Getting Off Ambien/My Story

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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Jere
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Getting Off Ambien/My Story

Post by Jere » Sat Oct 08, 2005 10:35 pm

I started this as a response to the 'getting off ambien' thread, but - as as I kept typing - it became more than that. Getting off ambien was only one part of the reply, so I thought I would make a new thread.

Here is the way I was able to stop taking ambien. I had been taking it for at least 4 years.

I have always been a terrible insomniac. It started in my late teens and never let go. It is not a fun problem to deal with, as most doctors either blame the patient (my favorite: "try to be less stressed") or did not understand the problem or know how to treat it. Nothing coherent was ever done, but I was successful in obtaining medication.

At one point I was taking way too many medications from too many doctors. I would have this problem and go to that doctor, and then get another rx from another dr. And so on. For my insomnia and I was taking zoloft and ambien and ativan, each from different doctors. This cocktail worked on the insomnia, but I still did not feel 'right'. Sleep is so precious, that I went right on taking this stuff for a long time.

I finally went to my psych and complained about the weird stuff the zoloft was doing. She sent me to a pharma-psychiatrist and he took my history and then suggested that he do something none of the other doctors would do: he would talk to my psych, my internist and my sleep doc and together they would figure out a plan of action. I was stunned. This had never happened before.

Long story short, everyone talked, and together they determined that my insomnia was not due entirely to anxiety (as I was told over and over again) but was was likely caused mostly by an inherited bi-polar-type disorder. This stunned me even more. I have a long marriage, great kids and a successful career - how could I be bi-polar? On the other hand, my mother and her side of the family have a horrific history of bi-polar, schizophrenia, depression, alcoholism and suicide (nice list isn't it?).

The pharma-psych put me on low dose lithium. Immediately, my insomnia of 20 years began to ebb. I started to put the ambien on the night table and take it only if I needed it (without berating myself if I took it). I started skipping it a few days a week, then I was skipping it more often. Finally, I just stopped putting it on the night stand. Now I take one every few weeks.

I also weaned myself off the zoloft. That was way worse than getting off the ambien It took 8 weeks of very slowly decreasing the dose (and still had a few weeks of the zaps).

Part of the pact with the doctors was that I would agree to have a sleep study (something I had fought for years). I had had one several years ago, but - with the insomnia - it turned into a sleepless fiasco. This time, I had the sleep study (I actually slept!), and I was diagnosed with apnea.

These days I am feeling better than I have for as long as I can remember. It's like a I re-discovered my sense of humor. I even cried recently (a shocker to the wife).

CPAP has been the icing on the cake. I sleep better than ever and no more snoring.

I still am working to wean off the little ativan I still take. It will be a slow process, but - hey - I have the confidence that I never had before. It'll get done.

So that's my story, for what it is worth.

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Last edited by Jere on Sun Oct 09, 2005 12:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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rock and roll
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Post by rock and roll » Sat Oct 08, 2005 11:14 pm

Way to go Jere!

I am not familiar with that specialization. It would be interesting to talk with such as I am treated for so many illnesses myself, Crohn's, high blood pressure, high choresterol, diabetes, acid reflux, rhuematoid arthritis, migraines. I have often wondered if any of the doctors know the action of all the drugs. Many don't even know what some of them are and run to their books. Where did you find this specialist if I can ask?

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Post by MissAmethyst2U » Sat Oct 08, 2005 11:38 pm

Many don't even know what some of them are and run to their books.
OMG! Isn't that the truth...I asked my doc to write me a new rx last time I was there for my acne gel stuff that she has gave me before. How about she pulls out her book and cant seem to find what she is looking for and was like hmm I cant remember whats in it and I had to tell her! I was like ummm erythromycin and benzyl peroxide she was like are you sure I was like positive and I was right of course. I mean I am supposed to trust my doctor! Do you really want to put your life in the hands of someone who you seem to know more than lol. Whats with docs these days?

Jere, sooo glad you finally got things straight and are feeling better. I know all about weaning off liek Zoloft as I took Prozac for 3 yrs and omg it was a nightmare to get off! after that then I had problems with getting slightly addicted to Ativan. Now I am off of it all.

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Post by LynfromOz » Sun Oct 09, 2005 7:17 am

You guys are amazing! I know that it's no mean feat to go off long-term medications. Fantastic!!!!!!!!!

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Jere
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Post by Jere » Sun Oct 09, 2005 10:41 am

I had never heard of a 'pharma-psychiatrist' either. They are psychiatrists (and therefore MD's) who specialize in the drug-end of the business. This guy is up on all of the studies of what each of the anti-depressants do (and don't do) plus all of the other brain chemical drugs. After listening to the side-effects I endured from zoloft (and a few other anti-depressants I have taken), he said that these meds were clearly not the answer for me. He asked a lot of questions about my family history. Once he heard about about all of the mental-illness on my mother's side of the family (which everyone hid from me until I started asking), he moved his focus towards something that could be inherited. This particular bi-polar disorder is very much an inherited trait; it can be mild (as in my case) or debilitating (as in my mother's case).

This Dr. works at George Washington University in DC. I would assume you can find them attached to most medical centers and universities with a medical school.

It's been 6 months. Everyday is not perfect, but everyday is better than the days I was on zoloft. And I sleep every night (and I cannot stress how wonderful it has been).

I think it took all that re-jiggering for me to be in a position to add CPAP to my life. I knew I needed it (just the snoring told me so), but I was fighting so many other battles that I resisted doing anything more. I am glad I did, as the CPAP has made the quality of the sleep I had been getting so much better. Last night I strapped on my mask at 12:30 and slept straight until 10:45 this morning - I have not done that since I was in college.

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Last edited by Jere on Sun Oct 09, 2005 11:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by lindas88 » Sun Oct 09, 2005 11:26 am

I think if a doctor looks in a book to check out medications, then they are a good doctor and are just double checking....and that to me is a good thing. I am on lots of meds, and my doctor checks her book all the time...she checks to make sure the amount is right, and if I can take a certain drug with another drug I may be taking. Plus there are always new medications coming out...they have to keep up with them. That's just my opinion...
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Post by Sleepless on LI » Sun Oct 09, 2005 11:30 am

Jere,

Your post made ME cry. Very inspirational and encouraging story to never give up. You KNEW something was not right, you stuck with finding out what it was and how to fix it, followed the plan and were successful.

I am so happy to hear your sleep is better, you are healthier now and actually are feeling honest emotions. What more could you ask for? I'm sure your family has noticed the "new and improved" Jere, too.

Congratulations on a job very well done and thanks for sharing it with us all.
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Jere
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Post by Jere » Sun Oct 09, 2005 12:36 pm

Thanks, Lori.

I hesitated to write all that down. Sometimes it comes out like a lot of whining (or people read it that way). To the contrary, I like to think that I was successful only by being pro-active in my medical care. My ultimate goal is to be medicine-free. Nature, however, has thrown in a few curves that makes that goal impossible. Even an impossible goal is worth struggling for..
"First rule of holes: when you are in one, stop digging"

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Post by Sleepless on LI » Sun Oct 09, 2005 12:47 pm

Jere wrote:Thanks, Lori.

I hesitated to write all that down. Sometimes it comes out like a lot of whining (or people read it that way). To the contrary, I like to think that I was successful only by being pro-active in my medical care. My ultimate goal is to be medicine-free. Nature, however, has thrown in a few curves that makes that goal impossible. Even an impossible goal is worth struggling for..
May I repeat, inspirational? No whining picked up in that story at all. Just a tale of perservernce and determination, ending in success. I thank you for sharing it. It was beautiful to read.
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Post by ozij » Sun Oct 09, 2005 1:09 pm

Jere,
No way did your posts sound like whining to me!
I was glad you wrote them, and in so much detail - many of us can profit from that knowledge.

Have you read any of Kay Redfield Jamison's books about bi-polar disorders? She is a psychiatrist, well know researcher on bi-polar disease, and has it herself.

Her first book "Touched with Fire" tracks the genetics and connection of bi-polar disease with literary talent, a second, very impressive one "An Unquiet Mind:A Memoir of Moods and Madness" is her autobiography.

O.

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Post by rock and roll » Sun Oct 09, 2005 1:25 pm

Jere,


It is not whining to give the rest of hope. I learned sonething from you and that is the reason we are here, to learn and to get help.

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rock and roll
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Post by rock and roll » Sun Oct 09, 2005 1:26 pm

that would be the rest of us

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Jere
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Post by Jere » Sun Oct 09, 2005 2:23 pm

ozij wrote:Jere,
Have you read any of Kay Redfield Jamison's books about bi-polar disorders? She is a psychiatrist, well know researcher on bi-polar disease, and has it herself.

Her first book "Touched with Fire" tracks the genetics and connection of bi-polar disease with literary talent, a second, very impressive one "An Unquiet Mind:A Memoir of Moods and Madness" is her autobiography..
I have not read these, but I think I will hop on Amazon and order them. More knowledge = more power.

Thanks!

"First rule of holes: when you are in one, stop digging"

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Post by rested gal » Sun Oct 09, 2005 2:45 pm

Jere, that's a wonderful account! You, too, MissAmethyst.

And Jere, this sounded mighty good:
"Last night I strapped on my mask at 12:30 and slept straight until 10:45 this morning - I have not done that since I was in college."

Fantastic!

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Post by Sleepless on LI » Sun Oct 09, 2005 3:09 pm

"Last night I strapped on my mask at 12:30 and slept straight until 10:45 this morning - I have not done that since I was in college."

Thanks, RG, for pointing that line out for comment. I would give someone my left arm and right leg to sleep half that much in one night without waking up. I don't think I'd need to sleep for another three nights after that.
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