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TV commercials for sleep meds don't give patients good advice

Respiratory Care Weekly, March 29, 2006

Television commercials promoting new prescription sleep meds give patients the wrong message, said Gail Newton, an associate professor of pharmacy practice at Purdue's School of Pharmacy in a promotion for this week's National Sleep Awareness Week. Sleep meds might help patients with a long-term chronic sleep problem get a good night's sleep while their physicians sort out the disorder's underlying cause. Ultimately, however, people must address the causes of the problem, which sometimes involves a trip to a sleep lab for analysis.

"One of the main factors in patients seeking these prescriptions is the constant direct-to-consumer advertising by the makers of these medications that is full of symbolism, but low on content, promising a great night's sleep," Newton said. "The fact is that for most suffering from occasional insomnia, behavioral changes or over-the-counter options are often just as effective and more appropriate."

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