By: LISA R. WILSON
A man who froze to death in Wisconsin while sleepwalking outdoors was found to have a bottle of Ambien in his bedroom, but it has not been determined whether he took the medication on the night of his death.
Timothy Brueggeman, 51, was found outside his rural home Tuesday morning when the temperature was minus 16 degrees. He was wearing only underwear and a fleece shirt, and died of hypothermia, authorities said.
Ambien, the most-prescribed sleeping pill in the nation, has been linked to hundreds of cases of sleepwalking, sleep-driving and even sleep-shoplifting.
Brueggeman’s mother, Geraldine Brueggeman, said she advised him to quit taking Ambien last summer after he drove his pickup truck without waking up.
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Cases involving similar situations resulting from the PRESCRIBED dosages of this pharmaceutical are far too common. The sad thing is many physicians who prescribe this medication, are still under the impression that Ambien has a “safer” neuro-chemical” effect than the closely related, more habit-forming alternatives. (ie. benzodiazepines ) It is quite obvious that this simply is not the case. The threshold for “blacking-out” while under the influence of Ambien is extremely lower than any benzodiazepine currently prescribed. I hate to say it, but I honestly feel as if the potentially habit-forming benzodiazepines like Clonazepam or Diazepam should be the primary alternatives to Ambien for individuals seeking sleep aid.
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i am a regular user of the nite time sleep aid ambien. i have coplete black outs and fall asleep while doing things one day i fall asleep while working and seriosly injured myselfi also have horrible menory lost. can you tell me if i can get compensation for this defective drug problem? thank you
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