Young people using more sleeping pills

A new study says more and more young adults and children are being prescribed sleeping pills.

The use of prescription sleeping pills among people ages 20 to 44 doubled from 2000 to 2004, according to an analysis of insurance claims by Medco Health Solutions, which administers prescription drug plans, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

The number of children who were on sleep medication rose 85 percent during that time.

The Medco analysis found that 15 percent of the children with prescriptions for sleeping medications also were taking drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The drugs used to treat ADHD, with one exception, are stimulants that can cause insomnia. A child could be taking a stimulant during the day and a depressant to sleep at night.

"It kinds of gets you into this vicious cycle," said Lynn D'Andrea, a professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin who is board certified in pediatric pulmonology and sleep medicine.

© Copyright 2005 by United Press International