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ambien for 2 yrs-brain damage? HELP

Posted by rachel on June 22, 2002 at 03:48:55:

for the past two years up until 2 weeks ago, i had taken ambien every single night, with rare exceptions. i started at 5 mg and 3 weeks ago, 17.5mg didn't do a thing for me. after 4 days in a row of 17.5mg, i stayed up all night to write a paper. i couldn't nap and had massive panic attacks all day. realizing i was having withdrawal symptoms, i decided to taper down. at this point, i had only a few pills left, but i have a doctor who just gives me refills and doesn't ask. howEVER - my pharmacy or insurance has somehow messed up and told me that i wouldn't be able to get a refill until the beginning of july. so i did a couple of nights at 5mg, and then 5 nights at 2.5mg until i ran out. now HERE'S MY HUGE PROBLEM:
since i ran out, i have been trying 'natural' sleep, kava kava, percocet, other painkillers, otc stuff...and have only been sleeping 2 hours a night maximum. i don't nap during the day. and the thing is...i'm not tired, although i feel very disoriented, a little dizzy, am having headaches and visual distortion. but other than that..sheesh. i read somewhere that ambien withdrawal can make your neurons go hyperactive. it doesn't seem like it's a healthy thing to only get 2 hours of sleep a night for 2 weeks straight and not crash. have i permanently messed up my brain chemistry/elec.? is my body trying to kill me by making me think i don't need sleep?? if any one has had any kind of similar experience, PLEASE respond to this post.
rachel

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