Posted by MelanieG on April 28, 2012, at 20:31:42
Hi - I wanted to provide an update on me. You might recall I posted about a month ago with my symptoms of anxiety and possible post traumatic stress from a very traumatic experience in my life. I began experiencing dizziness on an almost daily basis last June. And I believe that caused panic attacks.
Well - I stopped taking Ambien, which I've been on for about 3 years now. It was a very low dose - half a pill per night. I tapered myself off by taking one half of a half for a few nights and then stopped completely. I now take one Melatonin a night but I probably do not even need that.
I have NO problems sleeping at all. Not falling asleep - nor staying asleep. Sometimes I wake up but then go right back to sleep. I have MUCH MUCH better sleep quality and now I dream again whereas on Ambien I did not. I wake up feeling refreshed and well rested and do not require as much sleep. Best of all - my dizziness is gone! No more feeling edgy, jumpy, sensitivity to noise, panicky etc.
It is my belief that I was going through some sort of physical withdrawal each day from the Ambien. My body is very very sensitive to any kind of drug. I react VERY strongly to even the smallest dose of most medications and only require a small dose of most. you might recall I was taking one half of a .25 Xanax which gave me relief from the dizziness. I have not needed to take a Xanax in weeks!
I just wanted to pass this information along in case it might help someone else. It is very possible that I was having a longterm side effect to years of Ambien. I am still seeing a therapist every other week and she helps me immensely - but I am feeling better than I have in a long time. I still believe I have a tendency to anxiety in general but I think the ambien or reaction to it the next day might have possibly had something to do with how I was feeling.
All the best to everyone on here! :)
poster:MelanieG
thread:1016647
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120425/msgs/1016647.html