52 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 23 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
Exclusive to OpEd News:
Sci Tech   

Reducing Sleeping Pill Doses: Let the Insomnia Nightmare Begin.

By       (Page 1 of 1 pages)   2 comments

(Image by Unknown Owner)   Details   DMCA


Recently, the FDA has recommended that prescribing doctors and pharmaceutical companies begin reducing the doses of Ambien and two other sleep medications by half. Nine million Americans take sleeping pills on a regular basis and the thought of not getting their normal dose  raises some legitimate fears.

Most of the patients have tried and failed repeatedly to limit or reduce their full dose by using pill splitters, having the pills liquefied and partitioned into smaller doses or even trimming off the edges with a knife. What most of them have found is that anything less than their accustomed amount produces a side effect commonly known as rebound insomnia. This is a nice and tidy way of describing how it is to have what little sleep you've been getting on Ambien literally ripped out from underneath you.  It's a serious catch 22--impaired morning driving on a full dose verses impaired driving from little to no sleep at all.

Some of the other side effects from a partial dose change can  include:

 

  • Sweating
  • Nausea
  • Fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Stomach cramps
  • Panic attacks
  • Vomiting
  • Tremors

In Febuary, 2010 Fox 11 News was the frontrunner in researching and reporting on something called neurofeedback for insomnia. (Click here is see video) Also known as brainwave biofeedback, this treatment option seems to actually reduce and ween the brain off of sleeping pills and their side effects. Two sensors are placed on the scalp, reading the brainwaves and instructing the central nervous system to reduce the amplitudes responsible for many of the withdrawal symptoms. Sleep is normalized and then the reduction and elimination of the medication is possible. 

Starting with NASA scientists, neurofeedback has been in existence for 45 years now. It's being use on a host of other conditions such as ADD/ADHD, mild depression, anxiety and panic attacks. It's also being use extensively by the US military for the treatment of PTSD in returning Afghani and Iraqi war veterans as well.
Rate It | View Ratings

David Mayen Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

David A. Mayen serves as founder and CEO of the Sleep Recovery Centers. He is an EEG Spectum Intl. Graduate and holds certifications in advanced neurofeedback,neuro-anatomy and neurophysiology, psycho-pharmacology as well as alpha theta training (more...)
 
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Quitting Ambien: Study Shows High Cancer Risk.

Using Medical Marijuana for Insomnia: Maybe Not the Best Choice.

Fisher Wallace vs. Neurofeedback for Insomnia.

Chronic Sleep Problems: Why Pilot Insomnia Leads to Psychosis.

Insomnia Treatment: A New Approach Without Drugs.

Ambien Use Amongst Pro Athletes. Dara Torres Breaks the Silence.

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend