Insomnia Forum Posting

Posted by Mike (the other one) on May 26, 2001 at 08:27:29:

In Reply to: Re: Restoril and Ambien posted by Mike on May 25, 2001 at 12:25:30:

Lynda!!!
I'm glad to hear that you're benefiting from the forum. Now just send $200.oo US dollars please...
Only kidding :-)

Like I said before, about a year ago I posted alot here but as my tinnitus improved my sleep has also vastly inproved. I got alot of help. My Tinnitus (tinnitus is extreme ringing in the ears) doctor is incredible, and helped me very much. I also had a very helpful neurologist who is also a sleep specialist. On the flip side I had a Psychologist and Psychiatrist who were only trying to gather clinical hours so I know morons when I see them.

For a while I exchanged email with John Weidman, author of the book: Desperately Seeking Snoozin."
John is very approachable and was equally helpful.
He is a strong supporter of behavioral methods if you haven't read his book.

My life was totally shattered during the first year my tinnitus struck. I literally lasted on about 2 hours sleep about every 2nd or 3rd night! My sleep diaries attested to that and I could tell you the whole progaming of CSPAN for those who doubted my accuracy. I tell you this because I'VE BEEN there - got the T shirt and don't ever want to go back.

In my opinion, the worry that youre going through is adding to your frustration and insomnia. Now, if you don't worry - who will????????????????
I say this with some humor - because I know... youre going through real hell. There is so much pressure on you - to get better - I know how it only multiplies your pain. My saving grace was trying to maintain some sense of humor.

Regarding Dr. Dement. I really like that he supports drug therapy when needed. For some reason our society considers the use of pain killers and anti-anxiety meds as a sign of personal weakness or criminal intent. Probably a hold over from the 60s drug culture. My dad who was dying from bone cancer was literally afraid of taking Tylenol 3(with Codiene) because he didn't want to become addicted. He died in about a month

Anyway - I personally believe that each type of treatment has to be individualized to each persons needs. I feel it is incorrect to say "everybody will be cured by sleep restriction" or "every insomniac's hope is in Ambien." Unfortunately many healthcare professionals practice by the one size fits all theory. I remember a Ph.d in Psychology telling me: "If you take Ambien, you'll need it the rest of your life." She also called Ambien a "benzodiazapine" and said that "I'll be hooked like on Xanax." Moron. Fool. Educated but stupid and highly paid.

Man, I'm venting again. Let me answer your question. Amien is not a benzodiazapine but in a new class of drugs called Imidazopyridines.
Dr. Dement discusses it in his book and comments that each medicine has its strong and weak points and of course a good physician should note individual responses which vary.
Ambien actually has been around for a while, used for about 10 yrs in Europe before USA approval.
Sonata, also has been used in Europe and is relatively new to the US. Sonata is another weird named class of drugs also not a benzo.
However, both drugs do work similarly to the benzos, affecting some of the same neurotransmitter sites. But little anxiety reducing effects. Neither drug is known to cause addiction or dependency, except for possible psychological dependency which can happen to anything, including chocolate. One real strong feature of these 2 meds is that it usually takes a long time before you may need increased dosages which is referred to as tolerance (your system gets used to it) However, if you search the internet you will find all sorts of horror stories
of addiction, heart attacks, losing ones mind, raping and killing the family goat, etc. etc. etc.

I myself mentioned that the Restoril gave me some very vivid nightmares. Does that mean Restoril doesn't work? No. Just that on that night I had a bad nightmare. Do I use Restoril anymore? No.
I don't want nightmares. Simple enough.
Actually, I sound like an Ambien salesman but it doesn't give me refreshing sleep on those occassional nights when I still can't sleep. I really like Klonopin. But thats me. And Klonopin is a benzo.

What about "sleep debt." Dr. Dement states that you will have to at some time repay each hour thats lost. This can sound scary... like emptying the sleep piggy bank. He's probably right but I don't think he's suggesting a dramatic degradation of the human organism until.... poof, death from slumber chapter 13.

Read above on how little sleep I lived on for about a year. About 8 hours a week (on a good week). Yes it sucked. However I functioned day to day pretty good. My day job is a teacher. I had some memory loss, was worried to hell with what was happening to me. But I lived through it.
It takes time. Hope. Humor. And some good friends. Hang in there Lyn, I made it and YOU WILL TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peace be with you,
Mike (from last year)

Follow Ups:

• Re: to Mike Lynda 09:52 5/26/01 (0)

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