Heath Ledger's Tragedy: Can You OD on Sleeping Pills?
The news of actor Heath Ledger's death this past week is an incredibly sad story, especially given the news that he had a troubled sleep life and seemingly fought hard to overcome his problems. When the news reported that the sleeping pill Lunesta was found in his apartment, my hope was that people didn't automatically assume he yanked the rug out from under himself by downing a litany of Lunesta. Apparently, other meds were in the mix, and it will take time for the toxicology report to (hopefully) pinpoint exactly what took his life.
I hear echoes of the Anna Nicole Smith case, who died last year of "combined drug intoxication" with the sleeping medication chloral hydrate, which was found in her system, being the "major component." (No illegal drugs were found in her body.) Chloral hydrate is of the old-fashioned kind of sleeping pills; it's a strong sedative--the same one speculated to be responsible (potentially) for Marilyn Monroe's premature death. Granted, I don't think it was ever determined exactly what killed Marilyn.
With today's new class of sleeping pills it's highly unlikely that you can overdose to the point that you kill yourself (there is one paper showing someone took 180 10mg tabs of Ambien and woke up 4 days later, no problems).
My point, however, isn't to remark so much on the sleeping pill topic, but rather to expound on the effects poor sleep can have on the body -- both mentally and physically. When you don't sleep, you don't make good decisions. You may not see an obvious solution while under the influence of serious sleep deprivation, especially when it's chronic and accumulates over time. And while risk-taking behavior may not change, what does is your ability to be concerned about it. Moreover, anxiety levels can intensify to the point you feel overwhelmed. At the same time, your immune system takes a dive (Mr. Ledger reportedly may have been suffering from pneumonia), and your reaction time is slowed.
And if you ask me, I think this is all a perfect recipe for disaster -- especially when one can get hold of multiple medications (even if they are prescribed by a doctor). Millions of Americans suffer from sleep deprivation for a multitude of reasons, some of them more serious than others. Mr. Ledger's death is a wake-up call to those who are suffering to seek help from qualified sleep specialists -- before it gets so out of hand as to be too late. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and fans. His artistry will be missed.
The other lesson in this tragedy is the fact we are not resilient, no matter our youth. I don't think people should act so "shocked" that a 28-year-old can die at the mercy of sleep deprivation as a root cause. Assault the body with enough stuff -- even if it all starts with just a cycle of poor sleep--and the body will rebel in some way.
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Technorati Tags: Heath Ledger, Lunesta, sleep deprivation, sleep disorders, The Sleep Doctor
62 Comments:
Dr. Breus, so is your theory that he died not of taking too many sleeping pills, per se, but the impact on his body of no sleep at all...which was then exaggerated by the other medications that he took?
I am wondering if someone were to take Trazadone 200mg and Atavin 1mg together to aid in sleep, would this be a dangerous combination? And on top of that an occasional Vicodin? And sometimes when she wakes up during the night, takes another Atavin. My sister does this and it worries me.
I'm bipolar, rapid-cycling, and I don't believe much can be done when I'm in a hypo-manic phase or a mixed state episode to remedy my inability to sleep. It is complicated by frequent urination and I can't take meds for that because i'm taking way too many meds now for cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, diabetes and the bipolar among other things. And yes, I'm losing weight--I've lost 94 pounds with 40 more to go.
I was taking Ambien CR simply to get about 5-6 hours on my worst nights (regular Ambien only gave me about 3) and have stopped because I believe it to be unsafe at any dose in my case. I frequently have used the oven and binged on food in my sleep and recently I bought something off the TV that I had no intention of buying, evidently while sound asleep. I don't want to wait until I find myself driving a car in my sleep so that's the end of Ambien CR for me. I think a sleep expert can help a lot of people who may only have 1 or 2 things wrong with them and don't take many meds, but in my case, there's not much that can be done. Even if I fall asleep easily I will wake in 3-5 hours, regardless.
However; your point is well taken, especially for healthy young people who think they can live on no sleep.
Doctor, I am by no means anything close to an expert but when I saw sleeping pills may have been involved I was reminded of what I have heard a few nurses say. " You don't give Ambien to the elderly." They say they fall into such a deep sleep and so quickly sometimes thy lay on limbs for long periods of time, it cuts off circlation and results in amputation. I don't know obviously.
I am a nurse and I will never give Ambien to the elderly. If a doctor orders it, I question it and explain to him that I don't fell comfortable with giving it and request an alternative medication. For the most part, the doctors listen and do change it.
Such a well written article. Thank you for the information and the empathy that radiates from it's words. My hope is that many, many people will be helped by your words.
Thank you for an interesting article and some insight into sleep deprivation. The sudden tragedy of Heath Ledger has left so many people saddened. I went through a long period of insomnia while going through a divorce. My Dr. finally prescribed Trasodone and then a very low dose of Clonazepam. I have been desperately trying to wean myself off both meds, I just don't like to have to rely on them. Unfortunatley, without them, I don't sleep. Can you become addicted to these meds? They have helped me tremendously to have regular sleep cycles, but again, I don't want to rely on them for the rest of my life. Any thoughts?
I think it is prudent to hold all discussions until AFTER the Tox report is in---
I will try to address the first 7 comments so far:
1)It is impossible to say why he died as of yet, however I know that with sleep deprivation the body does not react as it would on good sleep. The newer sleep meds are not teh type that should be able to kill anyone.
2) Since I do not know your sisters current situation it would be hard to comment on her meds, however I would ask her if these meds have been prescribed by her doctor that way, meaning is she taking them exactly as prescribed?
3) BiPolar is always a very complicated situation, especially with your medical history. If you are having reactions to any medication it is always best to seek the advice of your doctor.
4) With the elderly docs would use a different dossage of something like Ambien. I have never heard of loosing limbs b/c of it. I will also tell you that in our practice we have seen several elderly on the new sleeping meds and they have done quite well, if watched closely.
5) I would always defer to someone who is there with the patient. It sounds like you are a very caring individual.
6) Thank You.
7)Clonazepam can have addictive properties. I would talk with your doc about these issues and come up with a plan to help you get to where you want to be.
Sweet Dreams to all,
Dr. Mike, PhD
I finally got relief from my sleep deprivation with amitrityline. I was already on Klonipin for anxiety but it did not help me sleep. I'm more worried about my wife, who never, ever, gets more than a couple hours of sleep at a time. When she does fall into stage 3 or 4(very rarely)it can last for up to two hours and she always wakes up with a horrible headache. She's actually afraid to sleep, even if she could! I'm at my wit's end over this and I see it slowly killing her. But she won't do anything more about it as she is already on numerous medications for many health problems.
i think it is so vital to have a sleep study done if the problem lasts for too long. i dealt with sleep deprivation after a hysterectomy and finally, last year, i had a sleep study. it revealed that i have Periodic limb movement disorder and Alpha-wave eeg anomaly...and this explained my fibromyalgia. Sleep deprivation can set up a vicious cycle of poor health. With the sleep study done, then the doc could prescribe the appropriate meds- Neurontin, Benedryl, and a low dose of Klonopin. Most nights i sleep pretty good.
Question for the Dr.; Is there some way on line that a person can list ALL of the medications their doctor is prescribing to them and make sure there are no conflicting and serious or fatal side effects. I have talked to my dr. about this and the pharmacist but still concerns me. Sometimes when I take a 10 mg valium along with a relpax for a migraine and am also on phentermine to lose weight I get a HORRIBLE taste that feels is permiating up from my stomach. Like a gaseous type of foul odor and foul taste. It concerns me. Nobody else seems to be concerned about it though like my doctor or pharmacist?? Should I be concerned?? RED
How do you find GOOD sleep disordwer doctors or clinics in your area?
I THOUGHT AMBIEN WAS INVOLVED IN HEATH LEDGER'S DEATH -- AS OPPOSED TO LUNESTA. I HAVE FOUND THAT AMBIEN IS THE ONLY DRUG THAT HELPS ME SLEEP. I HAVE BEEN TAKING IT NIGHTLY SINCE 1996/7. I AM CURRENTLY TAKING 6.25 MG AMBIEN CR - ONE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NIGHT AND ONE WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. I HAVE TROUBLE FALLING ASLEEP AND STAYING ASLEEP. MY MOTHER WAS CURSED WITH INSOMNIA AND APPARENTLY SO AM I! I HAVE NO EXPECTATION OF EVER BEING ABLE TO SLEEP WITHOUT AMBIEN. MY DOCTOR MONITORS ME ON A MONTHLY BASIS. I ALSO TAKE PROZAC, KLONOPIN, DEPAKOTE, BLOOD PRESSURE MEDS AND VOLTAREN REGULARLY. ANY ADVICE OR INPUT FOR ME? THANK YOU.
I too have multiple health problems, including Chronic Fatigue & Immune Dysfunction Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Lupus, chronic pain, and depression. I am now under the care of a pain medicine specialist and am taking a narcotic pain med (20 mg. Kadian, twice daily), as well as Cymbalta, clonazepam, synthroid, Nexium for acid reflux, and antihistamines as needed (non-prescription non-drowsy ones, approved by my doctor). I recently managed to reduce the dose of clonazepam from 2 mg to 1 mg daily, but my sleep is disturbed by pain, despite the pain meds, and a sleep study showed that I do a lot of kicking, and also have alpha interference in the delta-theta range, as well as delta-theta interference in the alpha range. We don't have a sleep specialist here per se, the study was done by a neurologist (the third one we've had in town in about four years; he's since been replaced). My immune system is impaired, and I catch anything that comes around, and have it two or three times as long as anyone else. I tried Ambien for sleep, but after finding that I had done binge eating, sleep "shopping" on-line and on the phone (things I wouldn't have ordered and couldn't afford) and finally finding, one morning, ALL my medicine bottles sitting open on my kitchen counter, with no idea of how many I'd taken (I'm fairly sure I did take some, as I was groggy for a couple of days after that), I decided that I'd come close enough to doing very risky behavior on Ambien. My doctor said that my having somnambulism episodes on Ambien meant I most likely would on Lunesta or other medications as well, and suggested increasing the clonazepam again. I'm reluctant to do that, because it took about 4 months to effectively cut the dose in half. Do you have any other suggestions?
This is another example of the devastation caused by the big pharmaceutical companies. How did we ever survive wth all the FDA approved chemials we are putting into our bodies. i beleive preention is the key to a higher quality of life. lets start with the chemicals added to our foods, which cause everything from allergies to simple toxicity. Intead of choosing to eat organic foods and avoiding chemicals nd peticides in our foods we load our systems with MORE DRUGS. All this is FDA approved. But who or what is approving the FDA? Certainly not informed consumers. My suggestion is: do your own research, if you can't pronounce, it don't eat it, and use a simple,holistic approach to wellness. Someon is getting rich off of Big Pharma and our western medical system. I hope the tragic sacrifice of Ledger will open our eyes to the dangers of Pharmacy, which has its English roots in the Greek word "pharmekia" which means sorcery or witchcraft. Buyer beware!
Dr. Breus: Since Heath Ledger's death I have become overly concern about the meds I take when going to bed because of the reactions I have. Sometimes they seem to hit all at once within about 5-10 mins then other times normally about 30+ minutes and then other times they don't even seem to work. I take 1-2 Ambien CR, Klonopin 0.5 mg, Doxepin 100mg, Neurontin 900 mg, Welbutrin 150mg, Robaxin 750 mg, Lomotil 2.5/0/25, Loritab 500 to 750 mg. per nite. This are all Dr. prescribed for the numerous illnesses I have which cause me to be in significant pain daily and only sleep anywhere from 3-6 hrs per nite. The 6 hr. nites are the nites I actually get a good nite sleep. One of my dr's is considering adding rozeram to this mixture. I need your opinion please. Heath's death has opened my eyes regarding all these meds. Friends say sometimes I call them and sound drunk or times ok.
As a prescriber I get very uncomfortable reading blogs such as this one. It's not the safest thing to make assumptions about what the cause of death is-or other people's medications/combinations of medications, etc. Only the person prescribing the medication should be the one to advise the patient on what is/is not ok. This is a very complicated issue that can't be adquately addressed in a blog. I hope people don't take these comments as serious medical advice. Dr. Breus-just out of curiosity-what is your medical background?
To anonymous prescriber:
Please note that Dr. Breus agrees with you. The post clearly states that we don't know about Heath Ledger's cause of death at this time, and he restates that in his comment where he reiterates in each answer to each commenter that they need to discuss this with their doctor.
To learn about Dr. Breus, please visit his bio here.
To the commenter just above anonymous prescriber's comment:
Dr. Breus is unable to make specific recommendations for your condition. Please talk to the health professional who is prescribing your medications or your pharmacist for information about medication interactions.
Thank you all for your comments!
Thank you for clarifying that you are not giving specific medical advice.
I see the other side of this issue and see how many people can be helped with medications; I think that point relates back to your original remarks about the harm of sleep deprivation.
It is impossible to make blanket statements such as this medicine is good/bad, right/wrong, etc. Any substance you put in your body has the potential for both good and bad. There is no such thing as a totally safe drug-you're kidding yourself if you think that about any medicine. The idea is to weigh the risk of not taking a medication versus the benefit of taking it-which is different for everyone. For every person who has a horror story with a medication there are several who have gotten enormous benefit from the same medicine.
Dr. Breus: I find this an extremely irresponsible post, a vulgar use of a sensational topic to draw reader attention and proffer medical opinions that are suspect at best.
Any link between sleeping pills or other medications and purported health issues regarding Heath Ledger is intellectually dishonest because it uses correlation to imply causation.
I don't know where you get your facts, but we don't know if the late Mr. Ledger took Lunesta or any other medication on or around the time of his death. Pending toxicology reports will tell us this. The media reports all kinds of things--and they usually get it wrong. You should know better than to base an article on their version of events.
And to equate Mr. Ledger's death to Annal Nicole's is a stretch, not only because we don't know the cause of Mr, Ledger's death but we also don't know as much about his lifestyle; he was private; Anna Nicole was an exhibitionist.
I think you would far better serve you readers if you wrote an article like this AFTER the facts were released and not before.
I agree with previous comments about the inappropriate and rather sensational title of this article, and wonder why a Medical Doctor is capitolizing on the death of a respected actor. Is it the need for narcissistic attention?
I took Ambien and Ambien CR for over 4 yrs. for a Sleep disorder, not getting into Stage 4 Restorative sleep which was diagnosed at a Sleep Disorder Center. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and CFS and MFS over 12 years ago. Not much was ever said or done about it back then. After exhausting all kinds of MD's, and not sleeping hardly at all even while on Ambien, I quit cold turkey, and went on a diet, lost 40 lbs, am seeing a well-known Homeopathic Dr. who put me on natural supplements to sleep and others to help me with my energy level during the day. I am sleeping 8 hrs, and feel much more rested. Alot of the Fibro symptoms have abated. I am on a strict diet, nothing white!!! That is no white potatoes, rice, bread, pasta, etc. All this has helped immensely. It is amazing what types of food one puts into one's body affects all of these problems.I finally learned after many years of misery.
I think it's best to not take ANY medications unless it's an absolute necessity. I trust in my good Father above, and have been very blessed in my 70 years with taking NO MEDICATIONS. You have to have the Faith!!! Anonymous
I trust in my good Father above, too, and have faith, and you are blessed to have such good health. I'm glad that you appreciate it and take care of it. But I'm tired of some healthy people treating me like I'm a hypochondriac. No one here is suggesting that anyone should take pills to relieve them from all the troubles of life. Believe me, I'm not taking any medications that aren't an absolute necessity according to my doctor. Without most of them I'd have been dead ten years ago at 47. So I know my life is a gift from God more than ever.
Please, when you make this kind of statement also try to have some empathy for people whose health has failed them for whatever reason or perhaps who may have had these problems since birth. All the more reason (for all of us) to thank God for whatever health we have. I do consider that I am trying to maintain it and I pray about this and other people's health problems continuously along with all the other prayers I offer up on many subjects and the bible study I do. But I wouldn't think of telling people I don't even know that prayer and faith alone can do it. Most of us are unhappy about taking medications; we don't need to feel unnecessary guilt as well.
Lori
It is very interesting that some of the comments suggest the blog by Dr Breus is irresponsible. He did not equate Heath Ledger's death with Anna Nicole Smith's death, but instead said some people may think they are relatead and have the same cause.
Repeatedly throughout the blog, he states he does not know the reason Heath died and will not until the final autospy and toxicology reports are released. The main point of his blog is to point out the effects of poor sleep on our bodies. And to remind us that we are not invincible.
Agreed. The people who are condemning Dr. Breus without even reading what he wrote are knowitalls who should go back to writing letters to their city council members about the next door neighbor's fence being too tall or the wrong color.
I have mixed feelings on sleeping aids. On one hand I think that if their taken right and without ANY other drugs it can be helpful. On the other hand I think they can be deadly. My mother died suddenly Jan 2005. When me and my father looked at her pills we found her empty bottle of ambien which she just got filled that day along with her half empty bottle of pain tablets. My mother was not the one to commit suicide. The ambien would get her mind so messed up that she would forget that she already took one and take another. I believe that sure if you have to take something like that its okay as long as you know what your getting into and also let your family kow when you take one that way thye can take the bottle from you so something like what happened to my family doesn't happen again
Very interesting article.
The funny thing though is Ambien and Lunesta are considered extremely safe, even more safer than benzos. It has less physical side effects (although it seems to have more psychological side effects as hallucinations and amensia).
I would never dare to take Trazadone because it's relatively toxic to the cardiovascular system. It's well known that it alters the heartbeat making it more likely to have a sudden cardiac arrest, especially in patients who have history of heart problems. Also, the nurse is terribly mistaken to think that there are better alternatives to Ambien for the elderly. Other sedatives, including Trazadone and antihistamines, are well known to cause premature deaths in the elderly. Ambien and Lunesta aren't documented to cause that problem.
I don't think many people really understand exactly how those drugs work and how they affect people's health in the long run.
This is another example of the devastation caused by the big pharmaceutical companies. How did we ever survive without all the FDA approved chemicals we are putting into our bodies. I believe prevention is the key to a higher quality of life. Let’s start with the chemicals added to our foods, which cause everything from allergies to simple toxicity. Instead of choosing to eat organic foods and avoiding chemicals and pesticides in our foods we load our systems with MORE DRUGS. All this is FDA approved. But who or what is approving the FDA? Certainly not informed consumers. My suggestion is: do your own research, if you can't pronounce, it don't eat it, and use a simple, holistic approach to wellness. Someone is getting rich off of Big Parma and our western medical system. I hope the tragic sacrifice of Ledger will open our eyes to the dangers of Pharmacy, which has its English roots in the Greek word "pharmekia" which means sorcery or witchcraft. Buyer beware!
I too worry about all the meds I have been prescribed,including pain meds, Ambien and a host of other sleeping pills that I've tried for severe sleep apnea and insomnia. Ambien CR is the first one that has worked for me. I know I avoid sleep too because I hate my CPAP machine.The mask is claustrophobic! Most people claim that they have become a "new man" after using one, but I haven't felt that way. Why not ??? Sometimes it makes me feel like a failure.
I have researched sleep disorders quite a bit, and now know from experience how life-altering they can be! I soooo envy those who can sleep well through the night!
There is a new type of CPAP machine with a smaller mask that just fits over your nose I believe. But I understand how difficult it must be to use them. I too have insomnia - since I was a child. My Mom too. I have MS -don't know if it's related but I've been prescribed and gone thru so many sleep aids as the effectiveness wears off over time. I'm weaning off klonopin (2mg) which was prescribed with seraquel 50mg. I've tried natural remedies but they don't work. The worst drug I've ever taken was trazadone. Everyone I speak too says the same thing - it just leaves you with a big hangover!
I'll tell you how we survived with the medicines of today--we didn't. People died younger, and died of things they can now live with or through like diabetes, heart attacks (from high cholesterol and who knows what else), heart disease and so on. There have been advances in the medical field but no one that believes in homeopathic and holistic medicine ever will admit any of that. By all means, prevention is key, and much of what is touted on holistic medicine may be just great for healthy people out there, or certainly when they are not getting relief from traditional medicine, but for those of us who are ALREADY sick I get so tired of this promotion of holistic and homeopathic medicine as a cure all. I've tried many of these things through the years and while I think some work for some people, Goji juice for one, didn't help me with anything. I didn't expect it to cure any big problems I have, but it didn't even clear up small things. And it was darned expensive. I do believe in eating healthy and exercise, and taking my meds. I research so I'm aware of side-effects and contra-indications. I don't go around telling everyone to go off their natural stuff, though, and get on traditional medicine and I'm getting tired of everyone who likes the "natural" approach being fanatics and insisting that NO doctor and NO drugs do any good. I haven't seen the proof of that at all. Neither do I agree with doctors who insist that none of the holistic approach works for everyone.
I agree that pharmaceutical companies are 1. making too much money 2. not testing things thoroughly to check for problems even long-standing ones, the FDA notwithstanding, so I also recommend that people take charge of their own health. But that doesn't mean throw away your doctors and your prescriptions just like that. I've known a number of people who say traditional medicine is a crock but they have run from doctor to doctor, do not follow the advice, do not take the medicine correctly and then do not get back to the doctor to point out if it doesn't work. If you don't go back to say, okay, this is not working, or else I am misdiagnosed, the doctor naturally assumes it did the trick. I see doctors handing out meds too easily, too, but not every doctor and certainly not all the time. The thing is every one I meet who is into holistic meds wants to throw the baby out with the bath water. There ought to be a way traditional medicine and holistic could have a more open mind and work together. You ought to be able to be frank with your doctor and ask him why he wants to do a certain course and if you have reservations or concerns, speak them. If he doesn't want to listen then you need another doctor, that's true. But don't assume all doctors are like the one you have. Do some research on your doctor for one thing so you will have a little confidence. He may know medicine but you know your own body. But you should do the same with any holistic or homeopathic doctor or even self-proclaimed "health nut" who gives you advice.
So if we're giving generic advice here, mine is if you are offered a holistic treatment and it's supposed to cure everything from cancer to ingrown toenails, be a little skeptical. Check for contraindications with any meds you are on and with conditions (and, believe me, it's harder to find THAT info on homeopathic cures and treatments compared to traditional meds), and don't just go off your meds and ignore doctor visits. Curing over 5 conditions at a time is what the patent medicines of old claimed too and they were usually just alcohol based drinks with a little herbs thrown in for flavor and color..
- Show quoted text -
mo-jo-arizona said:
This is another example of the devastation caused by the big pharmaceutical companies. How did we ever survive without all the FDA approved chemicals we are putting into our bodies. I believe prevention is the key to a higher quality of life. Let's start with the chemicals added to our foods, which cause everything from allergies to simple toxicity. Instead of choosing to eat organic foods and avoiding chemicals and pesticides in our foods we load our systems with MORE DRUGS. All this is FDA approved. But who or what is approving the FDA? Certainly not informed consumers. My suggestion is: do your own research, if you can't pronounce, it don't eat it, and use a simple, holistic approach to wellness. Someone is getting rich off of Big Parma and our western medical system. I hope the tragic sacrifice of Ledger will open our eyes to the dangers of Pharmacy, which has its English roots in the Greek word "pharmekia" which means sorcery or witchcraft. Buyer beware!
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Posted by mojo_arizona to Sleep Disorders at 12:40 AM
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Anonymous,
I couldn't use the CPap machine either. Between congestive heart failure, allergies, sleep apnea and the extra weight I was carrying around I couldn't breathe well at night. But I also have caustrophobia and I would end up ripping it off in the middle of the night gasping for air. I no SO MANY people who cannot use it that I think they need to go back to the drawing board on this one.
Don't feel like a failure everyone is different and sleep apnea is not caused by the same thing in everyone. I have lost a good deal of weight through weight-loss surgery (I can hear the homeopathic people screaming and cringing) and that has helped me some but I still have a ceiling fan going full force at night bad enough that it blows my hair around. I suspect some of that is psychological now. Years ago my father had the surgery for sleep apnea and in his case it did nothing; he still used a cpap machine every night but didn't really think it was helping. He still fell asleep after 5 minutes every time he sat down unless things were really lively around him. Perhaps they have improved the surgery but not from what I can learn so far.
There are also many sleep disorders that are based on psychiatric reasons and if one doesn't deal with them, the problem remains. In my case, I'm bipolar so insomnia during hypomania is just a fairly normal thing. But for many people, psychiatric reasons doesn't mean a disorder like mine, merely they have "issues" in their life they are not dealing with or have not resolved. Now that I've gone off Ambien CR, I will have to come up with a new game plan. Possibly just hitting myself with a hammer on the head at bedtime...the trouble is, I'm a night person, I LIKE staying up all night, then I sleep during the day. Puts a crimp in daytime activities though so I just have to work on it some more. The one good thing about bipolar is when you hit the depressed phase you can catch up on all that sleep you missed while you were manic and able to get so many things done...but that's a post for a different area of this website...
it was reported heath ledger had 6 different drugs in his apartment. so far i have read he had lunesta, ambien, xanax, and valium there but what else was he taking? how could somebody need anything more than that for sleep and anxiety?
You have to wonder; how does anyone get prescriptions for all those at the same time? He must have been using a couple different doctors and drugstores is all I can say. Lunesta and Ambien are for the same thing, and xanax and valium are for the same thing. He was either desperate for sleep enough to get all 4 by using different doctors or the one doctor he went to was nuts. Whether or not he was desperate because of misuse of other substances (did read he had been having trouble with addiction to cocaine) or for a naturally occurring sleep disorder remains to be seen, I guess. And my other point is deliberate or even accidental misuse of drugs is frequently cited as a reason to ditch all mainstream drugs in all circumstances. But drugs being misused should not necessarily be an indictment against any (proper) prescription drug use.
To set the record straight-Dr. Breus is not a Medical Doctor-read his bio. I too questioned the ethics of this entire blog...I fail to see how any of this helps people since there is so much sensationalism and misinformation and so little science. No, we do not have a perfect system with regards to pharmaceuticals in this country, but as someone else pointed out-we do have very sophisticated care and have come a long way over the years; just look at the life expectancy rate compared to 25 or 50 years ago...Use some common sense with everything-prescription or homeopathic remedies and remember there is no such thing as a free lunch....
Immunizations are another BigPharma concern. The correlation of vaccines and autism and SIDS are documented, Jenny McCarthy's book on her autistic son, cause by vaccines, and her heartbreaking search for healing and the results she found in simple diet and nutrition,the improvemets made by him being dairy free and the resulting seizures when her ex husband gave him a milkshake are EYEOPENING, that is, if you want your eyes opened. This concept can apply to everything from cancer to fibromalgia to mental disorders. Each body is different and reacts dfferent, but when your system is jacked up from too many meds and treatments, its hard to think straight. I have compassion for the deluded, but hope to see them get well, not throw a pacifier to them. If there is a feeling of guilt involved in your drug usage, examine that feeling, it may be valid and can lead you down a path of true healing, not just supresing the symptoms with drugs. a good doctor wll give a thourough lifestyle evaluation and suggest many things and leave drugs as a last resort. iIf there is a brain imbalance, use meds under supervision for a short time to stable out the hormones, but search for long term healing, don't be resigned to live life doped up.
I frankly do not know this "doctor's" credentials and was not replying actually to what he said but to what several other people commented on. I only got on here in the beginning to report the problems I had using Ambien CR and that I had gone off it. The decision was mine and I told my doctor what I decided and why.
And, excuse me, but you seem to be implying that I am deluded and have my eyes closed, resisting "the truth" as you see it. You have a right to your opinion, but frankly, I feel like this goes back to what I said earlier about homoeopathic zealots: "I rest my case". There seems to be no middle ground for either homeopathic medicine or traditional medicine they both view each other with distaste it seems and total intolerance. It must be all or nothing.
And what are your credentials in regard to brain disorders or pharmaceuticals? How much of a study have YOU made of bipolar or other brain disorders? If you think people can go off their meds (and so many bipolars do just that because they prefer feeling manic) just ask them what happens when they do. You can't "stabilize" them with "hormones" and then think they will "stay" that way. Bipolar is genetic and basically you are born with it; it's just that the symptoms usually appear more obvious at puberty. Then other hormonal events usually cause it to escalate like childbirth and/or menopause in women. I don't even take hormones to stabilize it and, in point of fact, hormone therapy made it worse when I did try those.
And I guess what I meant to say earlier is that I resent people trying to make me feel guilty for using traditional medicine, not that I feel guilty for taking it.
I have read about the book by Jenny McCarthy and autism is heart-breaking since they don't seem to know much about it. I will have to read the book, but as I understand she has a theory, not proof. Perhaps she will be proven right but I was not aware that she has proven it conclusively yet or that anyone has.
As I said I DO think doctors are too quick to suggest certain drugs, but some might point out that their patients are resistant to making certain lifestyle changes as well so that the doctor may feel the drugs will have to be used. I HAVE read some books on homeopathic medicine and believe SOME of their concepts have value, I just don't jump on the bandwagon and declare all medical doctors to be spouting a lot of twaddle. People can publish anything they want in books or online. So I'm saying be open-minded, but clear-headed.
I was wondering since it has been brought to attention by media that he also was taking anti-anxiety and was depressed could it have been a suicide. No one seems to want to mention that.
Lori,
There was no intention on my part to address you or anyone else in particular with my comments. i am sorry that you feel defensive about your decisions, that may be a clue to re think your decisions so you don't have guilt or feel defensive. I noticed that you are using a lot of inflammatory language and putting words in my mouth, such as "zealot" that is not the intention of this blog. I don't have to defend my beleifs, but please know that I was raised in a chiropractic family and have been studying the body since I began reading. I am an honors student with a major in Psychology and Philosophy, specializing in psychoneuroimmunology. I am licensed massage therapist and an instructor of massage at a top college in the nation. I also gave birth to 7 children, born at home with a midwife and raised with out drugs or immunizations. I am also a breastfeeding coach, a certified life coach and personal trainer, CPR instructor and a doula.
On the subject of meds, I am thankful for doctors who can save a life in an emergency, or se a broken bone. i understand some people choose to use meds for the short term. Long term usage and mixing too many meds is the problem. If we can lower our cholesterol by eating oatmeal, then lets eat oatmeal and get off our meds! And yes, it is that simple :)
Yes, if we can lower our cholesterol by eating oatmeal, let's indeed go off our meds, but it is NOT always that simple. In my case, I can't eat oatmeal because it sends my sugar soaring, even though it is good for lowering cholesterol. I realize it helps many people who possibly do not have other co-existing problems.
Congratulations on all your many accomplishments. Of course, you may believe and do whatever you wish.
Evidently I never got across that I do have respect for a healthy life-style. I got on here to point out the problems I personally had encountered taking Ambien CR. I still stand by my opinion, however; that so far, most of the people I meet who are into homeopathic medicine seem to always be over the top on the subject. But I realize I'm wasting time for both of us. There is nothing I can say here now that won't appear to make me even more "defensive" in your eyes and sound "inflammatory". So I'll drop out of this discussion. I might add, I thought "discussion" was the object of this blog. You may carry on unimpeded and without any further disagreement.
I too take 1/2 tablet of ambien to sleep after being diagnosed with sleep apnea I thought being overweight caused it so I had lapband surgery, well I have lost a lot of weight and found out my sleep apnea is obstructive kind, not from weight. I can't wear the mask I pull it off at night it scares me so I take the ambien to sleep. It works ok for me but if I don't go to bed right away it makes me drunk. I worry about about the ambien causing me to sleep so soundly that I have a heart attack, so miserable don't know what to do, I am thinking of tapering off and going on natural meds.
It comforts me, in a way, to know that I'm not the only one out there who has had problems with the CPAP masks! ( I wrote earlier...like 3ish am). I feel like my sleep apnea is due to my weight too, and only discovered it in the process of attempting to get lap band. I NEVER would have had the sleep study done otherwise. After all, it has always been my husband who stops breathing and snores like a banchee all night long. I've always been a night owl, and and usually hit the sheets late, especially since retirement. So noone has ever mentioned that I might make weird noises and/or stop breathing during the night.
A little background info here: I was forced to retire early (at 50 in 2006) with disability from teaching after 26 years due to severe degenerative disc disease in my lumbar region. I'm not sure what came first the CFS, Fibromayalgia, disc disease, hypothyroidism, etc., but feel fairly confident that my sleep apnea (I quit breathing 56.7 times per hour in REM sleep)is a result of the weight I've accumulated(packed on!) through the years.
My goal, after the unwanted retirement, was to get myself as healthy as I could, with the conditions I could do something about. This involved nutritionists, psychiatrists, behavioral therapy, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, and about every blood test known to man.
Research has been an invaluable part of the process and I have learned some amazing things that docs don't tell you. There are many meds out there that cause weight gain. In fact it was my cardiologist who asked me why I was taking Seroquel for sleep. He remarked that it is an odd choice for my other doc to give me, in light of my up-coming lap band surgery. It causes weight gain! A
s does Lyrica, the "new" medication for Fibromayalgia.
Of course the additional weight causes everything to get worse.
Why, indeed, did my doc prescribe these to me?!? I'll tell you why...'cuz they are medical(as in trained in medications), don't have time to think about all your issues, and may a vested interest in prescribing drugs that are "new" and/or $beneficial$ to them.
Not all doctors, of course, but I totally agree with the person who said that you have to be your own health advocate. Ignorance is NOT bliss here!
Last I counted, I am now on 12, count 'em, TWELVE prescription meds. My journey to better health has increased my meds quite a bit! Ever noticed how one medication can lead to another to battle the side effects of the first? And so on and so on... This is not what I wanted to happen to me! So I am slowly, but surely, taking charge of my own health care.
Research and experience have emphasized the correlation between diet( with as few chemicals as possible added) and health. Fortunately, I enjoy eating healthy foods...and cake- just Love that cake and icing! Drinking MonaVie health juice has dropped my inflammation levels from 42 to 7 (normal is something like 0.4-4.2). I've started taking probiotics, vitamin D, multivitamins, etc. These make me feel soooo much better-particularly the vitamin D and the MonaVie!
I have really high hopes for things to change after the lap band surgery. I EXPECT to be able to get rid of some of the medications I'm on, once I lose the weight. I know that I'll probably always have to take some of them, but am convinced that the weight has exccerbated(sp?) my conditions...ya know?
One more point I would like to make is that I believe that traditional medicine and wholistic medicine can happily coexist. There are a few docs out there who encourage it, even though they are few and far between.
I better not get started on the FDA! I totally agree that someone needs to be policing them!
I want to thank the kind-hearted people here who respond in caring ways. The sense of relief you have given me, that I'm not alone, is profound!
J
First, for those of you who take sleeping pills and are worried about forgetting or how many you take, I use one of those day of the week pill boxes, then all I have to do is check the date so I know if I have taken a pill that night. I also do the same thing for pain meds. I have fibro as well as at least 7 herniated discs and nerve pain radiating from the discs so I take roxycodone for pain. For me, the best way to know what you have taken is to put five pills in each day of the week and I make a mental note of what time I take each pill, and don't take anything else for 4 hours. I am sick and tired of everyone assuming that you are addicted if you take pain meds for a period of time. I have had to increase the dose over time, but I do not take more than 5-6 a day depending on my pain level. I have had to listen to nasty comments from pharmacists as well as doctors when they see what I am taking. Obviously the people who aren't addicted don't make for a good news story so all we hear about is the ones that have problems.
well, annonymous, that's a lot of pills! I can see why the pharmacist and doctors think you are addicted. The label you put on it does not matter, long term usage of meds is dangerous, as is mixing meds. It is just not using common sense to take drugs like that, and we see the result in the ones who have died or suffered other problems because of being duped by the Big pharmacy companies to beleive their products are safe. There is no substitute for personal awareness maybe consider evaluating your own self and don't blindly defend your usage, but examine it to see if it is excessive and dangerous. Don't be another statistic and lose your quality of life, or even your very life. WAKE UP, and doctors should be the first ones to stop buying into the pharmacy lies about safe usage of chemicals, and educate their patients about alternatives.
Have you ever suffered from a condition/disease where there is no cure? One in which the pain is constant and irretractable? I suspect that you have not, or you would not be so quick to judge the amount of pain pills the lady (or gentleman?) said that she took each day. All I can say is that you need to walk a mile in her shoes.
J
Actually, I have been "diagnosed" with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia that are a lifelong condition from having lyme's disease. I got a formal diagnosis in the hopes i could be "prescribed" massge therapy and acupuncture, which my doctor agreed would be beneficial, but the insurance denied coverage. I was only offered pain meds, which i refused to take. Instead, I pay for acupuncture and massage from my own pocket, in addition to many expensive supplements, like chlorella for detoxification and turmeric and apple pectin for inflammation, among other things. So I have walked in those shoes and made lifestyle choices that refuse dangerous meds and I am doing quite well!
For all of us chronic insomniacs, whatever happened to Seconal, Tuinal, Nembutal, Amytal, all drugs in the barbituate category? Youcan die just as easily from ambien,lunesta, any benzodiazapene when alcohol is added in the equation. Not to mention Zoloft!The DEA has doctors so scared that they're afraid to prescribe these barbituates for fear of repercussions from the dreaded U.S.Government! When the heck did they become doctors?I was born an insomniac. It's in my genes.A Tuinal a night would sure help my quality of sleep, not to mention LIFE.Thanks for nothing DEA. By the way, your "so-called war on drugs" isn't working. It never has and never will. You are spending honest tax-paying citizens hard earned dollars on a worthless,lining someones pockets, worthless NO WIN WAR! I just would like a good night's rest. God Bless all the honest people everywhere.
Why does it always take the death of a "movie star" or a "rock star" to brind forth the insecurities, insesitivities,and the whining of us "regular joes" to open up our eyes and really assess our conditions? Where were you when Heath needed a friend? Everyone is always quick to judge others and assess blame after the fact. People, the fact is, Heath is DEAD. I don't even know if most of you can feel the apathy I feel for you...not to mention,Heath Ledger.Can the general public be so blind as not to know that movie moguls and film companies "push and force" certain drugs on their actors that they have under contract, sadly to ensure scheduled performances and just to get them "on the set" to do a scene that may be needed for completion of a "can" that is ready for editing? This has been going on forever, and will continue until the federal government steps in to better the situation,which I don't see happening until it's too late. I am a drug counselor with "first hand experience",meaning, I've actually taken the drugs I counsel people for.Along with "book smart experience", which 88.7% of counselors all have, and actually believe that is all they need to be a "great counselor",something I wholeheartedly disagree with.I personally would rather be counseled by a former user, than a "booksmart" counselor.How can they possibly really know how to treat a certain condition with the best possible med for that condition,without really "being there" in their lifetime?There isn't a book in the world that can teach these problems, without experiencing the problem first. The Bible is the only one that comes to mind.I love helping people in need,no matter what that need is, I love to help.My advice...pull up your panties,lay off Heath and other stars like him, assess your own inner self,and keep writing as you all are, without being judgemental and using the "why me" syndrome, and e-mail me.I am always here to listen and tell my own war stories of the lowest points of MY life...maybe you all would see in time, I am a man of my word...and God's Words, given to us all as a guide to live our lives.God Bless and good luck.boss302kirk@google.com
dear denise,my advice is to try and ween this" person" slowly down off the Trazodone and if she truly needs Ativan, then she most certainly does.As it seems the vicodin for some type of pain that is really bothering this "person." I would need to know the specific conditions,of course.However, Trazodone is usually administered when a psycotic or bi-polar condition is suspected. I have tried it and it can become a problem.Ativan is a very good,clean med that,taken over time,requires monitoring and good, honest reasoning.I take 1 2mg Ativan at bedtime,and Another, if I waken,and it works for me well. But then,everyone's different.I am not a Dr. but have firsthand,honest knowledge,and would hope you really let her know how you feel,knicely,and maybe her reasons are hopefully honest and orders from a Dr.Again, this is only my opinion, and what I have to say may be considered outrageous,by a number of Drs. But my meds are ALL LEGAL,LEGITIMATE,and needed for specific conditions.Please feel fre to e-mail me at boss302kirk@yahoo.com[Google].I hope I helped you and this "person." God Bless and good luck!bo9ss302kirk@yahoo.com[Google]
After giving the title page of this article a little thought,really reading every comment in depth,assessing which comments hit me in the heart[and mind,]I have to stand shoulder to shoulder with the comments regarding publicity for the author,not to mention "talk about a very popular,lucrative subject?" Maybe all we will ever know is possibly,truly...Heath really needed a friend.A friend that is there even if they have to juggle their schedule for you..miss time with their children just for you..listen with their heart,just for you.Just maybe Heath would be with us today...just maybe.And it saddens me that it took me so long to realize that it was the headline that drew me to even giving the article my thought[which is a miracle in itself.] So Dr. B.,why DID you write on such a simple subject,using poor Heath as the "hook" that every popular,good or bad story...needs? No attack on your motives,but I think your readers would like an explanation.
I am making no judgement on you. Just asking if an appropriate answer is in order for your readers? boss302kirk.
The original concern was sleep deprivation, which is a valid concern. I have found that taking valerian root tincture, which is derived from the same base as valium, is an effective treatment, with no side effects. Valerian is avilable in any health food store and tinctures are the fastest way to get it in to your body. I have recommended this to many clients and all responded favorably, except two clients, who used hops tincture, which is also used to make beer. Sleep deprivation can be caused by anxiety, so this wuld be good to consider. Anziety responds well to amino acids, a product called Back to Balance, a brain food, is AMAZING!!!!!!! It is avilable from fountain of youth company, or ask your local health store to order it. These are natural compounds, not man made chemical drugs. There are no side effects or dangers in using these products. But the root problem can be addressed by a thorough lifetyle work up. See a qualified naturopathic doctor and experience the difference that canbe made by different lifestyle choices. diabetes responds well to juicing fruits and vegetables, Jack Lalane is a well know proponent of juicingand he is SO OLD and yet very healthy and med free. Hemust be doing something right! There is no magic pill and we Americans are just plai lazy whenit comes to health care, which is why our country has such a high incience of med dependency. This med usage is a bigger problem than street drugs, but everyone thinks it's ok because it's FDA approved. It all comes down to a personal choice. Becoming informed and aware is the first step. Western medical doctors have paid big bucks for an education that treats disease, not people with individual lifestyles.If we take a step back and DO NO HARM to our bodies, our dependency on these drugs would be practically eliminated.
I have a good friend who developed lupus. The cause was diagnosed as toxicity from breast implants. After sufferig for two years and being bedridden, she visited a certified colon hydrotherapist and had a series of 3 treatments a week for several months to clear her system. That is ALL she did and she is now a heathy, beautiful, vibrant mother of five. She has a colon therapy treatment when she needs it as a maintenence. She was so impressed with her tretment, she became a colon hydroherapist and shares the gift of heling with others. So, Toxicity is the probem. And yes, it's that simple :) Our Standard American Diet,or SAD, is a big problem. See the movie "Supersize IT" Add to that Chemical DRUGS and Hello, death and devastation. It really IS that simple! Read the book "What THEY don't want you to know" by Kevin Trudeau. It is a crash course for the lay person on holistic healing.
I am so blessed that my cpap and I are compatible. I do not belive I would be alive today without it. I also have prostate cancer, ptsd (and all that entails) sinus disease, however I truly feel blessed that the medications I do utilize work wonders for me.
I am sure that meds do appear to work to most people, but with what side effects and long term damage, not to mention the danger of mixing meds. My point is that there is an alternatie that can be used instead of meds. These methods are available inexpensively and wih a little research for your particlar issue, there are many other routes to take and I feel these methods should be explored BEFORE we jump into med usage. It is a personal decision and we should be the doctors of our own bodies, as much as possible. Our quality of life depends on this.
I'm a 15 year old male. I'm super stressed about school because I just started the 9th grade. I'm having trouble sleeping do too work, and other issues I bought a box of SleepMD at my local Wal-Mart and I'm not too sure if I should be taking them so my Question is..If I did take them Is there a possiblity of ODing on them say I take more than two?
Please Respond somone. :)
anonymous 15 yr.old student having trouble sleeping-Sleepmd is classified as a sleeping aid.Most sleep aids[over the counter]have an active ingredient called Diphenhydramine,which can also be found in many antihistamines and cold remedies.DEFINITELY SPEAK WITH YOUR PARENTS REGARDING YOUR SITUATION.Also your family physician should be informed BEFORE you begin using this product.There are many allergic reactions to consider before use,if in fact Diphenhydramine is the active ingredient in the medication in question.If you do not overdose on the dosage inquired about,you will wake with one heck-of-a-hangover! Please, remember I am not a Dr.,however you seem desperate and I am concerned for you.Take my advice regarding informing your parents and your family physician.It could save you a lot of trouble...maybe your LIFE!You can always reach me at cox.net and expect honest,firsthand experience on drug usage as I am a counselor who cares about all people searching for help.God Bless and I hope this gets you to where you need to be...honest with parents,doctors,and friends..REAL FRIENDS who care.boss302kirk.
Loveyou.
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Lori, If you are still coming to this blog and happen to see this, I'm sorry you were harried away. I found your posts to be balanced, informative and well written. You did not seem defensive nor did you offer anything inflammatory. I hope you find some solace for your condition.
Although I seldom have much use for blogs beyond entertainment, I followed a link here hoping for information that might pertain to my chronic sleep deprivation. Mr. Ledger's death was unfortunate, but I have no interest in him. The posts suggesting that the article was inappropriate, sensational or a means for capitolizing (sic) were interesting but misinformed. As Dr. Breus stated, "My point, however, isn't to remark so much on the sleeping pill topic, but rather to expound on the effects poor sleep can have on the body -- both mentally and physically." Clearly, making his points in the context of Mr. Ledger's death was effective, but this hardly constitutes sensationalism.
The posts questioning Dr. Breus' qualifications were absurd, especially as there is a clearly visible link to his biography. His erudition is quite impressive, though I do question his use of the word litany.
Thank you.
Goop,
Please understand that most people would consider using words like fanatic and zealot and Health Nut to be inflammatory! This woman's defensiveness comes from her own insecurities, she has stated that others think she is a hypochondriac. It is very common for people to seek attention by entertaining a medical "condition" that is very vague. I would never diagnosis her with this without a thorough workup, but her statements leave one to wonder. If she left the blog, it is maybe becuse she felt defensive and was not able to clarify herself, in others word, I called her out! If she is feeling guilt about taking meds, this is a sign that a deeper awareness may be trying to surface and lead her down a different path. I hope this is true! Addiction to doctor prescribed meds is now a bigger problem in our country than illegal street drugs, because it is sanctioned by the doctors and FDA. We must become our own doctor and do our OWN research, who cares if it is peer reviewed or not! Also, lets listen to our gut, literally. Our own body will guide us down a path of true healing if only we listen! Have you noticed the "new" news information this week exposing the use of vaccinations as a possible cause of autism? I knew this when I was 11, after reading my doctor father's journals. I chose not immunize my seven kids and they are now 26 to 12, doing great! I have always tried to seek the truth for my self and be lead by my heart and my gut instinct. If it smells like ***, it probably is!
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