Military Officer - December 2006 - (Page 68)

A ADVERTISEME NTS FOR — are advised to consult their health care provider. In some cases, this opens important patient-physician communication, but it also implies that every “yes” equates to a medical problem. Dr. Jon Schommer, pharmacist and professor at the University of Minnesota’s College of Pharmacy, laments what he terms the “medicalization” of ordinary human experience. “ ‘Medicalization’ is the idea there is a pill for every ill,” he says. “In the normal aging process, we will be sad sometimes, we will be agitated, [and] our hair may fall out. But now drugs are increasingly available to treat ailments or symptoms once considered a normal part of life.” sleep-inducing medications, such as zolpidem (Ambien), zaleplon (Sonata), and eszopiclone (Lunesta), feature persuasive images like softly ﬂuttering moths and perfectly coiffed young women joyfully greeting a sunny morning. Some ads have a list of questions, and those who answer “yes” to at least one — i.e., almost everyone promptly or stay asleep throughout the night believe they have problem insomnia — a perception whetted by advertising. In 2005 alone, for instance, Americans spent $2.75 billion on prescription insomnia medications, according to IMS Health, or newspapers, risks often are disclosed in bifocal-defying small print. The most serious problems associated with sleep medications are driving while drowsy and falling because of dizziness. Side effects might include confusion, memory impairment, lack of alertness during the day, and liver and kidney malfunction. Less likely side effects include hallucinations, agitation, worsening depression, suicidal thoughts, and sleepwalking. Schommer cites the extreme case of a woman who gained nearly 100 pounds because she was leaving bed and eating during the night without remembering it. Others claim to have driven or shoplifted in their sleep while taking these medications. There are several reasons older people suffer more side effects. ■ They tend to get up more frequently during the night when drowsiness or dizziness, compounded by medication, can lead to falls. ■ Metabolism often lowers with age, so medications could stay in the system longer, lingering until morning. ■ They are likely to be taking multiple prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that might interact with sleep medications. ■ They are likely to have a decreased thirst sensation or restrict ﬂuid intake so they won’t have to Statistics show that people 65 and older … are most likely to experience side effects. a pharmaceutical information company. That’s more than double the expenditures of 2001. And there are risks. Statistics show that people 65 and older not only have the highest percentage of sleep medication usage but also are most likely to experience side effects. The FDA requires advertisements to present a balance of beneﬁts and risks information. But Schommer cites the tendency to remember what you heard ﬁrst and last. “Risks are mentioned,” he says, “but [on TV] it’s in the middle, when the ad gets very boring.” In magazines Times have changed “Until the close of the early modern era, Western Europeans experienced two major intervals of sleep bridged by up to an hour or more of quiet wakefulness on most evenings,” says historian Dr. A. Roger Ekirch, in his recent book, At Day’s Close (W.W. Norton & Co., 2005). People, he explains, rose from bed to answer nature’s call, pray, make love, or even visit nearby neighbors before returning to slumber. If this surprises you, it’s a sign of how different things are today. Many people who don’t fall asleep 68 MILITARY OFFICER DECEMBER 2006

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - December 2006

From the Editor From the President Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Cover Story: How to Fund the Future Martial Lore Good Night, Sleep Tight Mixed Review Information Exchange Advertising Index Member Books MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps MOAA Member Services

Military Officer - December 2006

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