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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dona on November 11, 2000, at 14:00:23
I have a very hard time sleeping and ambien works great for me but I have started increasing the dosage. I know it is wrong, but it feels so good to numb my mind at times. The question is will the ambien cause me to be more depressed?/ I take 60mg of Prozac a day.
Posted by Ted R on November 12, 2000, at 17:11:20
In reply to Will ambien cause depression, posted by Dona on November 11, 2000, at 14:00:23
> I have a very hard time sleeping and ambien works great for me but I have started increasing the dosage. I know it is wrong, but it feels so good to numb my mind at times. The question is will the ambien cause me to be more depressed?/ I take 60mg of Prozac a day.
>Ambien should not cause depression. As a matter of fact, alot of Pdocs like to use Ambien with Prozac, because ambien can improve REM sleep and stage 3 and 4 levels, allowing a patient to feel more refreshed, rested, and returned back to a more normal sleep pattern. Prozac, at least initially, can decrease the quality and quantity of sleep. A person should not need to take more than 10mgs a night of Ambien, because it most selectively targets the sleep receptors.(benzo sleep receptor sight) It is uncommon to develop tolerance to Ambien, and to continue to need to escalate dosage, if you are just using it to treat insomnia.
Posted by coral on November 13, 2000, at 13:52:53
In reply to Re: Will ambien cause depression, posted by Ted R on November 12, 2000, at 17:11:20
Ted,
It was my understanding that Ambien was very addictive. I've been most cautious in using it for this reason. You seem very knowledgeable and perhaps you could help me understand.
Thank you.
Coral
Posted by anita on November 15, 2000, at 17:10:52
In reply to Will ambien cause depression, posted by Dona on November 11, 2000, at 14:00:23
Hi,
I haven't heard of Ambien causing or increasing depression, so I wouldn't worry about that. Theoretically, it can improve depression. What dose are you taking? If you take it every day for longer than 2 weeks, you can develop a tolerance to it and need to take higher doses. That's not good. Try taking a "holiday" from it every few days.
When I first tried Ambien, 10mg knocked me out. Now, when I take it occasionally for insomnia, I need 20mg. Interestingly, 10mg seems to make me "happy," maybe by relaxing me, but I don't think that's typical at all.
anita
> I have a very hard time sleeping and ambien works great for me but I have started increasing the dosage. I know it is wrong, but it feels so good to numb my mind at times. The question is will the ambien cause me to be more depressed?/ I take 60mg of Prozac a day.
Posted by kazoo on November 16, 2000, at 1:30:24
In reply to Re: Will ambien cause depression, posted by anita on November 15, 2000, at 17:10:52
> Theoretically, it can improve depression.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Is that a fact?
Could you please expound on this statement further ... theoretically, or otherwise.
The fact that these CNS 'depressants' do exactly that lends little creedence
to such speculation on your part (I presume).kazoo
Posted by anita on November 16, 2000, at 6:51:19
In reply to Re: Will ambien cause depression ^ Really? » anita, posted by kazoo on November 16, 2000, at 1:30:24
Kazoo,
I'm not sure if I've been insulted, but I'll answer the question. _Theoretically_, Ambien could conceivably help alleviate depression in two ways:
1. It increases stage 3 and stage 4 sleep, which tends to be diminished in depression. Depression in general has been strongly linked to sleep dysfunction. Many antidepressants help regulate the sleep cycle, primarily by increasing those levels of deep sleep.
2. Ambien increases GABA, a neurotransmitter implicated in anxiety and other psych disorders.anita
> > Theoretically, it can improve depression.
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Is that a fact?
> Could you please expound on this statement further ... theoretically, or otherwise.
> The fact that these CNS 'depressants' do exactly that lends little creedence
> to such speculation on your part (I presume).
>
> kazoo
Posted by Ted R on November 19, 2000, at 17:01:24
In reply to Re: Will ambien cause depression, posted by coral on November 13, 2000, at 13:52:53
> Ted,
>
> It was my understanding that Ambien was very addictive. I've been most cautious in using it for this reason. You seem very knowledgeable and perhaps you could help me understand.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Coral>Ambien is much less addictive and tolerance is much less likely to develop, because it selectively stimulates the GABA receptor sight involved only with sedation and sleep. It does not impact the anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, and musculoskeletal receptor sights that would be impacted or acted on, by say Xanax or valium, at its therapeutic doses. Thus it is unlikely for patients to abuse it, because it is absent the "buzz." A person theoretically, would already reach a sleep stage, before they would experience euphoria. There are a couple of European studies that involved long term use of Ambien of a year to two, where tolerance, abuse and escalation of dosage did not occur with any significance. Let's face it, there are very few studies, that have been designed to look at good long term treatments for chronic insomnia. Just because of a lack of good empiric data on chronic sleep problems in general, why should a person be denied treatment with Ambien, if inability to get a good night's sleep, is a chief part of his symptomology? Also Ambien can help improve a major symptom of depression, insomnia,with its selectivity and a lack of negative effect on a person's mood while awake. thus it can be a great adjunct in a person's treatment of depression.
Posted by coral on November 19, 2000, at 22:05:55
In reply to Re: Will ambien cause depression, posted by Ted R on November 19, 2000, at 17:01:24
Dear Ted,
Thank you for the information. I've been cautious with it because I was concerned about possible addictions.
Coral
Posted by Terlo on November 26, 2000, at 19:21:08
In reply to Re: Will ambien cause depression, posted by coral on November 19, 2000, at 22:05:55
I took Ambien for a short time. It caused hallucinations. I also noticed within a few days that it worsened my depression. I read about this reaction also online in BehavNews Digest July 27-Aug 3, 1998.
Terry
Posted by lansolut on May 20, 2003, at 22:26:24
In reply to Re: Will ambien cause depression, posted by coral on November 19, 2000, at 22:05:55
I used Ambien for about four days, during which I noticed a marked worsening of my depression. Quiting the Ambien solved the problem. By the way, I've noticed the same effect with Claritin - confirmed by my Doc.
Posted by jcat on May 24, 2003, at 9:22:24
In reply to Will ambien cause depression, posted by Dona on November 11, 2000, at 14:00:23
I've been on ambian and I have not noticed any increase in my depression. I've been bi-polar for years and the ambien makes no difference. I also have not built up a tolerance ie. steadily increasing dosage. 99 percent of the time 10 mil have me asleep in 1/2 hour the other 1% -- when I am completely stress or worried 15 mils will do it. I also don't think I'm addicted -- if I don't take it I don;t get to sleep til dawn -- but then again that's what I was like before. All my life.
This is the end of the thread.
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