I believe I have been sleepwalking over the past few months. I have lived alone since my husband passed away. I wake up in the morning and find food in my bed. I have no recollection of going to the kitchen or eating. A few months ago, I was having trouble sleeping, so my health care provider put me on a medication called Zolpidem. Could there be a relationship?
A: Yes, there is most definitely a relationship. Zolpidem is the generic form of Ambien. Unfortunately, a side effect reported with Ambien is sleepwalking. Your form of sleepwalking is called sleep-related eating disorder, which can be caused by stress, sleep deprivation, sleep apnea and medications. In your case, Zolpidem sounds like the most likely cause. I would discuss this with your health care provider immediately.
Dear Dr. Rosenberg:
Every year we fly to England to visit our daughter. I have a hard time adjusting to the different time zone. Usually, my problem is that for several days, I cannot fall asleep until three or four a.m. Any ideas as to what I can do?
A: What you are describing is classic jet lag. An 11 p.m. bedtime in England would be 4 p.m. back home. It takes our internal circadian clock several days to adjust.
Here are some suggestions that should help:
• For three days just prior to leaving, go to bed one hour earlier each night until you are going to sleep three hours earlier on the third night.
• Try taking synthetic melatonin at about five to six o'clock in the evening at your destination for the first three days.
• Expose yourself to afternoon sunlight in England for the first few days, which will help to reset your circadian clock.
Dear Dr. Rosenberg:
I am 45 years old and I sleep only five hours a night, and have since I was in my 20s. This began with the birth of my first child. Recently, I was diagnosed with type two diabetes. Someone has suggested that the diabetes could be related to my lack of sleep. What do you think?
A: Recent studies have shown that sleep-deprived people (less than seven hours per night) have an increased incidence of obesity, hypertension, heart disease and diabetes. This is mainly due to abnormal levels of various hormones that occur as a result of sleep deprivation. I think it would be in your best interest to try to increase your time asleep. If you cannot do it on your own, seek professional help.
Dear Dr. Rosenberg:
I was recently diagnosed with emphysema. I have been using a medication called Temazepam to help me sleep for years. My doctor wants me off of it. He says in light of my lung condition it could be dangerous. Why is this?
A: Your physician is absolutely correct. The older sleeping pills like Temazepam are members of a class of drugs called Benzodiazepines. These medications tend to suppress breathing. They also tend to increase the airway's collapsibility by relaxing the muscles in the throat. Finally, they inhibit your response to lower oxygen levels while sleeping. If you must use a sleep aid, talk to your doctor about the newer medications such as Rozerem or Lunesta, which do not have these side effects.
Dr. Robert Rosenberg, board-certified sleep medicine specialist, will answer readers' questions by incorporating them in future columns. Contact him at askthesleepdoc@yahoo.com or via mail at the Sleep Disorders Center of Prescott Valley, 3259 N. Windsong Dr., Prescott Valley, AZ 86314.
