Bipolar Disorder Support Group
Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.
Ever since the local CVS started using the generic form of ambien made by the torrent pharmaceutical company instead of TEVA I noticed they don't work for jack.
I know it's the company and not ambien it's self, as the handful of old pills made by TEVA still actually work.
I found out from the pharmacist I can have them specially order from TEVA if I call five days ahead. But that's too late for the time being as I just had a scrip filled. I have a whole month of waiting till I can ask for more.
I also noticed that the plain form of adderall sucks too. The EX R was working sooooo well! But since being on the plain adderall which is a lower dose I feel nothing. And I tried Ritalin slow release which also sucks. I've never found ritalin to effectively treat my ADD. Concerta, Dexadrine, and Adderal so far have been pretty good with adderal being the best so far. The reason for the switch is because my very shitty Snp (medicare special needs program) doesn't cover all but exactly 5 medications which two are actually the same. None of them are extended release either. The slow release only lasts for 8 hours which I need it to last more than that.
My bed time keeps getting later and later again. I'm back to sleeping for 12 hours instead of the normal 7-8 which the ambien use to correct. I know it's not the ADD meds though because not taking them has no baring on being wide awake at night. I also was unmedicated for ADD for two years and still could not sleep at night while sleeping all day into the late after noon. Like 2pm-4pm! I was off them for two years.
this isn't the work of a bed time schedule gone wrong as I have tried going to bed early but I end up going back downstairs because I'm wide awake and can not sleep. I've tried staying awake all day so that I can be tired the next night only to be re-awaken at night!
And several days of sleep deprivation do nothing to correct it. The only way I was managing this was through sleep aids. And ambien was the only one that didn't make me over sleep and feel drugged out all day long. I'm just trying to sleep at night not all day long too! Also I find that over the counter sleep aids cause head aches. I've also tried melanin? I can't remember now but it didn't do anything!
I'm at wits end as my GP will not take me seriously. He just dismisses this as being a symptom of bi polar when I've never heard of people with this problem as a norm. Sure people can become insomnia but it's usually not for two years long! Also I feel alert and really refreshed as soon as night fall hits but tired and lazy during the day. I know some people have said that sunlight helps but it doesn't.
I also know my period effects this as well. When I actually get a period I get a huge burst of energy all my meds feel a lot stronger and I get to be normal for a few days. It's not pre menstrual either it's exactly from the moment it starts to the moment it finishes.
The reason I'm complaining about this is because I can't take this sleep pattern any more. And I'm curious if any one else has this problem.
What are every one's thoughts on this?
I know it's the company and not ambien it's self, as the handful of old pills made by TEVA still actually work.
I found out from the pharmacist I can have them specially order from TEVA if I call five days ahead. But that's too late for the time being as I just had a scrip filled. I have a whole month of waiting till I can ask for more.
I also noticed that the plain form of adderall sucks too. The EX R was working sooooo well! But since being on the plain adderall which is a lower dose I feel nothing. And I tried Ritalin slow release which also sucks. I've never found ritalin to effectively treat my ADD. Concerta, Dexadrine, and Adderal so far have been pretty good with adderal being the best so far. The reason for the switch is because my very shitty Snp (medicare special needs program) doesn't cover all but exactly 5 medications which two are actually the same. None of them are extended release either. The slow release only lasts for 8 hours which I need it to last more than that.
My bed time keeps getting later and later again. I'm back to sleeping for 12 hours instead of the normal 7-8 which the ambien use to correct. I know it's not the ADD meds though because not taking them has no baring on being wide awake at night. I also was unmedicated for ADD for two years and still could not sleep at night while sleeping all day into the late after noon. Like 2pm-4pm! I was off them for two years.
this isn't the work of a bed time schedule gone wrong as I have tried going to bed early but I end up going back downstairs because I'm wide awake and can not sleep. I've tried staying awake all day so that I can be tired the next night only to be re-awaken at night!
And several days of sleep deprivation do nothing to correct it. The only way I was managing this was through sleep aids. And ambien was the only one that didn't make me over sleep and feel drugged out all day long. I'm just trying to sleep at night not all day long too! Also I find that over the counter sleep aids cause head aches. I've also tried melanin? I can't remember now but it didn't do anything!
I'm at wits end as my GP will not take me seriously. He just dismisses this as being a symptom of bi polar when I've never heard of people with this problem as a norm. Sure people can become insomnia but it's usually not for two years long! Also I feel alert and really refreshed as soon as night fall hits but tired and lazy during the day. I know some people have said that sunlight helps but it doesn't.
I also know my period effects this as well. When I actually get a period I get a huge burst of energy all my meds feel a lot stronger and I get to be normal for a few days. It's not pre menstrual either it's exactly from the moment it starts to the moment it finishes.
The reason I'm complaining about this is because I can't take this sleep pattern any more. And I'm curious if any one else has this problem.
What are every one's thoughts on this?
My pharmacist said he was surprised on one else complained about it yet. I think it's probably because the general population is too ignorant on the fact that generic medications come from many different companies. There isn't just one generic form there are always many competitors. It just depends on what your pharmacy decides to order.
Don't feel bad though I didn't know about it much either. It's just that I was desperate to find out why the pills changed appearances and suddenly stopped working!
Also a description of what the pill should look like should be some where on your pill bottle. If something changes they have to slap a sticker on it saying the appearance has changed the first time you have it filled after the change. If you want to know who makes your generic it is also listed on the bottle right below the description in very small print. It will be right after the MFR:
I think most people are unaware of these things simply because no one bothers to explain. I know I never noticed these things before. I did notice the side effects but never looked at the very tiny print on the bottom of the label.
Mostly because I only care about how it's suppose to be used. I use the CVS that's closest to my home. The nice thing about it is that the pharmacy is open until the store closes which is 9pm. the ones closer to the city for some reason close at 5pm. That plus I can walk to it if for some reason I have a lack of other transportation.
But I just never really looked because it just wasn't important. I assumed I already new what the label had on it from all my years and years of being medicated.
But I do have ADD so a lot of things go un- noticed by me. While unmedicated I can not notice the world around me, I'm oblivious to it. And it's not for my lack of trying. For some reason my brain just can't process the information fast enough to do both. Also I noticed I can't put together the more persuasive sentences or read people very well off them. I also have a much harder time spotting predators and get taken advantage of.
I feel like if assholes could fly this place would be an airport! You have to keep a weary eye on them.
Still I can't maintain a steady sleep schedule with out the ambien. So far it is the only thing that works well. Other wise anything else is not worth it nor does it correct the problem of over sleeping that I have. And 12 hours is unacceptable. That's half a day wasted!
If it was so unhealthy to miss sleep I would never sleep. But some times my body forces me to and it's always in the day time never at night. I also can't function with out proper sleep. It effects both the bi polar and the ADD. Some people thrive on lack of sleep but I'm not one of them.