Researchers are warning that sleeping pills may increase the risk of early death more than five-fold, the Daily Mail reported.

A study, conducted by researchers at the Jackson Hole Center for Preventive Medicine in Wyoming and the Scripps Clinic Viterbi Family Sleep Center in California, found the risk was greater at higher doses.

Those taking the lowest doses -- four to 18 pills a year -- had a 3.6 times higher risk of dying compared with non-users.

Those taking 18 to 132 pills a year had a 4.4 times higher risk of dying, while those on more than 132 pills a year were 5.3 times more likely to die.

This group was also 35 percent more likely to develop a cancer.

Experts say while the findings highlight a potential risk, proof of harm is still lacking.

They say patients should not be alarmed nor stop their medication, but if they are concerned they should discuss this with their doctor or pharmacist.

The drugs include benzodiazepines such as temazepam and diazepam, newer sedative hypnotics zolpidem, zopiclone and zaleplon, and barbiturates and sedative antihistamines.

(China.org.cn March 4, 2012)

據英國《每日郵報》報道，研究人員警告，服用安眠藥可以使過早死亡的幾率增加5倍。

美國懷俄明州杰克森霍爾預防醫學中心和加州斯克里普斯診所維特比家庭睡眠中心的這項研究表明，服用安眠藥的劑量越大，越危險。

一年服用4-18片少劑量安眠藥的人比不服用藥物的人，其死亡幾率增加了3.6倍。

一年服用18-132片安眠藥的人比不服用的人，死亡幾率增加了4.4倍；而一年服用超過132片安眠藥的人，其死亡幾率增加了5.3倍。

那些服用高劑量安眠藥的人得癌癥的幾率也會增加35%。

專家表示，雖然該研究指出服用安眠藥有潛在的風險，但仍缺乏對身體有害的證據。

專家稱，病人不必慌張，也不用立刻停藥，但是如果他們擔心，可以咨詢醫生和藥劑師。

這類具有安眠作用的藥物包括苯二氮平類藥物，比如羥基安定和安定，新一代催眠鎮靜藥唑吡坦、佐匹克隆和扎來普隆、巴比妥類藥物和鎮靜劑抗組胺。