A new study suggests that use of hypnotics could increase risk of stroke.  The case-control study compared 2,779 stroke patients with 27,790 controls and found use of hypnotics such as zolpidem and estazolam associated with 71% increased risk of stroke.

Another study suggests that receiving even less than 18 hypnotic pills per year could increase risk of death by 260%.  Those who used more than 132 pills per year were found at 430% increased risk of death.

Hypnotics, a class of psychoactive drugs used to treat insomnia, are used by 6 to 10% of U.S. adults in 2010.  The commonly used hypnotic drugs include zolpidem, temazepam, eszopiclone, zaleplon, other benzodiazepines, barbiturates and sedative antihistamines. (David Liu, PHD)

Lee CC, Tsai KY, Hung YT, Chou FH, Huang YS.  Association of hypnotics with stroke risk: a population-based case-control study.  Prim Care Companion CNS Disord.  Epub 2014 Mar 27.

Kripke DF, Langer RD, Kline LE.  Hypnotics' association with mortality or cancer: a matched cohort study.  BMJ Open. 2012 Feb 27;2(1): Print 2012.