these events
Memory problems: Sleep medicines may cause a special type of memory loss
or 'amnesia" When this occurs, a person may not remember what has
happened for several hours after taking the medicine This is usually not a
problem vnee most people fall asleep after taking the medicine
Memory loss can be a problem however, when sleep medicines are taken
while traveling, such as during an airplane flight and the pe'son wakes up
before the effort of the medicine is gone This has been called 'travelers
amnesia'
8c sure to talk to vour doctor if vou think vou are having memory problems
Although memory problems are not very common while taking Ambien CR. in
most instances, they can be avoided if vou take Ambien CR onh- when you are
able to get a full night's sleep 7 to 8 hours before you need to l>e active again
Tolerance: When sleep medicines are used every night for more than a few
weeks they mav lose tlieir effectiveness to help vou sleep This is known as
‘tolerance' Sleep medic ines should, in most cases, be used only for short
periods of time, such as 1 or 2 davs and generally no longer than 1 or 2 weeks.
If vour sleep problems continue consult vour doctor who will determine
whether other measures are needed to overcome vour sleep problems
Dependence: sleep medicines can cause dependence, especially when these
medicines arc used regularly for longer than a few weeks ot at high doses
Some people develop a need to continue taking their medicines this is known
as dependence or 'addiction'
When people develop dependence they mav have difficulty stopping the
sleep medicine. If the medicine is suddenly stopped, the boev is not able to
function normally and unpleasant symptoms mav occur see Withdniwal).
Thev mav find that thev have to keep taking the medicine cither at the
prescribed dose or at increasing doses )usl to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
All people taking sleep medicines have some risk of becoming dependent on
the medicine However, people who have been dependent on alcohol or other
drugs in the past may have a higher rhance of becoming addicted to sleep
med Kines This possibility must be considered before using rbese medicines
for more than a few weeks
If you have been addicted to alcohol or drugs in the past, it is important to tell
your doctor beforp starting Ambien CR or anv skrp medicine
Copyright, sanofi-aventrs I S. LIC 2007 AMB-APRO7 IFP-Ab
/4MBENCR'
RELEASE USfllfn
Withdrawal: Withdrawal symptoms mav occur when sleep medicines
are stopped suddenly after being used daily for a long time In some cases,
these symptoms can occur even if the medicine has been used for only a week
or two
In mild cases, withdrawal symptoms mav include unpleasant feelings In more
severe cases, abdominal and muscle cramps, vomiting, sweating, shakiness,
and rareh. seizures mav occur These more severe withdrawal symptoms are
very uncommon
Another problem that mav occur when sleep medicines are stopped is known
as 'rebound insomnia" This means that a person may have more trouble
sleeping the first few nights after the medicine is stopped than before starting
the medicine !f you should experience rebound insomnia, do not get
discouraged This problem usually goes away on its own after 1 or 2 nights
If vou have been taking Ambien CR or anv other sleep medicine for more than
1 or 2 weeks, do not stop taking it on your own Always follow vour doctor s
directions.
Changes in behavior and thinking: Some people using sleep medicines have
experienced unusual changes in their thinking and/or behavior these effects
arc not common However, thev have included:
• more outgoing or aggressive behavior than normal
• confusion
• strange behavior
• agitation
• hallucinations
• worsening of depression
• suicidal thoughts
How often these effects occur depends on several factory such as a person s
general health, the use of other medicines, and which sleep medicine is being
used
It is also important to realize that it is rarely clear whether these behavior
changes are caused bv the medicine, an illness, or occur on their own In fact,
sleep problems that do not improve may be due to illnesses that were present
before the medicine was used. If vou or vour family notice any changes in vour
behavior, or if you have any unusual or disturbing thoughty cail vour doctor
immediately
Pregnancy: Sleep medicines may cause sedation of the unborn baby when
used dunng the last weeks of pregnancy
Be sure to tell vour doctor if vou are pregnant, if you are planning to become
pregnant, or if you become pregnant while taking Ambien CR.
SAfE USE Of SLEEPIN6 MEDICINES
To ensure the safe and effective use of Ambien CR or any other sleep medicine,
vou should observe the following cautions:
1 Ambien CR is a prescription medicine and should be used ONLY as directed
by vour doctor Follow your doctor s instructions about how to take, when
to take, and how long to take Ambien CR Ambien CR tablets should not
be divided, crushed, or chewed, and must be swallowed whole
2. Never use Ambien CR or am other sleep medicine for longer than directed
by your doctor
3. If vou develop an allergic reaction such as rash, hives, shortness of breath
or swelling of vour tongue or throat when using Ambren CR or anv other
sleep medicine discontinue Ambien CR or other sleep medicine immedi
ateh' and contact your doctor
I If vou notice any unusual and'or disturbing thoughts or behavior
during treatment with Ambien CR or anv other sleep medicine, contact
vour doctor
5. Tell vour doctor about any medicines vou may be taking, including
medicines vou mav buy without a prescription. You should also tell your
doctor if vou drink alcohol DO NOT use alcohol while taking Ambien C R
or any other sleep medicine
6. Do not take Ambien CR unless vou are able to get a full night s sleep before
vou must be active again For example. Ambien CR should not be taken on
an overnight airplane flight ot less than 7 to 8 hours since 'travelers
amnesia' mav occur
7. Do not increase the prescribed dose of Ambien CR or anv other sleep
medicine unless instructed bv vour doctor
8 When vou first start taking Ambien CR or any otlier sleep medicine, until
vou know whether the medicine will still have some carryover effect in you
tfie next dav use extreme care while doing anything that requires
complete alertness, such as driving a car. operating machinery , or piloting
an aircraft
9 Be aware that you mav have more sleeping problems the first night after
stopping Ambien CR or anv other sleep medicine
10 Be sure to tell your doctor if vou are pregnant, if vou are planning to
become pregnant, or if vou become pregnant while taking Ambien CR or
anv other sleep medicine
II As with all prescr'ption medicines, never share Ambien CR or any other
sleep medicine with anvonc else Always store Ambien CR or anv other
sleep medicine in the original container that you received it in and store
it out ol reach of children
12. Ambien CR works very quicklv you should only take Ambien CR right
before going to bed and are readv to go to sleep
Ambien CR' €
/olpidcm tartrate extended release tablets)
sanofi-aventis U S LLC
Revised April 2007 Bridgewater. NJ 08807
UjilSjlw
ggjK Iff ip Ilf §£ lf| TSk
Shopping
tips from
an expert
A mall guru shares strategies
for your holiday haul.
BY NATALIE ERMANN RUSSELL
YOU’RE EITHER the type ♦
of person who would call the <
frenetic energy at the mall ’
during the holidays “holiday spirit,” or
you’d call it “chaos.” Either way, you can
streamline the shopping experience to
make it low-stress, highly productive and,
dare we say, fun. Here, Dan Jasper of Mall
of America (aka MOA, the largest retail and
entertainment complex in the United
States, located just outside of St. Paul
and Minneapolis) shares his tips for suc
cess at the mall.
■ MAKE A PLAN. A good plan often stalls
with a list of who you would like to buy
gifts for, what those gifts may be, which
stores are likely to carry them and the
expected cost. This will help you coordi
nate your trip and keep a better handle
on your budget. Then, go online to find
a map of the mall so you can determine
which stores are near each other and in
what order you will visit them.
■ FIGURE OUT WHAT DAY AND TIME WOULD
BE BEST FORTHEVtSIT. At the MOA, crowds
are usually the smallest on Mondays and
Tbesdays. The same is probably true at
your local mall.
■ DON'T PARK IN THE FIRST SPOT YOU SEE.
Instead, (hive to one of the top levels.
The upper levels usually fill up last, so
you’ll be one of the first cars there, and
you can select a space that’s close and
convenient to the elevator or stairs.
■ START ON THE MALL'S TOP FLOOR AND
WORK YOUR WAY DOWN. Almost everyone
else stalls shopping on the first floor,
which is usually the most crowded. And
14
USA WEEKEND • Nov. 16-18,2007
AbW/
Qi ra&Pl. ft m
\ MESIIX
4SPj; % ■
♦♦♦ HK 4 ffisSSkfiP’ i
* * * MWnrfW mtwrVllr f
i♦ ♦ ♦
* ♦ ♦ ♦ mWmW
be sure to avoid food courts during the
hectic lunch and dinner horn's. Instead,
consider making a reservation ahead of
time at a restaurant in the mall.
■ ALLOW SOME TIME FOR BROWSING. You
might stumble across the perfect gift for
someone that you’d never have thought
of. Leisurely browsing also gives you an
opportunity to reflect on the joy of the
season. And who knows—you might find
a nice little treat for yourself.
■ TAKE A BREAK. Whether you stop to eat
a meal, grab a snack, or simply sit and
rest your feet, we all benefit from taking
breaks. It’s also a great chance to do
some people-watching.
■ BREAK UP YOUR SHOPPING INTO AT LEAST
TWO TRIPS. This approach will reduce
the stress and help you better enjoy the
experience of shopping for loved ones. It
also gives you a chance, at home, to assess
the gifts you purchased and think about
what else might complement them, which
you can pick up on your next trip.
■ KEEP PERSONAL SAFETY IN MIND. Always
be aware of your surroundings while
you’re out shopping. Keep your purse
secure, such as by putting a chair leg
through the strap when you’re sitting
for a meal. And don’t be afraid to ask a
mall employee for some assistance if you
need it. ca
Natalie Ekmann Russell last wrote about
holiday entertaining.