Posted by Bela on August 31, 2004, at 14:26:50
In reply to Re: Ambien or Ativan?, posted by Minnie-Haha on August 31, 2004, at 13:58:10
> > Marsha, I am actually beginnning to think that the Ambien encourages depression, too. I realize that may come as bad news, and until recently, I thought the opposite, but now I am not sure. Yes, I get a reasonably good sleep from it, but frequently I wake up very depressed and often remain so all day or at least until the effects of the Ambien wear off. I don't know if there is a relationship there or not;it is confusing to me. All I know is that prior to gettng hooked on Ambien in 1997, I was a morning person, and loved the early morning. I rarely had a problem getting up. Of course I was a little younger then, too, but the difference now is profound; I loathe many mornings now days.
>
> It's really confusing, depressing, etc., how often drugs that are supposed to help anxiety, depression, insomnia, etc., list as side effects anxiety, depression, insomnia, etc.!
>
> For instance, at HealthSquare.com, Ambien's rather short list of common side effects is: allergy, daytime drowsiness, dizziness, drugged feeling, headache, indigestion, and nausea. However, the list of less common side effects (over 70!) includes anxiety, depression, and insomnia. On the other hand, HealthSquare's list of Ativan's more common side effects is: dizziness, sedation (excessive calm), unsteadiness, and weakness. But it's list of less common side effects (12) includes agitation, depression, and sleep disturbance.
>
>As best I can tell, we have just scratched the surface on the so-called "side effects" of the various psychiatric and sleep drugs. If you want a wake-up call, read Breggin and Cohen's book, "Your Drug May Be Your Problem" and Glenmullen's "Prozac Backlash." Over the past 7 years I have taken at least 16 different prescription drugs for depression and insomnia (that I remember) and I am absolutely convinced that they created much bigger problems (for me) than they solved. But I believe it is a Catch-22, because once your brain chemistry has made adjustments to the drugs, those changes may be permanent and going back to "the old days" may be impossible. I have tried EVERY method suggested in the insomnia books to get off Ambien and have failed. The only one I didn't try was staying up until 4 a.m. and sleeping about 2 hours every night for a week, followed by 3 a.m. for a week, etc., until you sleep through the night. Great plan if you have won the lottery and don't need to be able to tie your shoe laces the next day!
Bela
poster:Bela
thread:381490
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040830/msgs/384826.html