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Ban Stilnox, Imovane and related sleep medications

Ban Stilnox, Imovane and related sleep medications

4,028 signatures 972 to reach 5,000
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Started by Anonymous 18 years, 6 months ago
We, the undersigned, call upon the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to ban immediately zolpidem, zopiclone and all other non-benzodiazepine hypnotics for the treatment of insomnia and other sleep-related disorders. Zolpidem is one of the most frequently-prescribed hypnosedatives in the world. In Australia alone in 2006, approximately 1.2 million boxes of Stilnox (the most popular brand of sleeping tablets containing zolpidem) were dispensed, making it the second most commonly-prescribed sleeping tablet in the country. However, emerging post-marketing evidence suggests that Stilnox and other so-called \'z drugs\' (which also includes zopiclone and zaleplon) are associated with a range of neurological and psychiatric effects, including sleep walking, sleep driving, sleep eating and sleep sex. Other commonly reported side effects include hallucinations, nightmares, daytime drowsiness and fogginess, serious short-term memory loss, severe depression, weight loss, fatigue, loss of concentration, nervousness, confusion, anxiety and panic attacks, altered personality, loss of sexual inhibitions, paranoia, delusions, loss of rational thought, blackouts, amnesia, de-personalisation, addiction, self-mutilation, psychotic episodes and criminal behaviour. There have also been a significant number of reports in Australia and overseas of patients experiencing strong suicidal ideation, as well as several reports of attempted suicides, accidents occasioning death and completed \'suicides\'. Many of these side effects have the potential to impact not just on the individual taking the drug/s, but on other members of the public as well - particularly in the case of adverse reactions such as sleep driving. It has been reported that Stilnox is also commonly used as a recreational drug, with users taking it for its hallucinogenic and mind-altering effects. Additionally, recent reports that zolpidem has been successful in waking patients from long-term comas must surely alert the TGA to the fact that zolpidem is no ordinary sleep medication. Clearly, the potential side effects of zolpidem and zopiclone far outweigh the purported benefits, particularly when there are suitable alternatives on the market in the form of benzodiazapenes, and when there are many other remedies and therapies available to the general public for the treatment of insomnia. While the manufacturers of Stilnox and related drugs have been able to classify many of the serious side effects that presented themselves in clinical trials under the deceptively innocuous term \'complex sleep-related behaviour\', several other side effects that members of the public have reported experiencing could only ever be reported through anecdotal evidence, as it would obviously be highly unethical and dangerous to replicate such situations in a controlled clinical trial. Therefore, we believe that the TGA must start to take seriously the thousands of reports that have been made of the dangerous, and sometimes fatal reactions to these drugs. Both zolpidem and zopiclone have been listed on the WHO Drugs Schedule 5 Drugs of Dependence and Abuse since 2002. Unfortunately, as Australian doctors have not been alerted to this fact, these drugs are far more readily prescribed in Australia than in the UK, Europe and Canada. We strongly believe that the recent attempts by the TGA to increase warnings about the potential dangers of these drugs do not go far enough in alerting the general public to the serious and potentially devastating side effects these drugs can cause, nor do they fulfil the TGA\'s mandate for \'ensuring the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines in Australia\'. We urge the TGA to act according to its mandate to protect the Australian general public by immediately banning zolpidem, zopiclone and other non-benzodiazepine hypnotics for the treatment of insomnia and other sleep-related disorders.

Updates

Reached 2,500 supporters

February 15, 2008

February 13, 2008

we are almost at 2,500 signatures and i really need you to help me push this over the line today. if everyone who reads this sends the link to a few people we can hit that goal by tonight and show the tga we arent going anywhere.

February 4, 2008

im honestly blown away by how fast this is picking up steam. seeing so many people share their stories in the comments proves how necessary this push is.

Reached 1,000 supporters

February 1, 2008

January 31, 2008

just saw we hit 100 signatures today. i honestly didnt think this would get this much traction so fast but im glad people are paying attention to how dangerous these are.

Reached 100 supporters

January 28, 2008

62 Comments

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kylie smylie
11 years ago Featured

Yes ban Stilnox but please first put in place treatment facilities for people to go within Australia to withdraw from this drug ...I have been taking it for 8 years and cannot find any help to withdraw from it

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jj Murphang
12 years ago Featured

Your story is so tragic Maddy, my heart goes out to you.. I believe also that stilnox should be banned..In 2007 I almost lost my mind and life on it and my husband took his own life on it.. Not a coincidence this drug is dangerous.. Lives are definitely ruined.

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Rosalie Dworjanyn
12 years ago Featured

My son has been on stilnox then zopiclone for years and cant get off them. This has lead to anxiety, panic attacks, extreme mood swings, nightmares, inability to concentrate...so frustrating as because anytime i try to approach the many drs supplying they wont listen due to 'privacy'. So life destroying...

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laure
11 years ago

my sister killed herself because of this fucking medicine

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laure
11 years ago

my sister killed herself because of this fucking medicine

Troy Bradley

I can't believe these pills are still on the market. They are destroying lives everywhere and I'm glad to see someone has finally started this petition.

john aslanidis

I fully support this petition as I suffered from the horrendous side effects of this dreadfull drug,which led me to a psychiatric admission,it should be banned immediately

Amien

C'est vraiment dangereux ...

Anonymous

Should be banned immediately. My 67yr old mother is addicted to stilnox and will have every tablet of her script until none left, usually takes one week and then has a horrible time till the next month's script is ready. While this is happening the strangest behaviour occurs followed by severe short term mamory loss. Pls help,

Joan

Many doctors are irresponsible in prescribing stilnox. Please have this drug banned

Anonymous

It's not rocket science when the bad outweighs the good!

fuck off

Then how would I sleep? Stop drinking with them losers

saidi

Je prends aussi du zolpidem depuis longtemps et je suis très mal aujourd'hui j'ai de l'hypertension ,un andioegeme , troubles psychiques problemes de vision

Anjola Joly

Stilnox induces sleep and causes relaxation. It is used to treat sleep disorders such as trouble falling asleep, waking up many times during the night, or waking up too early in the morning. Stilnox is http://goo.gl/s2W1CW

Poppy May

I agree

Hassan

Le stilnox (zolpidem) m'a été prescrit ilya d plus de 6 ans aujourd'hui je souffre de problèmes de santé graves hypertension problèmes cardiaques paraisie faciale,etc et je suis ok pour l'interdiction de ce médicament. Je voudrais aussi vous envoyer mon dossier médical merci de me répondre à mon mail : [email protected]

richard brown

severe memory loss and long term depression

Craig Cavenett

Car accident, job loss, court appearances, thousands paid out in legal fees and car repairs. How many lives must be destroyed before Stilnox is banned!

marie white

The effects speak for themselves. This is a toxic effect therefore a toxin. What is there to discuss .

Bobby wenlock

This drug us hideous, i am seriously addicted to this stuff. Every single day i have to inject it directly into my scrotum, neck and anal cavity, effects come on within seconds and last all morning. I have also begun drugging livestock and children with this drug for sexual pleasures..

K

I'm interested to learn more about RCTs involving long-term use of Stilnox and recommendations for less-addicting alternatives, even though Stilnox is one of the least addicting strong sleep medications I know. I was prescribed Stilnox in 2009, and the doctor has prescribed it for me ever since. I use it sparingly, perhaps 5 pills a month, about once a week on that night when I've been in bed for hours and still can't fall asleep. I also use valerian root, camomile, yoga, meditation, accupuncture, ayurveda, etc. I am well versed in alternative medicine, but alas at times must take a drug, and Stilnox had the least side effects on me than other sleep aids. I never drink alcohol when I take Stilnox. I have experienced symptoms of sleep walking and even sleep using the computer. Reading over the article by SIOBHAN COSTIGAN and other media on this drug, I am interested to learn more about studies involving alternative treatments among patients who responded well to Stilnox. Please do consider viable and affordable alternatives.

MEZERAI HENDA

jj

Devon Xavior

Zopiclone made me sleep walk, sleep text, changed my character subconsciously and made me do things so out of character and I couldn't recall doing them afterwards. The OOC actions made me lose someone in my life, made me seem like a crazy person when I'm someone who sees "Responsible" as one of the most important character traits that define me as a person. I was prescribed Zopiclone by my doctor to ease my insomnia so I could have more energy at work and upcoming school. Both of us weren't aware that it could cause such dire side effects in me, it seemed to work so well for some patients. I'm didn't blame anyone, I could only blame my bad luck. However, I honestly do no wish that the things that happened to me will happen to another poor soul again, it can potentially destroy a person's life when he/she is just trying to recover from their illness. Please, stop the tactless distribution of drugs like this. Unless you have a way to check a patient's reaction to the drug, I.e. have them hospitalised for a week to monitor for side effects prior to officially prescribing them the drug; please withhold them from patients. One wrong prescription can make them lose faith in wanting to seek medical help altogether when it seemed like they're better off not trying to treat their illness if their efforts will backfire on them due to drugs like this.

Anonymous user

drugs do not work.

Amy Wild

Signing in your memory, Miread Costigan.

Grant

You could be right about these drugs being dangerous however it seems that many people take these drugs daily for months or years in a row and medication such as imovane is only supposed to be taken occasionally. Your doctors should have warned you about this and if they didn't then they are incompetent

Cecilia Kang

Ban Stilnox and Imovane

Suman Hedge

Stilnox has ruined my father’s life and wrecked our family forever. He is a different person when he takes it, selfish, aggressive, dangerous. It is by far the worst drug that is still legally available and it is a disgrace that it has not been banned.

B Hemmett

Caused tremors that have lasted 12 months, so far

Annake

I’ve whitnessed a friends life being turned upside down because of these drugs - we need to ban it PLEASE

Judy Kan

As an naturopath, I believe there are a lot of alternative to the drug.

Anonymous

My 52yo husband died 7 days ago, by falling off the 33rd floor of his hotel in a foreign country and he had taken Stilnox tabs, he wa a long term user of the drug and would doctor shop to get his prescriptions in Melbourne

Anonymous

thank you

Narelle

The medical profession called it suicide. I called Stilnox.

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Brad C
11 years ago

I have witnessed a beloved family member struggle with addiction with this drug over many years. They have a dramatic affect on her, and no longer work as a sedative, but an anxiety-triggering depressant and psychotic. She has been in and out of mental health care facilities several times, each time after prolonged use of Zolpidem. This drug is extremely addictive, personality changing, and has ruined our family. She is under the care of psychologists and has spent months in and out of hospitals, yet can't stop using them even when she tries - she always relapses. She doesn't smoke, drink and has never had any other addiction issues whatsoever. Please help us.

B
Brad C
11 years ago

I have witnessed a beloved family member struggle with addiction with this drug over many years. They have a dramatic affect on her, and no longer work as a sedative, but an anxiety-triggering depressant and psychotic. She has been in and out of mental health care facilities several times, each time after prolonged use of Zolpidem. This drug is extremely addictive, personality changing, and has ruined our family. She is under the care of psychologists and has spent months in and out of hospitals, yet can't stop using them even when she tries - she always relapses. She doesn't smoke, drink and has never had any other addiction issues whatsoever. Please help us.

K
kylie smylie
11 years ago

Yes ban Stilnox but please first put in place treatment facilities for people to go within Australia to withdraw from this drug ...I have been taking it for 8 years and cannot find any help to withdraw from it

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