[nradov]

That's why we have doctors, to weigh the risks versus benefits and prescribe treatment in the patient's best interest.

I suspect that some of the worst side effects might have genetic risk factors. Hopefully researchers will determine whether people with particular genes are at greater risk of suffering mental problems from Ambien.

[codewithcheese]

I think doctors as a group of individuals have proven they can't be trusted to weigh the risks. Consider the opiods epidemic as an example

There must be better alternatives to get a good nights sleep.

OP description of " I renewed prescriptions and would actually think ahead to the moment when I got to enjoy an Ambien." sound a lot like early stage addiction.

[Nasrudith]

The one which the majority of addicts started from street users? Doctors seem to be the convenient scapegoat especially considering that ironically cracking down on pill mills has proven to be a 'we need bigger morgues' disaster with the iron law of prohibition resulting in fentanyl taking its place.

While pill mills aren't ideal clearly they were a form of harm reduction of sorts by ensuring very regularly measured doses - still possible to overdose of course but that is from upping it or taking it again too soon as opposed to having 'one dose' which is more like ten of the normal.

The absolute sickest part of it all is that despite this addicts can get more than enough painkillers yet the quixotic knee-jerk 'Do something! This is something lets do it!' crackdowns are hurting the actual chronic pain patients.

[nradov]

If we can't trust doctors then we have a much bigger problem that can't be solved by banning medicines which the FDA has determined to be safe and effective for treating certain conditions. While there's room for improvement in medical care standards, issues with a handful of drugs aren't sufficient evidence to provoke distrust. Most doctors get it right more often than wrong.

[boomboomsubban]

>Consider the opiods epidemic as an example

The one where drug companies actively lied about both how addictive their drugs were and the best way that they should be prescribed? Doctors aren't perfect, and there are some that are truly terrible, but in general their opinion is trustworthy.

[fhood]

I am hella addicted to amazon then. Holy shit.

[mikec3010]

Doctors did fine prescribing opioids in the 70s and 80s. They're not the cause of this epidemic.

[icantdrive55]

Yea--I'm not blaming doctors, nor drug companies.

Americans are misserable on so many levels. I believe most people who really liked opiates, are also very depressed.

Life in America, since the 80'-90's has been not great for many of us.

I'm not suprised people liked a drug that lifted the depression, and completely took away the anxiety.

[cortesoft]

So who should you trust to weigh risks? Every group that needs to weigh risks sometimes gets it wrong, that is what makes something a risk (uncertainty)

[TheSpiceIsLife]

Fairly sure the opioid epidemic isn't caused doctors sometimes getting it wrong.

[gameswithgo]

I am sure some doctors share the opinion that maybe we shouldn't ever use ambien.