Sleep? Personal Note:

[united jigsticker]

After watching the piece on the 10pm news last night regarding people taking the prescription medication Ambien, and the adverse reactions that people have experienced, I decided to do a more in depth search today regarding this drug.

I was prescribed this medication 3 months ago by my Primary Care Physician as a result of insomnia.

The medication works excellent for inducing sleep quickly, however, many of the side effects described by other patients seeking treatment and relief by use of this medication rang very close to home with myself.

The problem is, Ambien is a hypnotic. It shuts down certain chemicals in the brain, while others are operating at a normal function.

This means that your body is not at a natural state of sleep, and your brain is still computing at a normal level while a targeted area of brain activity is shut off.

Actions and behaviors commited while on Ambien produce no recollection the day-after, so the "guilty party" is left to rely on informaton and accounts provided by witnesses and close ones.

While on Ambien, I express every single inner thought, right or wrong, out loud, almost as if it is a truth serum.

Anyone suffering from insomnia should be aware that this drug, though highly effective at helping you fall asleep fast, has strong side effects in the meantime, before you are physically unable to walk anymore.

Accounts of people driving, eating, shopping, etc have been reported, along with many hallucinations, etc.

The medication is highly addictive, and falling asleep after treatment with this medication is out right impossible.

thank you

[DTro]

Don't forget to add robbing a jewelry store

As a former twins pitcher did.

Yeah, from what I hear, it's scary stuff.

I know it's a serious issue and not to make light of it. But the condition would come in handy for summer night fishing

[Phred52]

U.J., It's the ultimate in "Impulse Shopping" though! Some of our BEST meals were found this way! Good Luck! I'm on a 4 week rotation, shift worker, I feel like I haven't had a "GOOD" nights sleep since '87. 1.4 years to retirement and I'll sleep for the first month. Then, look out fishies!!

[delmuts]

i'm one of those guys that has a lot of trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep, and have taken meds. for it for a long time. i use to take something that was a narcotic.( don't remember what it was)when i changed drs. this one had a fit about what i was taking!! she took me off that one, and put me on tryasodone.( sp.??) it works. when i asked how safe she felt this was; she said she takes it too! it allows me to get to sleep rather quickly, and if i need to get up in the night ,( bathroom call!!) i can go right back to sleep. with out meds. if ! i could get to sleep; i may sleep for 30-45 minutes and be awake most of the night. (it was a tough road for a first shift factory worker and a single dad!)there are other options out there.

[Sandmannd]

delmuts, how does your med work if you have to get up in the middle of the night for your kids? Are you able to stay up for a while? I have a hard time going to sleep and would concider this, but I have to get up with my 11 month old on occasion and would be up for anywhere from a half an hour to two hours and then go back to bed. It would be nice to have this to go to bed if I could get up in the middle of the night.

[katofishingguy]

My wife has taken Ambien for some time and although has never driven she has done many strange things and the kids and I have to watch out for her to make sure she doesnt hurt herself or anyone elese by accident. I think she needs to look for other alternatives. Sleep problems are what started her on the meds in the first place My ( My Sleep Problems) I suffer from Sleep Apnea and until 10 yrs ago did not know it or how to treat it. My constant snoring and stopping breathing helped her to develop her insomnia.

[delmuts]

sand. don't know. my kids were teenagers then, and college sophmores now, usually the longest i half to stay up is a few minutes. but folks ; check with your drs. ! first questions should be if it works, and then the side effects.

[Matt Breuer]

I'm a sleep specialist, working in hospitals all over our great state. I use many sleep aids in my profession, and Ambien/Ambien CR are the two most commonly used, as well as the two best drugs to help my patients sleep. If you're having side effects that are not favorable, it's time for a change. There are numerous sleep aids on the market, including Sonata, Lunesta, etc... Melatonin is a natural alternative as well, and it has little to no side effects. Melatonin is great for people who travel, as well as people who work shift work. People need to understand that these drugs will affect each person differently, as will the number of mg you take. You may have to tinker with different aids and different doses to find out what works for you, without adverse reactions. Trazodone was mentioned above, and it should never be prescribed soley for sleep, this is a triazolopyridine and should be used mainly for anxiety and depression. Anxiety is a big reason why many people can't sleep, and these are the people who would benefit from Trazodone. Ambien has been getting a bad rap all over the news, but it's being abused by people who take it late into the night, and don't get the full 8 hours of sleep before venturing out of bed. It does make most people loopy, but the idea behind the drug is to take it, then lay down, sleep for 8 hours, then wake up. If you take the drug then try to play around on the net, or watch tv, or get into a deep conversation, you'll see the "funny" side of yourself...

[Opie]

I have been on Ambien for close to 2yrs now. Tried the Ambien CR (time release), worked well, but higher cost for my insurance plan. I have rarely ever had a problem falling asleep, but would wake 1-2 hours later and not be able to get back to sleep. Have tried many different drugs, some OTC, most scripts from the doc. Trazedone worked well for me, but I had horriffic nightmares on it. Just couldn't do it any longer. I know there have been documented issues with Ambien, but luckily, I have not had any......so far anyway. I will agree that it has an addictive nature. I can't sleep at night without it (or some heavy duty liquids of the adult nature, which makes for a lousy next day). I wish there were something else out there that would work as well for me, but for now, I'm sticking with it.

[gunflint]

2 Benadryl's an hour before bed works for me when I'm havivg problems.

[StCroixNewB]

There are many non-pharmaceutical approaches that I believe should be evaluated before taking a prescription product. As mentioned in a previous post, melatonin can be taken (sublingual is the best route). This may help some people. For others, insomnia may be linked to elevated late-day/night cortisol levels - a few hundred milligrams of phosphatidyl serine, taken a few hours before bed can work wonders (stabilizes cell membranes and reduced cortisol levels). Low levels of serotonin (and, hence melatonin which is synthesized from serotonin in the pineal gland) can be effectively corrected by taking 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) about an hour before bed. (also take a B6 vitamin as this is a necessary cofactor for the conversion of 5-HTP to serotonin). In addition, a couple hundred milligrams of methionine should be taken in the late morning/early afternoon in order to increase levels of SAMe (a methyl donor that is needed for the conversion of serotonin to melatonin.

There are a handful of natural products out there that work really quite well... if you're interested, a google search will really surprise you with the number of products available. Keep in mind, though, that the snake-oil salesmen are still out there.

If you're interested in these 'natural' approaches, you'll have to see a 'non-traditional' health care provider (like a naturopath, chiropractor, etc) as most dyed-in-the-wool MDs either resists these approaches or are simply under-educated in Complimentary and Alternative Medicine.

[nofishfisherman]

Quote:

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Low levels of serotonin (and, hence melatonin which is synthesized from serotonin in the pineal gland) can be effectively corrected by taking 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) about an hour before bed. (also take a B6 vitamin as this is a necessary cofactor for the conversion of 5-HTP to serotonin). In addition, a couple hundred milligrams of methionine should be taken in the late morning/early afternoon in order to increase levels of SAMe (a methyl donor that is needed for the conversion of serotonin to melatonin.

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Say what about the what now?

Just ask the wife to give you a good clunk on the head right before bed. In most cases she would be glad to do it.

[TNFL]

Quote:

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Just ask the wife to give you a good clunk on the head right before bed. In most cases she would be glad to do it.

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Or.... There is something else that the wife can do, always helps me go to sleep quickly .

Sorry I had to say it.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Dude, I was soooooooooo thinkin it but I wasn't gonna say it!!!!!!!!!

[StCroixNewB]

maybe "clunk" means something else to other people??? then again, probably not...

[island guy]

Any med including sleep meds can have side effects. I think having the internet to look up meds can really be a good tool and also a real detrament. If you want to find something bad about something, you can. A doctor you trust, is the best way to educate yourself. I do know that lack of sleep can screw up your system really bad. Not sleeping soundly can be related to lots of issues. Get it checked out and treated.

[TSCTSC]

Quote:

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2 Benadryl's an hour before bed works for me when I'm havivg problems.

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There you go!!

[Northlander]

I know the older I have gotten the less pop, coffee and candy I can put in my body. If I put too much in and dont get enough exercise I cant sleep worth crap. I have never been a guy who just crashes but the less caffiene I do the better off I am. Also I notice just 1/2 hour of exercise like walking, hiking or biking really helps.

Even when I was playing colege sports I didnt sleep real well. Im just kind of a anxious guy I guess.

[upnorth]

The only time I really sleep well is when we are out camping for 3 days or more. Get back home and all the hub bub and I am lucky to sleep 6 hours, usually more like 4 or 5. I have never slept that much and it is getting more so as I get older. Getting exercise in the evening does help, but for me it is not a cure all.

[Matt Breuer]

I hear/see so many people who believe that a night cap, few drinks, bunch of drinks, etc.. helps you sleep. The fact of the matter is, booze may help you fall asleep more quickly, but it greatly reduces the quality of your sleep. A person with insomnia who has a few drinks to help them fall asleep, is actually better off laying in bed staring at the wall.

Steve, you hit two great points, exercise and cutting back on the sugar boosts!

Don't eat or drink stimulants after 5pm, don't smoke or drink booze, and exercise regularly. Easy right??

[hanson]

Matt & Steve-

I think you guys touched on a few very important points.

I don't have sleep problems. I usually sleep very well. However, if I have any alcohol at all, 1 or 8, I end up rolling around all night. Caffeine doesn't affect me as much but I do know that if I don't get any exercise, it becomes harder to sleep as well.

My best sleep is usually after a hard day of hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, etc.

[AQUAJOE]

Interesting post!

I have been on Ambien for a 3 1/2 years. All drugs have side effects it is the nature of the beast. I agree with Matt B. if the affects don't suit you well it is time for a change.

I have not had any amazing shopping spree's (at least out of the ordinary)

I will wake up from time to time Hungry and need a quick snack. The only thing that hurts for me anyway is the waste line.

StCrioxNewB that is some funny stuff.

Opie I didn't have any Wes Craven like dreams but you would have thought I was pregnant when I got up in the morning. As soon as I would roll out of bed it would make me sick to my stomach and I would have to puke. Needless to say I was only on that for 4 days. Went to Ambien after that and have been there ever since.

When the wife gets in the mood (couple times a year or so) that always works best for me.