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Judge Speaks Out on Dangers of Ambien CR

For the first time since her arrest, Broward County Judge Lynn Rosenthal spoke publicly to 850 AM radio host Rich Stevens in an attempt to try to warn the public about Ambien CR.

Judge Rosenthal was arrested in May after hitting a parked patrol car in a Fort Lauderdale courthouse parking lot. The arrest report noted she told police she took an Ambien the night before the crash.

“It was a case of involuntary overdose in which I was sleep driving,” Judge Rosenthal said. “And it’s as simple as that.”

But Judge Rosenthal also admitted Monday that she also had Xanax in her purse.

“I have a prescription and it was not something that had been taken,” Rosenthal said. “The only drug that was taken was Ambien CR.”

Ambien CR is taken as a sleep aid and is a central nervous system depressant. The drug recommendations say that patients who take it with less than a full night sleep (7-8 hours), take higher than the recommended dose, take it with other CNS depressants, or other drugs that increase blood levels of zolpidem can have a higher risk of next-day psychomotor impairment. The medication comes in either a 6.25 mg or 12.5 mg dosage.

When Rosenthal was arrested, she agreed to two Brethalyzer tests which she passed. However, she repeatedly refused to submit to a urine and blood test. When asked why she refused the test, Rosenthal quoted the law as being her guide.

“I did agree to a urine test,” Rosenthal said. “I asked to do a urine test, that was all they were legally entitled to and I followed the law.”

Judge Rosenthal did not have to submit to a blood test. When she was asked about suing her doctor, she said her priority is to win the upcoming election.

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