Insomnia Support Group
Insomnia is a symptom, rather than a disease, and is characterized by inadequate quantity or quality of sleep. People with insomnia complain of difficulty falling or staying asleep, which results in significant impairment of daytime functioning. Insomnia is categorized as transient (shorter than one week), short-term (one to three weeks) or chronic (longer than three...
I am in the Sjogren's support group. It is a autoimmune disorder. I have had insomnia for most of my adult life. I am 59 now. I am a nurse who is unable to work because of my disease. It is very frustrating and so was working on 3 or 4 hours of sleep many nights. I have been taking Zolpidem 10mg for almost 4 years. It has helped my autoimmune symptoms to at least feel lessened just by allowing me to rest.
I have had two weird episodes, 8 weeks apart and I wanted to see if anyone else has experienced or heard of anything like it. The second episode was yesterday. In both episodes I can't seem to move my legs or that it seems like they don't respond like when I wanted to turn around to cross the isle at the store I was in with the first one. Things are kind of hazy and dream like while this is happening. I have no fear or pain. No panic. It didn't seem scary while it was happening. I just seem to realize something strange is going on. Both times there are parts that I don't seem to remember well like the actual car ride to the places my husband and I went. My husband said that the first time it happened he did notice I was walking funny but he isn't able to describe what funny meant! I must not seem way out there when this happens because he really doesn't notice. He did say that when we got in the car to go pick up a pizza today that I just sat there. He told me to put my seat belt on and I just said "oh" and put it on. I remember ordering the pizza from home but don't remember what I did the next 20 minutes until we left the house. I didn't put my glasses on or take my purse which is unusual. I do remember leaving. Don't remember the ride to the restaurant but do remember pulling in the parking lot. I remember being in the restaurant and impulsively asking if they had any dessert. Don't remember the ride home but do remember in a sketchy way getting out of the car. I remember eating and enjoying my food and felt happy. It wasn't until maybe a couple hours later while walking my dog that I fully came back to myself and realized I had had another episode.
This is so weird. I know I will have to go see a Dr but like most chronically ill people I hate going. They already think you are nuts anyway!!! Just wanted to check with people on this site to see if they have ever heard of this type of episode in relation to Ambien type meds or otherwise. Thank you. Pam
I have had two weird episodes, 8 weeks apart and I wanted to see if anyone else has experienced or heard of anything like it. The second episode was yesterday. In both episodes I can't seem to move my legs or that it seems like they don't respond like when I wanted to turn around to cross the isle at the store I was in with the first one. Things are kind of hazy and dream like while this is happening. I have no fear or pain. No panic. It didn't seem scary while it was happening. I just seem to realize something strange is going on. Both times there are parts that I don't seem to remember well like the actual car ride to the places my husband and I went. My husband said that the first time it happened he did notice I was walking funny but he isn't able to describe what funny meant! I must not seem way out there when this happens because he really doesn't notice. He did say that when we got in the car to go pick up a pizza today that I just sat there. He told me to put my seat belt on and I just said "oh" and put it on. I remember ordering the pizza from home but don't remember what I did the next 20 minutes until we left the house. I didn't put my glasses on or take my purse which is unusual. I do remember leaving. Don't remember the ride to the restaurant but do remember pulling in the parking lot. I remember being in the restaurant and impulsively asking if they had any dessert. Don't remember the ride home but do remember in a sketchy way getting out of the car. I remember eating and enjoying my food and felt happy. It wasn't until maybe a couple hours later while walking my dog that I fully came back to myself and realized I had had another episode.
This is so weird. I know I will have to go see a Dr but like most chronically ill people I hate going. They already think you are nuts anyway!!! Just wanted to check with people on this site to see if they have ever heard of this type of episode in relation to Ambien type meds or otherwise. Thank you. Pam
Talking to your doc is a good idea. Maybe a lesser dose will work for you, and maybe that will help with these episodes.
You can also try the plethora of other sleep hygiene ideas to improve sleep that do not involve drugs, if you are not already doing so.
CBT for insomnia is a non-drug program that seems to help many people.
Hypnos07, You are so welcome to my details! I am pleased someone took the time to read them. I have tried the natural route, teas, herbs, melatonin, breathing, prayer. Nothing ever worked. I just dragged myself around and worked on little and even no sleep for years. Vacations were always bad because I couldn't sleep etc. It placed a lot of stress on my emotions and body for years.
Has anyone here heard of the Fisher Wallace thing? I just found it today. Search it and see what you think!
Curiousmo, To think that I was irritated at my Dr in Co for only giving me 5mg! He was doing the right thing probably! I did not know that. All the other MD's and NP's I worked with prescribed 10mg. I will look up CBT right now. Thanks for giving me something more to consider.
For a few days after each step down, I experienced increased insomnia. This improved. I took it slow. I have read some reports of adverse reactions to withdrawal. This did not happen to me,. I only had increased insomnia, I suggest you ask your doc for help if you experience any difficulty with the step down process.
It took me about 2 months to fully stop taking Ambien.