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Recent claims have put Ambien in the spotlight, particularly regarding Joe Biden’s alleged use of this popular sleep aid.
Hunter Biden, in an interview with YouTube host Andrew Callaghan, suggested that Ambien might have played a role in his father’s cognitive struggles during the 2024 presidential debate.
“He’s 81 years old. He’s tired as heck. They give him Ambien to help him sleep,” stated the former president’s son. “He goes on stage and appears lost. It adds fuel to any narrative people want to spin.”
Concerns have been raised about the potential use of Ambien by the former president, as the drug has been associated with memory issues and daytime drowsiness.
Ambien, known generically as zolpidem, is a prescription medication designed for short-term use, according to GoodRx.
In an interview released this week, Hunter Biden alleged that the sleeping pills could have contributed to his father’s apparent cognitive struggles during the first 2024 presidential debate. (Getty Images)
Some of the more severe and rare side effects of Ambien include hallucinations, abnormal thoughts and behavior, and a possible increased risk of dementia in older adults.
During an appearance on “Fox and Friends,” political reporter and author Salena Zito expressed her thoughts on the president’s alleged use of Ambien.
“For the guy who’s expected to answer 3 a.m. calls, it’s puzzling,” she remarked. “I can’t imagine a doctor prescribing that to a president, and I doubt this has been kept under wraps.”
Who should avoid taking Ambien?
The prescription information for this medication warns of potential impairment of activities requiring full mental alertness, such as operating machinery or driving a vehicle, which could persist until the following day after ingestion.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advises pilots and aircrew not to fly within 24 hours of taking a sleep aid.
“For the guy who’s supposed to answer the 3 a.m. phone calls — it’s bewildering.”
“All currently available sleep aids, whether prescription or over-the-counter, can lead to impaired mental processes and reaction times, even if the individual feels fully awake,” states the agency in its guidelines on flying after taking sleep aids.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) states that pilots and aircrew should not fly within 24 hours of taking a sleep aid. (iStock)
Individuals operating heavy equipment or machinery should refrain from doing so within seven to eight hours, or ideally until the following day, after taking Ambien due to delayed cognitive and motor recovery, as per the medication’s prescribing information.
Commercial truck drivers should also follow these precautions.
For drivers using a prescription sleep aid, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires a medical examiner to review each medication and request a letter from the prescribing physician to ascertain whether the drug could negatively impact safe operation of a commercial vehicle.
For drivers taking a prescription sleep aid, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration states that a medical examiner will review each medication and request a letter from the prescribing doctor to determine whether the drug will “adversely affect safe operation” of a commercial motor vehicle. (iStock)
Experts also recommend caution for law enforcement, first responders, and medical personnel in acute healthcare settings due to the potential for slowed reaction time, cognitive impairment, and lapses in judgment.
“There may be instances when physicians require sleep aids, but not in a way that could interfere with their performance during procedures,” noted Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News’ senior medical analyst.
For military personnel, the Department of Defense mandates that service members get at least seven hours of sleep per night for military readiness.
The DOD has also highlighted the physiological and cognitive negative effects of sleep aids.
Fox News Digital has reached out to representatives of Joe Biden and Cosette Pharmaceuticals, the current manufacturer of Ambien, for their input.
