Hi sweeties,
I want and need a minder too. A really good looking one would be great!
Good job everyone on getting the pill reminders all figured out! That is a big job I know. We do it for my dads medication too. I am gonna need one soon if I keep getting put on more meds.
So the doctor does not want me to stop taking the clonazepam and added 10mg of ambian a night. Hopefully that will control the seizures and get rid of the nightmares. Will let you know tomorrow how tonight goes.
Mari sorry you had a bad day/night. I hope you are feeling better today.
Waves, glad you are holding steady.
Sending all of you many hugs
Love,
Brain

Hi, Brain,

Your doctor is taking care of you. That is comforting.
The ambien decision might be good. I believe it will help you.

Mari

10mg is a high dose to start. and shorter acting less of a hang over effect I think but may not carry over until the morning. the 6mg or 12mg are long acting.
just thought I would mention this you have more options to your avail.
bizi

I'm personally relieved the doc is adding the ambien instead of letting you go down on the meds.

Because that particular medication is used for seizures. And I'd hate for you to start having more because you went down.
Donna

Dear Brain,

What time do you take your night medications and what time do you usually wake up in the morning?

Mari

HI Brain,

Great job calling your doc and good luck with the Ambien. Hopefully you'll be sleeping like a baby as of tonight.

As to the med addition, I agree with Donna 100%.

Clonazepam has strong antiepileptic properties - decreasing that would be complicated to say the least. Often one gets used to the (less) sedating effects of clonazepam fairly quickly. I am saying that it makes sense you might be having problems with REM but not with szs. (Btw, where I am living, clonazepam is used exclusively as a seizure medication!)

Hopefully the Ambien will take out the REM sleep issues. When I was taking it I was given 10 mg. I had that when I was inpatient as well, and ALL the people taking it were started at 10 mg. Later I moved up to 20 mg. Now they are making smaller doses of this medication with an in a special formula for women, but the indication is for insomnia. You are taking it for REM sleep disorder and probably need the full 10 mg. Do you normally sleep a full 7-8 hours, (assuming no nightmares)?

Your doctor is a neuro. He knows about the brain and how meds work inside it, better than any other doctor. Trust him and keep in touch with him. Call his office if you should have any other issue, just like you did now with nightmare problem. He was responsive which shows he is taking good care of you.



~ waves ~

Hi everyone,
Well, it is 4:51 in the morning and I have been awake since 3:00 but that is only because I forgot to take my MS Contin at 6:00 last night so I woke up because of withdrawl and pain. The ambian actually worked great. I would still be out cold if not for forgetting my night pain med. I was having black totally great sleep.
I took the clonazepam in the late afternoon yesterday and then took the ambian at 6:00. I felt like I could lie down and meditate about 7:00. Listened to some music and meditated and fell asleep in about half hour. That is a miracle for me because usually I try to get to sleep for hours. So I was sleeping great and would still be asleep but got woke up from pain because of forgetting my MS Contin. That clonazepam and ambian is really strong for me to forget to take my pain pill. I can usually feel when it wears off but did not notice it until in total problem. So the report is that I think this is going to work good as long as I take all my meds. I know it is a little early to take sleeping meds at 6:00 but I wake up so damn early usually that 6:00 is like I am tired because I have been up since 4:00 am. Ya know?
Hope everybody is doing good today.
Brain

Hi waves,
I see your awake too. Maybe it is later where you live. If not, what you doing up? Have a hard time sleeping too?
Love,
Brain

Hi there Brain!

I am currently 7 hours ahead of you - it is 1:48 pm here right now. I've just had lunch! I am basically just sitting around catching up with a little correspondence. (Alas, there is a lot I have to catch up with... I am perpetually in catch-up mode... I was in ketchup mode today too... had a hotdog smothered in it! )

Our normal time difference is 8 hours. When I Spring Forward, which is done a few weeks later here than in the US - we will be 8 hours apart again - with me being further on in the day night.

That said, I am a night owl by tendency, even though lately I've been waking up early morning and sleeping at night... actually it has changed a few times so I can only safely say my sleeping/waking hours are unpredictable at the moment.

I was really happy to hear (well apart from the pain pill forgetting thing OWWWIIEEEEE) that the Ambien experience is working for you!


Have yourself a beautiful day Brain!



~ waves ~

I'm also glad to hear the ambien is going to work.

I think the taking the pain meds might even change time wise. If you
should start wanting to stay up later.

Good job Brain. I think you can get this in line soon.

Donna