Ambien Class Action Gets FDA Support: FDA Directs Sanofi-Aventis to Warn Consumers About Sleep Eating and Sleep Driving

On March 6, 2006, Susan Chana Lask, Counsel for the Ambien Consumers, Filed the Federal Class Action for Better Warnings & Relief is Now in Sight

New York, NY (PRWEB) March 15, 2007 -- New York City Attorney Susan Chana Lask filed a class action complaint (www.appellate-brief.com/media/AmbienClassAct.html) in the Southern District of New York on March 6, 2006, Index No. 06CV1672, maintaining the warnings by Sanofi Aventis were inadequate. Today she has a major victory on her side for her class of thousands of people nationwide - the FDA in a March 14, 2007 news release informs it has directed Sanofi-Aventis to strengthen warnings on their labels about the two rare but serious side effects that Ms. Lask's class complaint alleged since last year:

-Complex sleep-related behaviors which may include sleep-driving, making phone calls, and preparing and eating food (while asleep).

The purpose of our lawsuit was to insure Ambien warns consumers and doctors about the potential side effects of sleep walking and sleep eating because it is unfair for this huge manufacturer to make billions from the 26 million or so prescriptions of their product a year and not provide that simple warning. Clearly the FDA agreed with my position.

The FDA directed the manufacturer to write letters to doctors to notify them of the new warnings, and all prescription sleeping pills now will come with special brochures called "Medication Guides" that spell out the risks for patients in easy-to-understand language. The FDA website explains more for consumers.

Ms. Lask made public these dangerous side effects last year by her filing of the class Action and her subsequent campaign to get stronger warnings for consumers who became what she termed "Ambien Zombies". Ms. Lask's Complaint alleged that taking Ambien for a good night's sleep did not happen as advertised for many consumers, but instead they woke up only to find themselves in jail, driving cars while in a hypnotic state and binge eating at night while their spouses shoveled food from their mouths.

Attorney Susan Chana Lask explains, "The purpose of our lawsuit was to insure Ambien warns consumers and doctors about the potential side effects of sleep walking and sleep eating because it is unfair for this huge manufacturer to make billions from the 26 million or so prescriptions of their product a year and not provide that simple warning. Clearly the FDA agreed with my position."
      
A press conference will be held Thursday, March 15, 2007 at 10 A.M. at the Southern District of New York Courthouse steps at Centre Street, New York City where the press can view thousands of the complaints in this action, get details of the class action and get up to date information regarding the action and what will occur next for consumers nationwide.

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