Ambien has come under scrutiny following recent claims about Joe Biden’s use of the popular sleep aid.
In a recent interview, Hunter Biden suggested that Ambien could have contributed to his father’s cognitive struggles during the 2024 presidential debate.
Hunter Biden stated, “He’s 81 years old. He’s tired as heck. They give him Ambien to be able to sleep. He gets up on stage, and he looks like he’s a deer in the headlights. And it feeds into a story that anybody wants to tell.”
Concerns have been raised about the potential use of Ambien by the former president, as the drug has been associated with memory problems and daytime grogginess.
Ambien, also known as zolpidem, is a prescription medication for insomnia that is meant for short-term use only.
Some of the serious and rare side effects of Ambien can include hallucinations, abnormal thinking and behavior, and a possible increased risk of dementia in older adults.
Salena Zito, a political reporter and author, expressed surprise at the president’s alleged use of Ambien, stating, “For the guy who’s supposed to answer the 3 a.m. phone calls — it’s bewildering.”
The prescription information for Ambien warns of potential impairment of activities requiring mental alertness, such as operating machinery or driving a vehicle.
The Federal Aviation Administration advises pilots and aircrew not to fly within 24 hours of taking a sleep aid.
Operators of heavy equipment and machinery are also advised to refrain from operating machinery within seven to eight hours of taking Ambien, due to delayed cognitive and motor recovery.
Commercial truck drivers should also exercise caution when taking prescription sleep aids, as these medications can affect safe operation of a vehicle.
Experts recommend caution for law enforcement, first responders, and medical workers in acute healthcare settings due to the risk of slowed reaction time and errors in judgment.
For military personnel, the Department of Defense requires a minimum of seven hours of sleep per night for military readiness and has cautioned against the negative side effects of sleep aids.
Fox News Digital reached out to Joe Biden’s representatives and to Cosette Pharmaceuticals, the current manufacturer of Ambien, for comment.
