WASHINGTON (CBS/AP) – The makers of Ambien and similar sleeping pills will be required to lower the dosage of their drugs due to studies suggesting patients face a higher risk of injury due to morning drowsiness, the Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.

The agency said Thursday that new research shows that the drugs remain in the bloodstream at levels high enough to interfere with morning driving, which increases the risk of car accidents.

Regulators are ordering drug manufacturers to cut the dose of the medications in half for women, who process the drug more slowly. Doses will be lowered from 10 milligrams to 5 milligrams for regular products, and 12.5 milligrams to 6.25 milligrams for extended-release formulations.

Reasons why women and men break down the drugs differently are unknown, the FDA said in a press conference with reporters Thursday.

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The FDA is recommending that manufacturers apply these lower doses to men as well, though it is not making them a requirement.

The new doses apply to all insomnia treatments containing the drug zolpidem, which is sold under brands including Ambien, Edluar and Zolpimist.

(©2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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