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Article: Insomnia: drug makers see 'huge, numbers'.
- Article from:
- Providence Journal (Providence, RI)
- Article date:
- January 30, 2005
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Providence Journal. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: G. Wayne Miller
Jan. 30--The impending rollout of a new medicine for long-term treatment of insomnia has the potential to make its manufacturer millions -- and to further acceptance of the sleeping pill, traditionally a dark character in the prescription drug world.
Some sleep-disorder specialists are hailing the new drug. But others caution that chronic use of sleeping pills is ill-advised.
Lunesta, made by Sepracor of Marlborough, Mass., is the first insomnia drug approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for long-term use. With similar drugs, including market leader Ambien, the FDA advises treatment should last no more than ...