Hi all

I have a girlfriend who is suffering from immense pain from burning sensations and some type of mental disorder. She complains about her symptoms daily and is often contemplating suicide because she feels she can no longer continue surviving with her symptoms.

She believes this was brought on from taking the sleeping medication called Stillnox/Ambien (Zolpidem) about 2 and half years ago. She was taking Stillnox for about 6 months when one night she suddenly experienced an electric shock or zapping sensation in her brain, she says her mind started to speed up and her eyesight had been altered. She reacted in a psychotic way because she started punching holes into the walls and had to be shipped off to a psychiatric ward. Ever since this bad reaction to Stillnox 2 and half years ago happened, she has not recovered and has been in and out of psychiatric wards where they have been dosing her with anti-depressants and SSRI's like Aropax and Prozac, she believes the burning sensations was brought on by the Aropax while in the Psychiatric Ward about 2 years ago.

She is currently been discharged from the Psychiatric Ward which achieved absolutely nothing for her in terms of her mental health and general well being. Doctors and Psychiatrists had only tried prescribing her anti-depressants which has only exacerbated her burning sensations. She is currently taking 20 mg of Prozac every second day, she also takes Mirtazapine to help her sleep which gives her terrible nightmares.

We are also getting her to take natural vitamins like Vitamin B, niacinamide and fish oil but none of this stuff seems to help because she is still complaining constantly about the burning sensations and the state of her mind.

I don't know if anyone on this forum will be able to offer much advise but I thought I would at least try, I would be extremely grateful for any contribution from the members of this forum. I have just never heard of anyone suffering from such severe symptoms from taking Ambien 2 and half years ago? Why hasn't she recovered from this and why does it seem so permanent? She thinks she has permanent brain damage but I am honestly not sure. If anyone could offer any helpful suggestions or knows of anyone who has experiences similar symptoms, your advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks and Kind regards

Mark