sleeping pill zone

Why Can't I Sleep?

2007-04-22T09:19:00.000-07:00

The question of "why can't I sleep?" is one that affects many people. For some it's heartbreak over a devil-hearted woman. For the rest of us the source of our insomnia is far more mysterious. I have found that lack of physical activity is my biggest sleep enemy. On the days where I don't exercise I find that sleep comes with significantly more difficulty. Unfortunately I cannot necessarily tire myself out with a ten mile run every single day so I am left with a difficult choice. How do I get better sleep?

When faced with this question the logical next step is a discussion of sleeping pills. So let's have it hoss...

Well long time readers of this post will know that I am a supporter of sleeping pills. The difficulty is finding the appropriate pill. For a night or two of isolated insomnia we all know that Ambien is the king. We also all know that an Ambien addiction is no easy horse to get off. Therefore Ambien is certainly not the solution for long term sleep health. My choice for improving long-term overall sleep quality is Somnera. Based on all natural products combined with cutting edge pharmaceutical isolation technology, Somnera is a new kind of sleeping pill. I have been very happy with Somnera. I have used it on and off for over a year now with very positive results.

In our busy world with all of our responsibilities, it is important to remember our chief responsibility... to take care of ourselves. If we are suffering from lack of sleep we won't be much good to anyone. So get some sleep and stay strong!

Ambien: Extended Patent Formula

2006-07-04T14:24:00.000-07:00

No, there aren't any new rules about patent extension. The same 17 year window still applies but it seems that the French have found a new way to keep their market share even when the patent on Ambien expires. Their secret? Ambien Extended Patent...er... I mean Controlled Release. Ambien CR is merely a way for French pharmaceutical giant Sonofi-Aventis to keep market share after the patent on Ambien expires. Ambien CR is the same medicine as Ambien, merely formulated to change the pharmacokinetic profile. Additionally the dosage of Ambien in Ambien CR has been increased. Regular Ambien is sold in 5 & 10 mg pills. The new Ambien CR is sold in 6.25 and 12.5 mg pills.

If Ambien is working for you there is no need to switch to the controlled release formula. In fact, when Ambien comes off patent it will result in significant reductions in price for consumers. Generic zolpidem tartrate will be just as effective as Ambien.

That's Where I'm a Viking

2006-06-26T12:19:00.000-07:00

One thing I've noticed, both from personal experience as well as from reading published reports, is that sedatives like Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata, Valium and Klonipin supress dreaming. The reason for this suppression most likely has to do with the strong GABA enhancing properties of these drugs. Insofar as these drugs basically turn off your brain, it follows that they would reduce dreaming.

Ambien and its lesser liked cousins are effective medications for insomnia but they cause significant disruption to one's normal sleep cycle. In recent years the biological importance of dreaming has been questioned. While it may be true that loss of dreams will not cause any long-term damage, there is more to a dream than simple biology.

For many (myself included) dreaming is as much a part of sleeping as the fetal position. Without dreams, sleep is merely a period of unconciousness. Me, I like my dreams. Each night before I fall asleep I wonder what strange place I'll be taken to. Last night I had very intense dreams about fishing. My favorite dreams are the ones where I'm a Navy SEAL rescuing my friends from wrongful imprisonment.

This goes back to a point I've made time and time again. Ambien, Lunesta, the Benzodiazepines and other sedatives work well for temporary insomnia but they are not a solution for long term sleep health. If long term sleep health is a problem for you, Jema Pharmaceutical's sleep aid Somnera offers improvements without losing dreams or the addictive potential of Ambien.

Why don't we run down there and grab some Ambien

2006-06-09T16:23:00.000-07:00

Is it a uniquely human characteristic to look for the easy way out, or is it a universal phenomenon? Sleeping pills are just one example of how the quick fix is often chosen over the more difficult but more comprehensive solution. The solution I speak of now is exercise. There is truly nothing better for improving sleep than vigorous exercise.

If you are a long time reader of this blog you may be scratching your head in confusion. Why am I all of the sudden talking about exercise and not Ambien, Lunesta, or benzodiazepines? Well if you'll indulge my digression, I'll tell you.

Sleeping pills are great. One would be hard pressed to find a more enthusiastic advocate of sleep pharmacology than I. However, pharmacology is not a total solution to problems sleeping. Ambien, Lunesta etc are basically band-aids. They temporarily mask the symptoms of a problem without actively making any kind of change. While it is true that Somnigen is a more comprehensive solution to sleep health, the addition of exercise to your sleep hygiene plan will only make things better.

There's an easy way out of this conundrum. Just ride your bike to pick up your Ambien and kill two birds with one stone.

Caught Up

2006-06-05T16:29:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just need to spend the entire weekend sleeping. Sometimes you don't realize how large of a sleep debt you've accumulated until you set about repaying it. This past Saturday was the end of a very long week. I was on the road, I made some big decisions and I lost a bit of sleep. Come Saturday night, I was back in Philadelphia and ready for a good night's sleep in my own bed.

I considered a sleeping pill. I knew that if I took an Ambien I'd fall asleep quickly and I'd probably sleep well through the night. I knew that if I took a Somnera I'd sleep well and I'd wake up feeling fresh. I didn't want to feel fresh. I wanted to wake up drowsy, drag myself to the couch, nap on and off all day and go back to bed after Big Love. I had just the thing.

There's a certain benzodiazepine called Klonipin (clonazepam) that would do the trick. Klonipin is usually prescribed for extreme anxiety and seizure disorders. Because of its long half-life (it stays in the circulation longer) Klonipin's effects last a long time. When I woke up at noon on Sunday I was barely conscious on my walk to the shower. As the effects of the Klonipin were still kickin', my limbs were feeling very heavy so I sat down to enjoy the shower. I awoke to find that 20 minutes had passed and the water was running cold on my head. Wrapped in a towel I maneuvered my way to the couch downstairs, where I spent the day drifting in and out of consciousness in front of the TV.

I had sweet dreams of Margene and a surprisingly appealing Nikki as I slept my way towards a new week. Klonipin is not a good sleeping pill. If you need something to help you sleep I would recommend a Somnera or an Ambien. Both are great sleeping pills. I generally feel better after a Somnera but Ambien is good too. Klonipin is just the thing for a weekend of hibernation.

Somnera to the Rescue

2006-05-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

Uh oh, ay Johnny? I left my Ambien in Philly. What's an insomniac to do?. Fortunately, I still had some samples of Somnera left in briefcase. Now I'd tried Somnera before, and I found that it produced one of the most restful night's sleep I've ever had. This was, however, in my own comfy bed, after a busy, active day. How would Somnera work on the road, in an unfamiliar city, in a motel bed? Extraordinarily well actually. I took one of my Somnera and followed the relaxation strategy from the website. The next thing I knew the sun was shining through the polyester curtains and my wake-up call was ringing on the bedside table. I woke up feeling very refreshed, rested and wide-awake. I experienced none of the morning side effects of Ambien, Sonata, Lunesta, or the Benzodiazepines. As far as I was concerned, this was the ultimate victory for Somnera. Like many people, I find sleeping in a strange bed uncomfortable. The linens are crunchy and those ridiculous heavy comforters crush my toes. Despite my discomfort and my anxiety at having left my Ambien at home, Somnera was able to come through and deliver exactly what they promised: a good night's sleep.

Bottle of Red?

2006-05-08T07:57:00.000-07:00

A glass of red wine....There are a few good reasons to believe in God and a glass of red wine is one. Delicious, rich, intoxicating as well as being full of compounds that are good for your heart, brain and blood pressure. A glass of red wine is not a sleep aid. Alcohol should not be used as a sleep aid. While drinking alcohol can produce transient drowsiness, alcohol is not good at inducing sleep. The effects of alcohol clear the body fairly rapidly and the sedative effect wears off. This results in the ever-familiar 2am-wide-awake-thirsty episode.

Many people have trouble sleeping and they will turn to what they know for help. For many, this is alcohol. The truth is for pharmacological assistance, Ambien, Lunesta or Sonata are much better choices. Even with the addictive potential of these medications, these pills will serve you better than booze.

That being said, there is no substitute for natural sleep. If you find yourself with a regular problem sleeping, it may be time to address your problem more assertively. Sleep is such a critical part of your health, you owe it to yourself to spend some time improving your sleep. There a lot of ways you can improve your sleep health. Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata, Rozerem and the benzodiazepines are treatments for insomnia. They are not a nightly vitamin that you take before bed. To harness the restorative benefits of sleep, you need to return to natural sleep.

Stress and your sleep

2006-05-01T15:06:00.000-07:00

Stress messes up your sleep. I'm in the process of finishing up a major project in my laboratory. 5 years of research will be coming to fruition in the next six months. While this will be an exciting time, it will also be intense and difficult. If I'm not careful the stressful times ahead may mess up my sleep. Do you think I'll let that happen? Not a chance. Sleep is where I'm a Viking and I will not let anything deprive me of that joy. To combat the effects of stress on sleep, I'm implementing a total sleep health plan. I'll be getting plenty of exercise, sunshine on my face, and I'll be taking my Somnera.

Sure I could turn to Ambien at a time like this. If I experience any real insomnia during this time, I might just break out the Ambien or the Lunesta. But I'm not really anticipating any real problems. What I'm trying to do is avoid a problem in the first place. It is only appropriate to turn to Ambien or Lunesta if you're experiencing true insomnia, a condition only your doctor can recognize. Instead, make sleep health a part of your life.

Melatonin's Midnight Madness

2006-04-11T07:23:00.000-07:00

Touted as a safe alternative to Ambien, Lunesta, Valium etc, big melatonin companies claim that melatonin is a cure for insomnia, and may even prevent alzheimers's disease. Now despite the fact that scientific evidence for both of these claims is sketchy at best, there's something that big melatonin companies don't want you to know...

ready...

Exposing your face to sunlight or a full spectrum light bulb will increase your nightly melatonin production greatly. So greatly in fact that the need for additional melatonin supplementation becomes nil. It's another example of how a little bit of knowledge will go a long way.

It is also another example of how a holistic approach to healthy sleep is the ONLY right way to go. Sure Ambien will knock you unconscious for 8 hours, Valium will make you forget your troubles and Xanax will allow you to clean the windows on the empire state building without so much as a raise in your heart-rate, but is that healthy sleep? Nay I say.

The vital role that sleep plays in total health is just beginning to be understood. Considering the time we spend each day waiting in line, sitting in traffic, or watching TV, do yourself a favor and spend some time restoring your healthy sleep.

Achieve It

2006-04-04T21:18:00.000-07:00

I hate traveling. Unless I'm going on vacation to some sunny, sandy place, traveling means one thing: lousy sleep. At least that's the way it used to be before I had a supply of Ambien. Now, when I'm off the island I'm able to get a night's rest. Ah... Ambien. That is better living through chemistry. With Ambien in our arsenal we can combat these transient bouts of insomnia. This past weekend I was faced with a hard mattress, a drafty room and two large dogs jostling for position. Fortunately, Ambien made these circumstances inconsequential.

That's it. That's what Ambien is for. Ambien (or Lunesta, Sonata, Valium, Xanax or Klonipin for that matter) is for treating short term bouts of insomnia. It is when Ambien is used for extended periods of time that things become problematic. When a person becomes accustomed to an Ambien at bedtime every night, it becomes difficult to sleep without an Ambien.

There you have it. The Ambien balance. If one wants their Ambien to be effective every time, then one needs to achieve the Ambien balance. The Ambien-balance refers to the maximum frequency with which one can take their Ambien without it losing effectiveness. My Ambien balance point is 3 days. This means that I can take an Ambien every night for three consecutive nights without disturbing my natural sleep. If I go longer than that I risk a night or two of tossing and turning after I stop taking the Ambien.

So go forward my friends, Ambien at your sides and make the world a better place. Find your Ambien balance point and never forget that nothing beats natural sleep.

ambient attitudes

2006-03-29T21:26:00.000-08:00

Ambien makes you binge eat. Ambien impairs your driving. Ambien effects subspace and can trigger a tear in space-time. Ambien may cause memory loss. All of these things are true. All of these things are side-effects of Ambien, well except for the space thing. Here's the question... Why are they news? The reason that side effects of ambien become newsworthy is because of the prevalence of ambien. Ambien is a massive seller, millions of people take it. Millions of people take it and benefit from it. And like 2 dozen people have had some wierd side-effect.

What do we learn from this? Ambien is the godfather of sleeping pills. When Ambien came out with their extended release tablet it was also big news. It seemed like everyone I spoke to was chatting up the new ambien. The reason for this Ambien obsessed culture is the widespread pandemic of insomnia. Insomnia is a major problem. Many people have turned to Ambien for relief and with great success. Ambien is so successful because it fills a major need. Ambien is not perfect and I don't mean to heap praise to heavy handedly. Nevertheless, sleep is as necessary as food and Ambien can help you get some. But stand by. The next wave is coming.

GABA, Ions & Sleepy

2006-03-25T10:34:00.000-08:00

OK so you're interested in learning about how sleeping pills work. Maybe you've visited a couple of websites, perhaps talked to your doctor. One thing is for shore: when you start learning how sleeping pills work you start to hear about GABA. What is GABA and why is it so important for sleep?

GABA stands for gamma amino butyric acid. GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. An inhibitory neurotransmitter is one that decreases brain activity. All sedatives including Valium, Klonipin, Xanax, Halcion, Ativan, Ambien and Lunesta work by increasing GABA neurotransmission. They do this by binding to the GABA receptor and changing the way it functions.

The GABA receptor is a type of protein known as a ligand gated ion channel. When GABA binds to its receptor, it triggers a change in the receptor's shape which allows chloride ions to rush into the cell. Chloride ions are negatively charged and their presence in a neuron slows things way down. By increasing GABAerigic neurotransmission the above mentioned sedatives bring on a wave of peaceful sleepy.

You might be wondering how these sedatives effect GABA neurotransmission so effectively. It's an interesting story for another day...

A Taste of the Next Wave

2006-03-21T07:30:00.000-08:00

Howdy sleepers. Because of my scientific credentials and position in the sleep research field, I am often asked to evaluate new sleeping pills for insomnia. I've been given Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata, Valium and all manner of benzodiazepines. What have I learned in all my years of examination? One thing I've learned time and time again is the importance of a good night's rest. There are many ways to achieve this. The sleeping pills mentioned above are one way. Other ways include increasing your activity level and getting some sunshine on your face. The truth is there is no substitute for natural sleep. Taking Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata, Valium or other sedative-hypnotics may be a short term fix but they cannot restore natural sleep. For a return to natural sleep turn to Somnera. The active ingredients in Somnera are proven to both induce sleep with acute use and to return natural sleep cycles with continued use. So to all you troubled sleepers out there... stand by for the next wave.

Diazepam, DEA & Diversions

2006-03-19T16:08:00.000-08:00

I was cruising the internets the other night looking for information about Valium, also known as diazepam, when I came across a most interesting site. The DEA diversion web site (www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/). I like what the feds are doing here. They present a high profile website that supplies information on the illegality of importing prescription medications. They also discuss some of the dangers people face when they take these foreign made drugs. Now I know there are some of you out there that love the ability to get whatever drugs you want on the internet. And that's cool. But cheers to the DEA for presenting accurate information on the web.

Ambien ambivalence

2006-03-16T14:23:00.000-08:00

So guess what... Ambien is feeling the heat. With recent reports about Ambien's effects on driving and night-time somnambulant binge eating, the insomniac is once again facing tough choices. What about Lunesta, Valium, Klonopin or the old stand-by Halcion? The truth is all of these drugs are associated with unwanted side-effects. I can remember my uncle Howie telling me that there's no such thing as a free lunch as he pilfered the lego set that came with my happy meal. Well, I learned that lesson then and it's still true. If you are going to trick your body into sleeping with powerful sedative-hypnotic drugs you can expect to pay the price. In order to truly return to natural sleep you need to be willing to make some changes. While pharmacological sleep aids can play an important role in treating insomnia, one should also consider running around outside for an hour or so per day. Both exposure to sunlight as well as exercise are excellent ways to help your body normalize its sleep schedule. So until the perfect sleep aid is released (Somnera now available!,) consider some exercise, or lock up your fridge...

The Next Wave...

2006-03-14T18:47:00.000-08:00

I remember it like it was yesterday. The day the next wave of medicine was born. The surf upon the shore pounded as I was lulled to sleep enjoying the sounds of nature. I was startled to be awoken by the thunderous hum of a low flying helicopter. When I lay my head to hammock pillow rest was only a dream. I new then that sleep was something I could not take for granted. Somnera was born.

Ambien? Lunesta? I just wanna sleep

2006-02-21T21:35:00.000-08:00

Just want to sleep huh lil fella? Insomnia or difficulty sleeping, is a problem for millions of americans. Probably in other countries too. Its causes are varied; stress, biology, chemicals, energy, as are its treatment options. Today a person with insomnia is faced with myriad treatment options. There are the benzodiazepines: your valium (diazepam,) xanax (alprazolam,) ativan (lorazepam). These came first and are very effective. The fact that they can be highly addictive is just one of their shortcomings. Then there are the new wave of sleeping pills: your ambien and your lunesta. Again, very effective but highly habit forming. In as few as 10 days withdrawal effects can be seen when either ambien or lunesta is discontinued. What's an insomniac to do?

Well I'm here to tell you about valerian. This is one of those open secrets the everyone should know about. Valerian has been used for thousands of years to treat insomnia. Sleep disorders in European countries are often treated with valerian as a first line option. The bottom line is that it really works. Valerian's mechanism of action is similar to those of ambien and lunesta. But while ambien and lunesta aggressively attack GABA receptors, valerian works in a gentler manner, inhibiting the enzyme that breaks down GABA. It's really cool.

But be warned. The world abounds with snake-oil salesmen of all kinds. If you go out to buy valerian (which is a good option before you commit to ambien or lunesta) get it from a reputable source. A company called Jema Pharmaceuticals is releasing a product called Somnera. Jema Pharmaceuticals extracts the active components of valerian and offers a formulation that kicks insomnia right out that door.

Well I'm going to take one and fall asleep watching star trek...