Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 330375

Shown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor

Posted by fragile on March 30, 2004, at 14:51:03

Hi, guys. This is my first post here, so bear with me.

Back in December, I stopped sleeping. It came out of nowhere, and I didn't sleep for 3 solid days. I could not calm down. I had about 10 different panic attacks during those 3 days, and they would last for hours. After not sleeping for so long, I began to shake, my heart would race, and i was very moody - i would cry at the slightest thing. I honestly thought I was losing my mind, and i felt like I was hanging on by a spiderweb strand. I thought I was going to wind up in a mental institution.
Finally, I had a particularly bad episode where I dozed off for a few moments, and when I went to get up, i could not stand up straight, and I nearly passed out. My fiancee rushed me to the hospital, (my first of many trips since_, and there they kept me for the rest of the night, ran every heart test and brain test possible, and concluded there was nothing wrong with me.
Nothing physical, anyway.
I was seen by the resident psych, and told to see a psychiatrist.

That night, I was prescribed Ambien, and I have been on it ever since.

Now. That I have explained, here is my topic.

My doctor is very uneasy about me being on ambien so long. He thinks 20 is far too young to have sleeping problems. He started me on Effexor as well. I'm only taking 75 mgs, but, i'm seeing little to no change. More like, what change there HAS been, has not been significant. I have tried to not take the Ambien, but when I do, and then try to sleep, my heart races, I panic, I worry about not sleeping. Therefore, I do not sleep. I HAVE figured out, that the reason the Ambien works for me, is not because it makes me tired, but because it honestly messes me up so much, that I am not worried. I am calm, happy, and peaceful when i try to go to bed.
I am terrified of my doctor trying to take me off of it. The thought of being the way I was for those 3 days is unbearable. Imean, I have horrible anxiety attacks all day long and for no reason, but the time that it REALLY bothers me, is when i'm trying to sleep. That is when I cannot afford to freak out. I work full time, and the thought of getting in trouble at work makes it even worse when I have my "fits" as I have started to call them.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what else I can take that will keep me calm, and hopefully, sleep without a sleeping aid? I have tried so many natural remedies, including medetation, hot baths, alcohol, chamomille tea, sex, pain pills, what have you. Excersize.... utter exhaustion will not knock me out, because i cannot calm my nerves. I am desperate. I cannot live like this. I do not want to put my life on hold. I don't care atthis point if I am on meds for the rest of my life - as long as I can continue with my life.
Please, any suggestions are greatly appriciated, and I will be taking whatever information I am able to collect to my doctor.

 

Re: Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor

Posted by KathrynLex on March 30, 2004, at 15:21:25

In reply to Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor, posted by fragile on March 30, 2004, at 14:51:03

Hi Fragile,

Are you seeing a psychiatrist or a general practitioner for meds? If you're seeing a psychiatrist it seems very unprofessional for him/her to say that 20 is too young to be having sleep problems. A psychiatrist is supposed to be non-judgemental.

If you are seeing a general practitioner for meds, I strongly recommend against it. GPs are not very well informed about medications. When I started having panic attacks I went to my GP for meds and she gave me something that made my panic worse! My psychiatrist has been very understanding and has helped me to find the right med combo.

I think the solution to your problem lies in finding the right medication. To do that you need a very good psychiatrist. I hope you find one.

K.

PS I take Lexapro for my anxiety and Klonopin on an as needed basis. It's been terrific and I'm really starting to feel like my old self again.

 

Re: Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor

Posted by fragile on March 30, 2004, at 15:25:11

In reply to Re: Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor, posted by KathrynLex on March 30, 2004, at 15:21:25

Well, currently, I'm seeing my Family doctor. I am very uncomfortable with this, as you may have noticed, but for the time being, i have no other choice - they can't work me in anywhere with a psych until mid june.
My husband is trying to get me an appointmet with his psychiatrist that he has seen since he was 12 for his OCD. I've got all my fingers crossed.

Does the Kolonopin work well for your anxiety? I'm desperate for anything that will calm my nerves and let me resume my normal life.

 

Re: Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor

Posted by KathrynLex on March 30, 2004, at 17:16:25

In reply to Re: Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor, posted by fragile on March 30, 2004, at 15:25:11

Hi Fragile,

I really hope you can get in to see your husbands psychiatrist. If your local university has a hospital, try giving them a call. Many times they have psychiatrists on hand who are willing to see patients the same week that they call.

Meds that work well for anxiety: Lexapro and Paxil. (I'm not a fan of Paxil, but meds effect everyone very differently.)

Benzos (another family of meds) that work well for anxiety: Klonopin, Xanax and Lorazepam. Benzos are VERY effective for treating anxiety.

Rest assured that you'll find something to help you calm your nerves so you can return to your normal life.

K.

 

Re: Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor

Posted by fragile on March 30, 2004, at 17:20:05

In reply to Re: Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor, posted by KathrynLex on March 30, 2004, at 17:16:25

I keep telling myself I will find SOMETHING, but that's easier said than done. We'll see. I go to see my doctor thursday,and I'm going to tell him I would rather see a specialist, rather than just him.

 

Re: Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor

Posted by snapper on March 30, 2004, at 18:38:37

In reply to Re: Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor, posted by fragile on March 30, 2004, at 17:20:05

hi fragile, I don't have any easy answers for you but I know this... FXr can and deos create more anxiety in some rather than benefit them... Kathryn was correct in recomending a very low to moderate dose of a benzo - 20 is young to have sleeping problems but hey I had sleeping problems from about 20 and on (used to use alcohol as well to sleep and shut my mind up-:) so it is not fair to just let your doc say that.. I am also with you that Ambien kind of gives you a happy , mellow I wan't to snuggle up and go to sleep feeling- I have taken It pretty chronic for about 2 yrs off and on -mostly on .I don't reccomend this but hey we have to sleep -- sorry for rambling - something just came to me that may be of benefit to you -- a very low dose of remeron or trazadone may be of some benefit to you and both are AD's and are not "addictive" like the benzo's or Ambien-- maybe that would be an option for you to pursue with a doc till your body adjusts to the efxr. Good Luck
snapper

 

20 is young but sleep is so important

Posted by Jai Narayan on March 30, 2004, at 18:53:50

In reply to Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor, posted by fragile on March 30, 2004, at 14:51:13

I have to say that I thank god for Ambien...I would still be awake...if not for this drug.
I take 1/2 a pill per night = 5mg.
I do alright.
I wake up at around 2 to3 am and pop the pill. I am so happy when I wake up and have had hours of restful sleep.
There's nothing quite like sleep.
I have spent years of my life awake at all the wrong hours....so don't feel bad...we all crave sleep.
It seems that if you could just relax and appreciate the sweet nights sleep maybe you might feel better.
I hope so.

 

Re: Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor

Posted by fragile on March 30, 2004, at 19:11:48

In reply to Re: Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor, posted by snapper on March 30, 2004, at 18:38:37

>.I don't reccomend this but hey we have to sleep
Oh, i understand that. I'm to the point that I don't CARE if i'm on it forever, as long as i sleep every night. My body reacts very strongly when I don't sleep at least 7 hours a night. I have trouble functioning. some people can handle less. I envy them. :)

>-- sorry for rambling
Oh, no, ramble away. I'm gobbling up this information.

 

Re: 20 is young but sleep is so important

Posted by fragile on March 30, 2004, at 19:46:41

In reply to 20 is young but sleep is so important, posted by Jai Narayan on March 30, 2004, at 18:53:50

Oh, I am profoundly thankful for ambien. I am just concerned that my doctor is wanting to take me off of it. I personally likebeing onthe drug, and I am able to go back to life as usual whenI have it.

 

Re: 20 is young but sleep is so important

Posted by vjw on March 30, 2004, at 22:03:50

In reply to Re: 20 is young but sleep is so important, posted by fragile on March 30, 2004, at 19:46:41

I don't know what I'd do without Ambien. I've been on it for 3 years now. I know my doc would like me to wean off it as well.

 

Re: Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor

Posted by snapper on March 30, 2004, at 22:30:28

In reply to Re: Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor, posted by fragile on March 30, 2004, at 19:11:48

> >.I don't reccomend this but hey we have to sleep
> Oh, i understand that. I'm to the point that I don't CARE if i'm on it forever, as long as i sleep every night. My body reacts very strongly when I don't sleep at least 7 hours a night. I have trouble functioning. some people can handle less. I envy them. :)
>
> >-- sorry for rambling
> Oh, no, ramble away. I'm gobbling up this information.

> what would you specifically like
me to ramble about? :) - er...I mean what info would you like to know?
snapper

 

Re: Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor » fragile

Posted by Fallen4myT on March 31, 2004, at 13:31:25

In reply to Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor, posted by fragile on March 30, 2004, at 14:51:03

When I have more time I will give your post better attention..but I wanted to say..I am in the same boat...no clue what tossed me from good sleep to NONE ....I am still on Ambein 2 1/2 years later and heck may be addicted and all...I feel the same...don't want to TRY it without after what I went through..I did try..Trazadone...Seroqual, Neurontin WITH Ambien for sleep..thats good and a great taper.....and heck a shyt load of meds to sleep even Benadryl and Visteral....Ambein is it...try to go maybe 1 time a week with less or none so you dont end up like me..and I know its in my head....once I got in bed and almost fell asleep..remembered I forgot to take my Ambein and...got up to take it...the SSRI's IN MY OPINION will not cut it...and may add anxiety......HAVE YOU BEEN TO A SLEEP CLINIC?

 

Re: Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor

Posted by fragile on April 1, 2004, at 1:49:08

In reply to Re: Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor » fragile, posted by Fallen4myT on March 31, 2004, at 13:31:25

1 week? my god,there's no way. I was without my pills for 3 days, and my friend had tobring me over what she had, which was seroquil, and Remeron. I didn't try the seroquil, but the remeron did make mesleepy. which didn't help. I didn't need to be sleepy, i needed to be CALM enough to sleep. After those few days of being on it, I noticed me having violent mood swings. I'm normally a very meek person, and I had all of this unusual, violent rage in me.
But it helped very little. took forever for me to get to sleep, and when I finally did, it was like i was dead. I could barely get up in the morning.

I haven't been to any clinics yet, I'm hoping to get to a real psychiatrist, and see what they suggest.

 

Re: 20 is young but sleep is so important

Posted by fragile on April 2, 2004, at 2:29:56

In reply to Re: 20 is young but sleep is so important, posted by vjw on March 30, 2004, at 22:03:50

Oh,my doctor wouldbe SO happy to see me off it, but.... I certainly hope that doesn't happen any time soon. It is my miracle drug.

 

Re: Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor

Posted by fragile on April 2, 2004, at 2:31:11

In reply to Re: Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor, posted by snapper on March 30, 2004, at 22:30:28

I want anything that will help me. Suggestions, advice... tipsonhow to calm myself down when my heart is racing. ect.

 

Re: Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor

Posted by kmast on April 21, 2004, at 17:37:13

In reply to Re: Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor, posted by fragile on April 2, 2004, at 2:31:11

Hi
This is my first post up thing. I was reading about all of your suggestions about Ambien because I am really worried about a friend of mine. She takes it for insomnia because she suffers from panic attacks. She takes it without feeling tired so she does not go to sleep right away. Since
she does not go to sleep right away, she then wanders around and claims to
loose all memory of what happens later. I don't want to doubt her so I would like some clarification. You all seem to know from personal experience so I really would appreciate any help that you could offer me. Does Ambien cause a person to act like they are either drunk or high and does it also cause memory lose? She is a depressed person so I don't know if she is using this as an excuse to cry out for help. She says that her doctor knows about these side effects but is still keeping her on it. Would a doctor do this for real? I would really appreciate a prompt response. Thank you for any help that you provide me with.


 

Re: Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor » kmast

Posted by KathrynLex on April 21, 2004, at 18:22:35

In reply to Re: Ambien, anxiety, and Effexor, posted by kmast on April 21, 2004, at 17:37:13

Hi Kmast,

Here is a list of some of the side effects caused by ambien. Note that memory loss is one of them. From drugs.com:

· headache, drowsiness, dizziness, or clumsiness;
· nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation;
· depression;
· muscle aches or pains;
· vivid or abnormal dreams; or
· amnesia (memory loss) after a dose.

Hope this is useful.

K.


This is the end of the thread.


Show another thread

URL of post in thread:


Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ


[dr. bob] Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD, bob@dr-bob.org

Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.