Ambien

[toasty]

Re: Ambien

Anyone else take this and have no idea what happened the night before? I woke up this morning and there was mail scattered across my countertops, three empty beer bottles, and a friend called me on the phone last night to tell me that she had been in a car accident and I have no recollection of anything that happened last night..

Also, a week ago, I thought someone broke into my house and ate all my strawberries..I called my landlord to ask him if someone else had a key to my place..He frowned upon the idea..Turns out, as I figured out, I was sleep walking one night after taking ambien and ate all of my strawberries..I knew someone wouldn't just break into my place just to eat my strawberries..WTF

Dude, I don't know if this was intended to be funny, but this cracked me up to no end, esp. the part about you thinking someone broke into your house to eat your strawberries. What an odd thought.

In all seriousness, hope you get this straightened out -- I've heard about the sleepwalking (and sleepdriving, and sleepsexing, etc.) associated with Ambien, and while it's conceptually hysterical, I bet it would be unnerving to actually experience.

[threehills]

Re: Ambien

NO! I insist on winning this internet based arguement as an act of confirmatoin of my manly prowess.













Dammit, that was joke wasn't it....lose sleep...I'm an idiot.

[lilsensa]

Re: Ambien

Let's not lose any sleep over this, guys

[threehills]

Re: Ambien

wikipedia is not evidence. Evidence is published in scientific peer reviewed journals.

[day_for_night]

Re: Ambien

got any evidence for that dramatic claim??

yes.

just did a basic search from wikipedia cause i'm at work and don't have time to really get into this

But there is one counteracting effect: high serotonin levels will not only activate the postsynaptic receptors, but also flood presynaptic autoreceptors, that serve as a feedback sensor for the cell. Activation of the autoreceptors (by agonists like serotonin) triggers a throttling of serotonin production. The resulting serotonin deficiency persists for some time, as the transporter inhibition occurs downstream to the cause of the deficiency, and is therefore not able to counterbalance it. The body adapts gradually to this situation by lowering (downregulating) the sensitivity of the autoreceptors
Of greater importance is another adaptive process: the downregulation of postsynaptic serotonin 5-HT2A receptors. After the use of an SSRI, since there is more serotonin available, the response is to lower (to normal levels or less) the number of postsynaptic receptors over time, and in the long run, this modifies the serotonin/receptor ratio. Since a larger percentage of available receptors become activated by serotonin, transmission is enhanced or restored

[edit] Permanent neuropsychological changes

Since the early 80's scientists have used a technique called neonatal clomipramine to produce animals used in depression research. If rats are given the tricyclic antidepressant clomipramine when they are 8-21 days old they will develop behavioural changes in adulthood which resembles depression in humans.[35][36]In 1997 Lundbeck found that treatment with the SSRI LU-10-134-C, which only differs from their product citalopram by two atoms could give similar results as clomipramine.[37] Later it was found that neonatal citalopram makes persistent changes in the serotonergic transmission of the brain.

There is no evidence to counter these long term changes in the brain, as can be witnessed by the months and months it takes to wean people off them properly.


There is growing evidence that the drug companies:

1) did not do enough testing on these drugs. people think that because they are so commonly prescribed, that these drugs are not that serious. these alter the way people think, and have been linked to both agression and suicides in teens, and they now come with a warning that says so. the recommendation is now that the age warning go up to 25.

2) are getting doctors to prescribe them for *everything*. feeling a bit anxious? have an ssri. having a bad week? have an ssri.


not being able to sleep is not, i repeat NOT a reason to take an SSRI. any doctor who tells you otherwise needs his/her head smacked.

[lilsensa]

Re: Ambien

i kinda look forward to that 15-45 mins after it kicks in but before i crash on the couch or bed. i dont really sleepwalk, but am reminded the next morning by my wife of sharing my crazy colorful thoughts.

That's how I usually am with it..I like it

[nbpgt]

Re: Ambien

but yeah, i never really got as crazy as stories ive heard. i kinda look forward to that 15-45 mins after it kicks in but before i crash on the couch or bed. i dont really sleepwalk, but am reminded the next morning by my wife of sharing my crazy colorful thoughts.

[Steve Graham]

Re: Ambien

you may want to try something natural.. Valerian Root.. might not work immediatley, but like most natural remedies, once it builds up in your system works wonders. i have used it, and it has a nice calming feeling and you just drift off and dont feel like crap in the morning.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Valerian is used for insomnia and other disorders.
In the United States Valerian is sold as a nutritional supplement. Therapeutic use has increased as dietary supplements have gained in popularity, especially after the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act was passed in 1994. This law allowed the distribution of many agents as over-the-counter supplements, and therefore allowed them to bypass the regulatory requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Valerian is used against sleeping disorders, restlessness and anxiety, and as a muscle relaxant. Valerian often seems only to work when taken over longer periods (several weeks), though many users find that it takes effect immediately. Some studies have demonstrated that valerian extracts interact with the GABA and benzodiazepine receptors. Valerian is also used traditionally to treat gastrointestinal pain and irritable bowel syndrome. Long term safety studies are missing. As valepotriates may be potential mutagens, valerian should only be used after consultation with a physician.

[AntonyM]

Re: Ambien

Ambien just does not work for some people
who don't drink with it. I had a buddy who was on it
for a time call me at 5am to pick him up at the Palms casino
where he had been playing blackjack all night, he had no idea
the next day what had happened. The stuff does some weird things to people. Personally, I will smoke a few puffs and eat half a xanax bar, gets me there, but just personal preference. But drinking on that ambien, might as well toss down an oxy pill and some speed to really get things going.

[nbpgt]

Re: Ambien

i too have the busy brain syndrome & use ambien only for the ace in the whole type situations where i cant sack out eventually. because along with have endless thoughts on a blank sheet, frustration mounts & doesnt help the situation.

ive kinda been preloading for sleeptime with a few milli's of melatonin. & thus rarely take any ambien throughout the year. it is rediculously too expensive to continue to take nightly.

[feather]

Re: Ambien

^^Not really..I have some major sleep issues..I feel tired but can never get to sleep.

I have the same problem, it's fucked up. It's like I'm lying in bed and my mind is doing circles around the idea of sleep ... even when I'm asleep, apart of me realizes I'm finally falling into deep sleep and feels good / relieved about it. It's wacked. Like part of me is detached.

I've been taking melatonin and it hlped a bit, but not recently. The downside is if I STILL don't fall asleep on melatonin, I get hell tired. Sucks.

[threehills]

Re: Ambien

i'm sorry threhills but recommending cymbalta for a bit of anxiety is NOT a good call. SSRIs and SSNRIs are so unbelievably overprescribed in north america it makes me ill. these are serious, brain chemistry altering drugs, that despite the drug companies saying otherwise, do lasting and *permanent* changes to the way a person's brain works.

Based on what literature is it not a good call?

I was not able to locate an meta analysis (the gold standard of scientific literature) of the efficacy of cymbalta (duloxetine) in treating anxiety, but did find numerous studies supporting its use. Did not see any saying it was a bad choice

From the one scholarly journal article...;

CONCLUSIONS: GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) is associated with substantial impairment in functioning and subjective well-being, and patients treated with duloxetine 60-120mg/day, compared with placebo, experienced a greater return to normative functioning.

Pollack MH, Endicott J, Liebowitz M, Russell J, Detke M, Spann M, Ball S, Swindle R.Examining quality of life in patients with generalized anxiety disorder: Clinical relevance and response to duloxetine treatment.J Psychiatr Res. 2008 Jan 21;

[miketpoto]

Re: Ambien

that shit fucks you up big time, its fun. but I cant remember the fun the next day.

[Huggie Smiles]

Re: Ambien

, do lasting and *permanent* changes to the way a person's brain works.

..

got any evidence for that dramatic claim??

[day_for_night]

Re: Ambien

i'm sorry threhills but recommending cymbalta for a bit of anxiety is NOT a good call. SSRIs and SSNRIs are so unbelievably overprescribed in north america it makes me ill. these are serious, brain chemistry altering drugs, that despite the drug companies saying otherwise, do lasting and *permanent* changes to the way a person's brain works.

if you can't sleep, and ambien is making you do random crap...stop taking it. the sleepwalking and other side effects are actually becoming more and more apparent. there are stories of people driving their cars, going to work in the middle of the night, all because of ambien.

try a drug called zopiclone instead. its brand name in the states is lunesta. will knock your ass out, and other than a bit of a funny taste the next morning, there are few side effects. you won't be sleepwalking, either.

if you do end up trying it, make sure you have 7-8 hours of sleep time, cause you'll have problems (at least initially) getting up if you've taken it 5 or 6 hours before. ohh, and the first time you try it...don't be more than 10 minutes away from bed. my buddy ended up falling asleep on his dinner he was eating at 10:30. his girlfriend came downstairs and fount him face down in a plate of pasta. he still hears about that haha...