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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by zazenduck on May 5, 2006, at 11:00:24
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20060505-010509-4738r.htm
And ya know what? It sounds plausible to me. (Not that it excused his preferential treatment if he got it.)
But I wonder if it will get Ambien pulled off the market by the resulting publicity. That stuff could be a public health hazard if people are taking off in the middle of the night under the influence. He is really lucky he didn't kill someone.
I read that he had been open about his own bipolar diagnosis and I feel a lot of sympathy for him .
Posted by Mandy on May 5, 2006, at 12:13:36
In reply to Kennedy blames Ambien and Phenergin, posted by zazenduck on May 5, 2006, at 11:00:24
> http://washingtontimes.com/national/20060505-010509-4738r.htm
>
> And ya know what? It sounds plausible to me. (Not that it excused his preferential treatment if he got it.)
>
> But I wonder if it will get Ambien pulled off the market by the resulting publicity. That stuff could be a public health hazard if people are taking off in the middle of the night under the influence. He is really lucky he didn't kill someone.
>
> I read that he had been open about his own bipolar diagnosis and I feel a lot of sympathy for him .I had a MAJOR problem with ambien--it is so seductive. It only puts you to sleep for an hour or two and then you crave more and more. I would take it and do things that I never remembered. Once I made a dinner plan with my husband and he called to find out why I wasn't there. I had to go to treatment to get off the drug and yet there are times I still crave it. I think it should be taken off the market. It does not excuse Kennedy's behavior but I honestly believe the drug is so seductive that people do not realize until it is too late what it is doing to them.
Posted by ed_uk on May 5, 2006, at 13:40:24
In reply to Re: Kennedy blames Ambien and Phenergin, posted by Mandy on May 5, 2006, at 12:13:36
Ambien is a useful sleeping drug. Like all drugs, it has risks. It isn't going to be taken off the market.
Ed
Posted by willyee on May 5, 2006, at 17:10:12
In reply to Re: Kennedy blames Ambien and Phenergin, posted by ed_uk on May 5, 2006, at 13:40:24
Ambien is a excellent drug for me,i take partial tab as the aim is not for the drug to KNOCK u out but rahter take small doses to see if it will aid u in trying to get to sleep the way u normaly would.
If someone is taking it as to have it in a blink make them wanna sleep,then that is a hazard.I think a doc and patient should work hard at this aim of using the drug as an AID to getting to sleep,not as a bomb that knocks u out.
I use a partial tab,and dont think about it,difference is when i turn to the side to go to sleep i do.When i just simply took an entire tab i felt like crap,high and yucky.Theres no way a dosage in tab form can be elected to suite everyone,thats why i break apart almost every pill that u can and attempt to use the lowest dose possable,i have a bottle of tons of klonopin pieaces as well as ambien,i do not at all crave it,and it has no after effects.Ambien has saved me from that gut wrenching up at 3 am alone roaming the house depression,and im thankful its been working steadly.
The kennedy situation is obviously a case of abuse,first i have gotten high from script drugs,and no matter how bad i was i ALWAYS knew driving was not an option,never ever ever.
Second he is just now admitting to the actual reason,who knows what his coctail that night really incluided,and why would u be on ambien 2 am and not in bed,but RATHER on the streets driving!
Lol if someone thought this situation was a good reference to remove the drug would need one heck of a lawyer.
Posted by gibber on May 5, 2006, at 19:49:08
In reply to Re: Kennedy blames Ambien and Phenergin, posted by willyee on May 5, 2006, at 17:10:12
Kennedy has admitted drug addiction. It's not fair to take drug off the market because a minority of people respond adversely or become addicted. I took ambien for a few nights and was happy with its effects.
article about his drug addiction:
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20060505-035223-8283r.htm
Posted by tygereyes on May 5, 2006, at 21:40:21
In reply to Re: Kennedy blames Ambien and Phenergin, posted by gibber on May 5, 2006, at 19:49:08
Far more people become addicted to benzodiazepines than Ambien.
If Xanax hasn't been taken off the market yet, I'm pretty sure that Ambien is safe.
Posted by Phillipa on May 5, 2006, at 22:00:55
In reply to Kennedy blames Ambien and Phenergin, posted by zazenduck on May 5, 2006, at 11:00:24
I think they are all safe if you don't take more than your doc prescribes. Love Phillipa
Posted by zazenduck on May 6, 2006, at 10:50:38
In reply to Re: Kennedy blames Ambien and Phenergin » zazenduck, posted by Phillipa on May 5, 2006, at 22:00:55
I thought Halcion had been taken off the market for similiar problems but apparently not.
What's troubling to me is the apparently random nature of some of these incidents. Kennedy may or may not have been taking it in an unapproved fashion but some others report taking it as directed and experiencing this sleep driving walking cooking etc. There seems to be no way to know who will experience it or why. And what's most troubling to me is that taking it as prescribed is not a gaurantee that this won't happen.
I think side effects are usually tremendously underreported and wonder how many times things like this are actually happening. I can't help wondering too what would happen legally if someone not a Kennedy is caught driving under the influence of it. According to the TV lawyer guy that is still a crime even if it is a prescribed drug. But to me it seems like it is not something you could control unless you have someone lock you in your room and take away the keys etc. How can you be responsible for something you are doing unconsciously?
I won't be taking Ambien again personally, but you are probably right that it won't be pulled off the market.
Just musing when I should be doing something more useful :)
Posted by tygereyes on May 6, 2006, at 11:01:45
In reply to Re: Kennedy blames Ambien and Phenergin, posted by zazenduck on May 6, 2006, at 10:50:38
I HATE that I have to take Ambien because it causes sleep-eating for me - totally uncontrolled and unconscious. Example: last night, the last thing I remember is getting into bed to go to sleep. This morning, I wake up with plates of food sitting on my floor that I apparently ate last night. DEVASTATING for someone in semi-recovery from anorexia, this lack of control over food-related behaviors.
But alas I can't take benzos, Seroquel doesn't work for sleep anymore, and I have zero other options.
Thank God I don't have a car.
Posted by MidnightBlue on May 6, 2006, at 14:28:16
In reply to Re: Kennedy blames Ambien and Phenergin, posted by zazenduck on May 6, 2006, at 10:50:38
For what it is worth a doctor--a plastic surgeon actually--tried to use Ambien as a defense. He had been drinking, had taken a diet pill, and Ambien along with something else. He hit and almost killed two girls walking on a sidewalk.
He tried his hardest to say the Ambien made him do it. The jury didn't buy it. He also tried to say since the girls were British they didn't know what side of the road to walk on. The jury didn't buy that either.
MB
Posted by Toph on May 7, 2006, at 7:24:43
In reply to Kennedy blames Ambien and Phenergin, posted by zazenduck on May 5, 2006, at 11:00:24
If every time I did something stupid it made the papers, I'd never leave my house.
Posted by HappyGirl on May 7, 2006, at 11:06:32
In reply to Re: Kennedy blames Ambien and Phenergin, posted by Toph on May 7, 2006, at 7:24:43
Hi:
By reading the article regarding this incident, ... in my opinion, ... Mr. P. Kennedy at age 38 has been working HARD on his work, as a talented politician like his Dad. He admitted he has Bipolar Disorder along with drug abuse at his young age, however he's also willing to seek a help he needs at Mayo Clinic.He can easily live-off with his wealth as his excuse having mental ailment, Bipolar, ... however he has NEVER done that. Rather, he wants to work for the people in his own endeavour, one of which is 'mental issue,' that most of politicians seem no 'true' interest.
His med. combo. might have mistakenly been taken a wrong dosage, more likely at higher dosage or wrong time, as seeing his two meds., one of which is for his stomach problem. However, this med. Phenergin is also used for psychiatric reason, although no idea which med. made the condition aggravated to the point where he lost consciousness/memory.
H.G.
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