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Daniel F. Kripke, M.D.'s article, based on a compilation of studiesinvolving sleeping pills and cancer, has just been published in the Journal ofSleep Research. It appears with an editorial authored by Dr. Gary D. Friedman,an epidemiologist at Stanford University's School of Medicine and adjunctinvestigator at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program who has vastexperience in investigating the carcinogenic effects of drugs.
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The effects of 556 person-years of taking either zaleplon (Sonata),Eszopiclone (Lunesta), ramelteon (Rozerem) and zolpidem (Ambien) wereassessed, compared to a control group who took a placebo over 230person-years. Kripke found eight non-melanoma skin cancers and four tumors ofuncertain malignancy in the groups that took sleeping pills compared to nonein the placebo groups.
Lab animals given high doses of hypnotic drugs are known to have developedkidney, thyroid and testicular cancers and suffer chromosome damage, which isa sign of carcinogenicity. Although a direct causal link between cancer andsleeping pills has still not been proven, Kripke urges additional studies aswell as serious epidemiological investigations, given the fact that sleepingpill use is constantly rising and three new types have been put on the marketin addition to Ambien (zolpidem), the most popular brand used in the UnitedStates.
"Because the compilation mixes diverse studies of several drugs and thenumber of cancers observed during controlled hypnotics trials remains small,"Kripke writes, "this preliminary analysis should be viewed as an investigativestep, rather than sufficient proof that modern hypnotics cause cancer."
But both he and Friedman -- who congratulated Kripke for raising thisimportant issue even though the reviewer remained somewhat skeptical of acausal link -- urge caution and suggest that regulatory bodies and the U.S.National Institutes of Health keep an eye on cancer cases reported by sleepingpill users.
The Journal of Sleep Research is published by Wiley-Blackwell and can beaccessed online at http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/jsr
ABOUT SCRIPPS CLINIC
Founded in 1924, Scripps Clinic is a multi-specialty, outpatient carefacility caring for patients at multiple locations throughout San Diego Countyincluding Torrey Pines, Del Mar, Encinitas, La Jolla, Mission Valley, RanchoBernardo, Rancho San Diego and Santee. Scripps Clinic and its physicians areworld-renown for research-driven care and medical specialty expertise and isan operating unit of Scripps Health, a not-for-profit, community-based healthcare delivery network that includes more than 2,600 affiliated physicians,five acute-care hospitals, home health care and associated support services.Scripps Health is one of the largest health care organizations in San DiegoCounty, drawing from the expertise of more than 10,000 health careprofessionals.
HIGHLIGHTS:
A researcher at Scripps Clinic has published an article in the Journal ofSleep Research indicating that people who use popular prescription sleepingpills are more likely to develop cancer than those who do not use sleepingpills.
AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS:
-- Daniel Kripke, M.D., study author, Co-Director for Research, ScrippsClinic Sleep Center
SOURCE Scripps Clinic
