So I read the news article and it left me wondering. I just don't see how he could not know that Ambien could cause sleep walking. Top that off with Phenergan and you have a really sound sleep.

Drugs.com says

promethazine and zolpidem (moderate Drug-Drug) Description: MONITOR:Central nervous system- and/or respiratory-depressant effects may be additively or synergistically increased in patients taking multiple drugs that cause these effects, especially in elderly or debilitated patients. MANAGEMENT:During concomitant use of these drugs, patients should be monitored for potentially excessive or prolonged CNS and respiratory depression. Ambulatory patients should be made aware of the possibility of additive CNS effects (e.g., drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, confusion) and counseled to avoid activities requiring mental alertness until they know how these agents affect them. Patients should also be advised to notify their physician if they experience excessive or prolonged CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities.

for the combination and

zolpidem (moderate Drug-Food) Description: ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Administration of zolpidem with food may delay the onset of hypnotic effects. In 30 healthy subjects, administration of zolpidem 20 minutes after a meal resulted in decreased mean peak plasma drug concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) by 25% and 15%, respectively, compared to fasting. The time to reach peak plasma drug concentration (Tmax) was prolonged by 60%, from 1.4 to 2.2 hours.

for Ambien alone

I guess I am just overly cautious but I hide my keys from myself when I am taking things that could cause me to sleep heavily. I even hid my keys with a broken ankle because I was taking Percocet 10s and Phenergan. I even have to block the door because I have been known to take walks when under the influence.

I doubt his actions were truly 'his own' but his doctor should have warned him of the potential side effects.

The cops really screwed the pooch for him though. There will always be doubt. Not for me though. Add enough alcohol to qualify him to be legally drunk to that mix of drugs and you should not be able to function well enough to get the key in the ignition

I guess I am just overly cautious but I hide my keys from myself when I am taking things that could cause me to sleep heavily. I even hid my keys with a broken ankle because I was taking Percocet 10s and Phenergan. I even have to block the door because I have been known to take walks when under the influence.

Percocet does not work on me (I had an abcess, and wanted to get some sleep after they lanced it - fat chance).  But I agree that it is very possible the combo did him in and made him a 'waking nightmar'.  And if the cops had done there job, we would know that unequivocally, and there would be no favoritism.

Unfortunately, they did not.  While he is going into rehab (for those 2?  no, more there), he will always be known for this because they did not do their job.

While I have no idea about the patrick kennedy caase, his father had this to add.

Brafgtsssssss razggle snorfshhh, gimmee nuvver dinkie. damn it.

for those 2?

All sleep aides are adictive

Brafgtsssssss razggle snorfshhh, gimmee nuvver dinkie. damn it.

ROFL!~

Brafgtsssssss razggle snorfshhh, gimmee nuvver dinkie. damn it.

patrick would be better off if his father stays silent!

for those 2? All sleep aides are adictive

I Dont know, but will accept your word on that.  However, he said for "pain medication", so those 2 are not for pain.  That begs a lot more questions, but is not really germaine to this article.

I'm not quite sure that one case has to do with another. My "dear friend", Patrick was not actually in the Capitol when he crashed his car, he did not disboey police orders, and he did not strike an officer. Police make judgements all the time. When I used to work nights at a bar, there'd be a rolling checkpoint on my way home (before I would hit the bridge into VA). The checkpoint was a response to drunk driving. The police were meant to check everyone, but after seeing my car so often, I would usually get waived through rather than stopped...is that preferential treatment?

That begs a lot more questions, but is not really germaine to this article.

My understanding is that the Congressman checked himself into rehab today. I wish him well.

At least he didn't kill his galpal in this one. Who knows, in another 3 or 4 generations they might breed a Kennedy that actually has the ability to call a cab...

I agree about the McKinney point, it's a good observation. Kennedy, remarkably, had a very similar experience, although he didn't have his boys around to "handle the situation" there. No doubt she will scream the double standard from the rooftops, though.

I'm not quite sure that one case has to do with another. My "dear friend", Patrick was not actually in the Capitol when he crashed his car, he did not disboey police orders, and he did not strike an officer. Police make judgements all the time.

The cases are not connected, but a WHite Congressman gets preferential treatment, and a Black Congresswoman (would have been) brought up on charges.  Now, I doubt she will be, for they will use this case to shout discrimination.  I dont know, and as I said, dont care, if Kennedy was drinking or not.  It is not germaine.  The fact that some clown decided not to follow procedures is germaine.

That is all I am Saying.  I wish him well in rehab as well. Frankly, I was unaware of a drug problem until he decided to go through it.  But I dont think that is really on point here.  The 2 medications he was taking are enough to cause the described behaviour.

agree about the McKinney point, it's a good observation. Kennedy, remarkably, had a very similar experience, although he didn't have his boys around to "handle the situation" there. No doubt she will scream the double standard from the rooftops, though.

I dont excuse the Kennedys  They have used the name to escape a lot, but in this case, I cant see where they did use it.  But McKinney will.

That is all I am Saying. I wish him well in rehab as well. Frankly, I was unaware of a drug problem until he decided to go through it. But I dont think that is really on point here. The 2 medications he was taking are enough to cause the described behaviour.

He's going into rehab for Ambien--which is entirely germaine to your article.

I dont know, and as I said, dont care, if Kennedy was drinking or not. It is not germaine. The fact that some clown decided not to follow procedures is germaine.

If he wasn't drinking, what would a breath test prove? Nothing.

Last I heard, the police filed three charges against PK--so exactly which procedures did they fail to follow? Exactly what special treatment did he get?

"Last I heard, the police filed three charges against PK--so exactly which procedures did they fail to follow? Exactly what special treatment did he get?

Come on, anyone who was in an accident and behaving incoherantly would receive a roadside sobriety test and a breathalizer. Once they failed, since it was an accident, they'd be given a blood test when they got where they were going. He didn't get any of that, so now HE can tell us what he was doing.

Now he can be petted for having an Ambian problem instead of being hoisted by the public for being drunk. If you want to take the word of a Kennedy, fine, but realize how utterly naive it is...

He's going into rehab for Ambien--which is entirely germaine to your article.

The story that I heard, and again just from the MSM, was that it was for pain killers.  Ambien is not a pain killer.

If he wasn't drinking, what would a breath test prove? Nothing.

WRONG!  It would prove that he was not drinking!

Last I heard, the police filed three charges against PK--so exactly which procedures did they fail to follow? Exactly what special treatment did he get?

The Sobreity test.  The charges filed amount to parking tickets.  So the questions will and are remaining.  I do not chose to honor them with speculations that will never be known.

Come on, anyone who was in an accident and behaving incoherantly would receive a roadside sobriety test and a breathalizer. Once they failed, since it was an accident, they'd be given a blood test when they got where they were going. He didn't get any of that, so now HE can tell us what he was doing.

EXACTLY!  I have been and continue to read the waiterrant blog.  He was stopped and given the whole 9 yards after working a double shift and not being drunk.  Just tired.  He is an ordinary joe.  I am you are we all are.  And that is SOP.  yea, fatigue can seem to be intoxicated.  Medication can as well, as a friend of mine was smashed by an over tired driver (he fell asleep and crossed the median hitting her head on).   He was not drunk.  Just fatigued.

We wont know here because some clown decided to bypass procedures.  And in the end, Kennedy is losing for it.