Last night I was partially listening to a commercial while I was putting away something in the kitchen when it got my notice. Normally, I don't pay too much attention when, at the end of any drug commercial, they rattle off the possible side effects that you might experience. I've grown numb even to warnings like... "in rare cases conditions such as sudden DEATH may occur..." I mean, if you're at the point where you're taking something and the consequence is possibly death, you have some real problems... but that's your prerogative. But I heard something last night that caused me to rewind my DVR... Lunesta helps you fall asleep quickly, so take it right before bed. Be sure you have at least eight hours to devote to sleep before becoming active... (blah blah blah) Until you know how you'll react to Lunesta, you should not drive or operate machinery. Do not take Lunesta with alcohol. (this is to keep you from sleeping FOREVER) Call your doctor right away if after taking Lunesta you walk, drive, eat or engage in other activities while asleep. In rare cases, severe allergic reactions can occur...
wait, Wait, WAIT... BACK UP THE TRUCK. Did I hear that right? Rewind... Call your doctor right away if after taking Lunesta you walk, drive, eat or engage in other activities while asleep...
Yes, PLEASE call your doctor if, by taking Lunesta, you DRIVE while asleep... because if you eat while you sleep, you may gain a few pounds, but at least you're not including me in your problem... but if you're on the road in your PJs, asleep and driving, your problem quickly becomes mine as well. I mean, remember the good old days when you only worried about that idiot who is drifting over into your lane because he's just talking on his cell phone? Now you're telling me I have to watch for people actually getting in their cars, backing out of their driveway, and taking a trip all while catching some z's? I can see it now... "officer, you can't give me a ticket for speeding because I couldn't see the speed limit sign... uh, because my eyes were closed" And where would you actually be going? Just driving around at 3AM looking for an all-night mattress store? With the price of gas these days, this would also become an expensive habit... wait a minute. I get it now... this is all a conspiracy. The makers of Lunesta are teaming up with the oil cartels to increase the consumption of gas! Someone needs to investigate this. You know, if this is an actual risk, I'd probably ask someone to hide my car keys every day before bed and leave a note as to where they were left so that I could go to work in the morning. Unless one of the other side effects is that you can read while asleep... | 
