The NDPSC had considered changing zolpidem from a Schedule 4 drug to a Schedule 8 drug, which would of placed it in the same category as drugs like morphine and made it more difficult for doctors to prescribe. The NDPSC said zolpidem did not meet criteria to become a Schedule 8 drug because there was insufficient evidence to suggest a "substantial risk of abuse, dependence or misuse for illegal purposes". Some patients have  prescribed the drug for a number of months, including 30-year-old Sydney woman Mairead Costigan, who fell to her death from the Sydney Harbour Bridge nearly six months ago to whom the drug had been prescribed for eight months or more. Just six days before her death Ms Costigan switched to another sleeping pill (zopiclone). While prescription information for the drug says it can increase depression and that "suicidal tendencies may be present", Ms Cross denies having doctors who prescribed her the drug telling her these things .
The NDPSC had considered changing zolpidem from a Schedule 4 drug to a Schedule 8 drug, which would have placed it in the same category as drugs like morphine and made it more difficult for doctors to prescribe. The NDPSC said zolpidem did not meet criteria to become a Schedule 8 drug because there was insufficient evidence to suggest a "substantial risk of abuse, dependence or misuse for illegal purposes". Some patients have been prescribed the drug for a number of months, including 30-year-old Sydney woman Mairead Costigan, who fell to her death from the Sydney Harbour Bridge nearly six months ago . Costigan had been prescribed the drug for at least eight months, but just six days before her death she switched to another sleeping pill (zopiclone). While prescription information for the drug says it can increase depression and that "suicidal tendencies may be present", Ms Cross says doctors who prescribed the drug did not warn her about these side effects .
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