Acclaimed Actress and TV Personality Debi Mazar Speaks Out about Widespread Health Issue, Insomnia

MORRISTOWN, N.J., March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Debi Mazar, who made her feature film debut in Goodfellas and is known for her role as a hard-charging publicist on the HBO series Entourage, is one of 4 million Americans suffering from insomnia.[i] Having struggled with the condition since her late twenties, Debi personally knows the serious impact lack of sleep can have on daily life. To help raise awareness of this widespread health issue and the importance of getting a full night's sleep, Debi has teamed up with Pernix Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTX), the makers of SILENOR®.

"In my line of work, the single most important thing I can do to be my best self is getting a full night of uninterrupted sleep," said Debi. "That means I need to be able to fall asleep and stay asleep – reliably. Once I realized how much my nightly sleep correlated to my own personal sense of well-being and productivity, I made it a priority. That's why I want to remind Americans about the critical role that sleep plays in their ability to own their day."

Even though 62 percent of Americans regularly suffer from symptoms of insomnia, only 20 percent believe they have the condition and merely 12 percent have been diagnosed by a doctor, according to the America: Insomnia Nation survey supported by Pernix released earlier this month. Even more surprising is that the most common symptom of insomnia is the inability to stay asleep throughout the night, a symptom that more than half of Americans suffer from.

The new survey, which sheds light on the nation's sleep behavior and attitudes toward insomnia and sleeplessness, also uncovered that:  

• On average, nearly three-quarters of Americans (72%) are missing out on almost three weeks of sleep per year (470 hours).
• Many Americans (51%) feel that sleeplessness is glamorized and that successful people like CEOs and government or business leaders get less sleep than the average person. However research proves that a good night's sleep can actually improve performance and spur creativity.[ii]
• A good night's sleep can positively impact mood (74%) and productivity (70%).
• When it comes to health, happiness and wellbeing, Americans rank getting a good night's sleep second in importance (46%)—just behind spending time with their family (69%).

Fortunately, there are ways to help achieve a good night's sleep. Following a regular shut-eye strategy like staying away from your cell phone before bed or blocking out light is one of the most critical ways to help achieve a full night's sleep. But while most Americans acknowledge the importance of a good bedtime routine, only half regularly follow one. And for people with insomnia, practicing a good bedtime routine alone may not even be enough.

The good news is that no one needs to suffer. There are effective treatment options available to achieve a good night's sleep, including SILENOR®. SILENOR® is a prescription sleep medicine that is used to treat people with insomnia who have trouble staying asleep. Perhaps most important, it can be used regularly and it's not associated with a risk of abuse or physical dependence. Every person is different and should talk to their healthcare provider about their routine, lifestyle and symptoms to determine the best option for them.

To learn more about SILENOR® or to view additional findings from the America: Insomnia Nation survey, visit: www.silenor.com.

Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7457751-pernix-silenor-insomnia-survey/.

About Pernix Therapeutics
Pernix Therapeutics is a specialty pharmaceutical business with a focus on acquiring, developing and commercializing prescription drugs primarily for the U.S. market. The Company targets underserved therapeutic areas such as CNS, including neurology and psychiatry, and has an interest in expanding into additional specialty segments. The Company promotes its branded products to physicians through its Pernix sales force, uses contracted sales organizations to market its non-core, cough and cold products, and markets its generic portfolio through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Macoven Pharmaceuticals, LLC and Cypress Pharmaceutical, Inc. To learn more about Pernix Therapeutics, visit www.pernixtx.com.

About SILENOR®
SILENOR® is a prescription sleep medicine that is used to treat people with insomnia who have trouble staying asleep.  Staying asleep is the number one reported sleep problem of people with insomnia.  Instead of putting you to sleep, SILENOR® helps you stay asleep during the night. It also helps to keep you from waking too early in the morning. SILENOR® does this by working with the wake-promoting mechanism of your body's natural sleep-wake cycle. SILENOR® is the only nonscheduled, non-addictive prescription medicine indicated for the treatment of insomnia characterized by difficulty with sleep maintenance. SILENOR® has minimal next-day residual effects, even in elderly patients and has shown no evidence of physical dependence or withdrawal symptoms.

For more information on SILENOR® including important safety information and the full prescribing information, visit www.silenor.com.

SILENOR® is a registered trademark of Pernix Therapeutics, Inc.

About the America: Insomnia Nation Survey
The survey, titled "America: Insomnia Nation," was designed and managed by Edelman Berland and fielded online from December 2^nd-15^th, 2014 among a total of 2,004 U.S. adults ages 18+. Sample was drawn from opt-in market research panels managed by Research Now. The data was weighted to be nationally representative on age, gender, race/ethnicity, region and income. The margin of error is +/- 2.2%.

About Edelman Berland
Edelman Berland is a global, full-service market research firm that provides corporate, non-profit and government clients with strategic intelligence to make their communications and engagements with stakeholders the smartest they can be. The firm specializes in qualitative and quantitative research, measurement, tracking and analysis in reputation, branding and communications.  Edelman Berland is part of Edelman, the world's largest public relations company.  Edelman Berland has more than 100 employees in offices around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.edelmanberland.com.  Edelman Berland: Intelligent Engagement.

Media Relations
Alana Cowan, 212-704-4469
Edelman Public Relations
[email protected]

Marianne Lambertson, 800-793-2145 ext. 1012
Vice President, Marketing and Corporate Communications
[email protected]

[i] 1 Saddichha S. Diagnosis and treatment of chronic insomnia. Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2010; 13(2):94-102.
[ii] Harvard Health Publications. Learning while you sleep: Dream or reality? http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/learning-while-you-sleep-dream-or-reality. February 1, 2012.

SOURCE Pernix Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.pernixtx.com