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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by gardenergirl on May 6, 2005, at 8:03:54
Wow, slept through the night without frequent and early awakening. Good stuff, this ambien.
My pdoc prescribed it as a temporary solution for the insomnia I was experiencing during my latest depressive episode. She also wanted me to go back to light therapy.
But wow, I slept so well and feel so good this a.m., I could see wanting to use it all the time!
gg
Posted by KaraS on May 6, 2005, at 18:26:33
In reply to I'm liking ambien, posted by gardenergirl on May 6, 2005, at 8:03:54
> Wow, slept through the night without frequent and early awakening. Good stuff, this ambien.
>
> My pdoc prescribed it as a temporary solution for the insomnia I was experiencing during my latest depressive episode. She also wanted me to go back to light therapy.
>
> But wow, I slept so well and feel so good this a.m., I could see wanting to use it all the time!
>
> gg
Hi gg,Do you think that maybe the insomnia is part of the problem in your depression? I wonder if your doctor would be comfortable prescribing something like Lunesta that has been approved for long term usage. (Probably not any different in that respect from Ambien - but just approved that way?)
I hope that the lightbox and sleeping well will bring you back up.
Kara
Posted by anastasia56 on May 6, 2005, at 22:04:05
In reply to Re: I'm liking ambien » gardenergirl, posted by KaraS on May 6, 2005, at 18:26:33
i take it every nite and it works like a charm. Been taking it for a few years now without any side effects (that i know of). Just be aware of the amnesiac effects (i guess that is a side effect)...after you take it some people (myself included) forget stuff. I usually take mine about an hour before bed and if i have a phone conversation or a chat with my husband we have to go over everything again the next day because i'll forget what he told me. On the flip side, you don't do anything you wouldn't normally do.
ana
Posted by gardenergirl on May 6, 2005, at 22:38:36
In reply to Re: I'm liking ambien » gardenergirl, posted by KaraS on May 6, 2005, at 18:26:33
>
> Hi gg,
>
> Do you think that maybe the insomnia is part of the problem in your depression? I wonder if your doctor would be comfortable prescribing something like Lunesta that has been approved for long term usage. (Probably not any different in that respect from Ambien - but just approved that way?)
>
> I hope that the lightbox and sleeping well will bring you back up.
>
> Kara
>Hi Kara,
It's hard to say about insomnia and my depression. I'm used to sleeping way more than usual when I am depressed. That's part of atypical depression. But Nardil can give me early awakening in higher doses, and I'm at 67.5 mg right now. And lately I've been waking up in the middle of the night frequently. I don't know what that is about.Maybe the nature of my depression is changing. I also kind of lost my appetite with this recent episode, which is also unusual given Nardil and aytpical depression.
Going back to light therapy has helped me regulate my sleeping a bit. But oy, I forgot to set a timer the other day and used it for an hour. Headache!
Thanks,
gg
Posted by gardenergirl on May 6, 2005, at 22:40:24
In reply to Re: I'm liking ambien, posted by anastasia56 on May 6, 2005, at 22:04:05
> i take it every nite and it works like a charm. Been taking it for a few years now without any side effects (that i know of). Just be aware of the amnesiac effects (i guess that is a side effect)...after you take it some people (myself included) forget stuff.
I think I experienced that one morning. I don't remember my husband getting up and going to work at all. Usually I wake up enough to chat with him.
Good to know that long term is okay for you.
And I like your name!
gg
Posted by gardenergirl on May 6, 2005, at 22:41:45
In reply to Re: I'm liking ambien » gardenergirl, posted by KaraS on May 6, 2005, at 18:26:33
My GP gave me a couple of samples of Lunesta, but I just started with the Ambien. I've read about a nasty taste that folks get with Lunesta, and I'm not really excited about that prospect.
But I may try it to compare with Ambien.
gg
Posted by KaraS on May 7, 2005, at 0:03:52
In reply to Re: I'm liking ambien » KaraS, posted by gardenergirl on May 6, 2005, at 22:38:36
> >
> > Hi gg,
> >
> > Do you think that maybe the insomnia is part of the problem in your depression? I wonder if your doctor would be comfortable prescribing something like Lunesta that has been approved for long term usage. (Probably not any different in that respect from Ambien - but just approved that way?)
> >
> > I hope that the lightbox and sleeping well will bring you back up.
> >
> > Kara
> >
>
> Hi Kara,
> It's hard to say about insomnia and my depression. I'm used to sleeping way more than usual when I am depressed. That's part of atypical depression. But Nardil can give me early awakening in higher doses, and I'm at 67.5 mg right now. And lately I've been waking up in the middle of the night frequently. I don't know what that is about.
>
> Maybe the nature of my depression is changing. I also kind of lost my appetite with this recent episode, which is also unusual given Nardil and aytpical depression.
>
> Going back to light therapy has helped me regulate my sleeping a bit. But oy, I forgot to set a timer the other day and used it for an hour. Headache!
>
> Thanks,
> gg
>
>gg,
I wonder if the Topomax could have anything to do with this bout of depression. Could it have thrown something off?Maybe the lightbox therapy will get you back on track again. I used it for an hour and a half a few times in a row. I really overdid it. I had read that some people actually use it for 2 hours a day that's why I was using it for 1 hour +. It didn't give me a headache but it made me so irritable. I was really hard to be around. Finally it dawned on me what was going on. DUH!
As for the Lunesta, I don't know that it's any better than Ambien. Seems some people prefer it and others prefer Ambien. I just thought that you might have better luck getting it prescribed for a longer period of time. Insomnia really s*cks. Hopefully you won't need to take something for a long period of time, but if you do, it's nice to know something is available to you.
Take care,
K
Posted by aleslie on May 7, 2005, at 12:39:37
In reply to Oh, I forgot...about Lunesta » KaraS, posted by gardenergirl on May 6, 2005, at 22:41:45
I have just recently started Lunesta(I have cronic insomnia and its been going on for about a year now).I've gone through just about any and all sleeping meds you could thind of.My doc just gave me samples and coupled with an increase of Seroquel it has worked wonders. The major draw back though is the after taste! For me, it tastes like I've been chewing on asprine and it takes just about all day for me to get rid of it but it sure beats not being able to sleep!
Good luck,
Amy
Posted by gardenergirl on May 7, 2005, at 13:16:35
In reply to Re: I'm liking ambien » gardenergirl, posted by KaraS on May 7, 2005, at 0:03:52
I do think the Topamax made me feel worse. I never got to 100 mg, because I was just too nervous about cogntive side effects. I felt like I was already having some trouble with it.
Now that I am off of it, I feel much better. Although the concept of going off of topamax really threw a monkey wrench into my therapy that has led to some pretty intense sessions. Sigh.
Glad to be off of it, now. And last night I used Ambien again, and I think I had "amnesia" about sleeping. It's a weird feeling, but I don't remember sleeping, and it seems to me that I didn't but obviously I did. I guess part of the waking up all the time cues me that I am sleeping some? Who knows. But I feel rested, and that's all that counts.
gg
Posted by gardenergirl on May 7, 2005, at 13:18:01
In reply to Re: Oh, I forgot...about Lunesta, posted by aleslie on May 7, 2005, at 12:39:37
Hi Amy,
I'm glad the Lunesta is working for you. Insomnia causes so many problems in daily life.Do you take the Lunesta with a lot of water or some food? That bad taste that folks are reporting really turns me off.
gg
Posted by Phillipa on May 7, 2005, at 19:10:09
In reply to Re: Oh, I forgot...about Lunesta » aleslie, posted by gardenergirl on May 7, 2005, at 13:18:01
I wonder what happened to the lunesta thread. There were some giving daily updates. As for ambien. I let my husband use it and he can't wake up the next day and acts drugged. It didn't do a thing for me. I still woke during the night. I think I'll start a new Thread to see how the others are doing as i have a voucher for 2 free 3mg tabs. Fondly, Phillipa
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