Severe brain injury and paralysis temporarily reversed with a sleeping pill • Hacker News Board

Re: Severe brain injury and paralysis temporarily reversed with a sleeping pill

#81

Post by tluyben2 » Sat, Nov 07, 2020, 8:27 AM UTC

nineparts wrote: post #61

nitrogen wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would never take Ambien myself after someone I know was prescribed it, and instead of sleeping they would black out, blast techno/dance music in their apartment, and scream at the top of their lungs while stomping up and down ("dancing"). Then post about it on social media. All without remembering it, or with only hazy memories.

Sounds like it's a gateway drug to demon possession (or at least descriptions of it -- in case of an atheist reading).

Atheist here; you are implying a religious person would believe that taking this (and others as 'a gateway drug' implies) drug makes it easier for demons to possess you? Is that a common thought in some circles? I was raised religiously (catholic and reformed), but never heard about this.

Re: Severe brain injury and paralysis temporarily reversed with a sleeping pill

#82

Post by winocm » Sat, Nov 07, 2020, 8:29 AM UTC

smabie wrote: post #76

winocm wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Antipsychotics ruined my life and gave me tardive dyskinesia.

Could you expound? It's always been in the back of my mind and I take a fairly low does, but would love to hear more about how it started, symptoms, and how it's affected your life. I'm really sorry, that sucks. There is some new medication that is supposed to treat it (I think I saw an ad on TV for it).

I took olanzapine 5mg for a while, but my doctor kept increasing the dose as I was "non-compliant" up to 10mg, then more to 20mg as I kept getting hospitalized for compulsive suicide attempts because the medication completely axed my judgement.

I gained about 40 pounds on it, developed dyskinesia after about 6-8 months and ended up cold turkeying off of it, but 5 years later, the movement problems still stay... Unfortunately it also destroyed my executive function too; I can barely even string together coherent thoughts and perform programming work without being overly medicated on ADHD drugs.

I know there's valbenazine and other Parkinson's drugs (selegiline works decently enough on a daily dose, but MAOIs can become dangerous in certain circumstances), but they don't solve the root problem.

Now I can barely even control my hands, legs or face and it's mildly disfiguring, but it's not like I care anymore...

Re: Severe brain injury and paralysis temporarily reversed with a sleeping pill

#83

Post by TylerE » Sat, Nov 07, 2020, 8:30 AM UTC

smabie wrote: post #70

7839284023 wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am happy that this works for you, but you can't really compare a Z-Drug with an atypical antipsychotic. That's some dangerous medical advice. Also (from wikipedia) on Seroquel / Quetiapine: "Despite being widely used as a sleep aid due its sedating effect, the benefits of such use do not appear to generally outweigh the side effects." https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8812/afd4bc713c03435b68f2bb... Personally I woul…

I've taken it for over 10 years and am better than ever. Hasn't suffered any harmful side-effects either. Of course, side-effects differ from person to person. But it's worth a try. Z-drugs and benzos are way worse. Moreover, if you're severely addicted to Z-drugs like OP, the benefits probably do outweigh the side-effects. Not every person is the same, and the cost benefit analysis differs accordingly.

Same. I’ve been on Zolipdem for about 5 years now ya amazing not to take 2 or 3 hours to fall asleep.

I’ve never had any meaningful side effects. No sleep walking, binge eating, or anything.

I am certainly, in the clinical sense, addicted - eg if I miss a dose I certainly notice, and there is some degree of tolerance, but I’m still better off than before I went on it.

Re: Severe brain injury and paralysis temporarily reversed with a sleeping pill

#84

Post by DarkStar851 » Sat, Nov 07, 2020, 8:38 AM UTC

nitrogen wrote: post #51

agency wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Zolpidem is Ambien, which is notorious for its interesting side-effects https://www.healthline.com/health/side-effects-of-taking-amb...

I would never take Ambien myself after someone I know was prescribed it, and instead of sleeping they would black out, blast techno/dance music in their apartment, and scream at the top of their lungs while stomping up and down ("dancing"). Then post about it on social media. All without remembering it, or with only hazy memories.

One of the major side effects of Ambien is anterograde amnesia, some people are less sensitive to it, but generally anything you do in "black out" phase will be a complete blur the next day. I used to take it an hour before bed and try to get some work done, I'd usually wake up the next day to several pages of code with absolutely no recollection of writing it.

Re: Severe brain injury and paralysis temporarily reversed with a sleeping pill

#85

Post by dumpsterdiver » Sat, Nov 07, 2020, 8:40 AM UTC

junon wrote: post #73

7839284023 wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am happy that this works for you, but you can't really compare a Z-Drug with an atypical antipsychotic. That's some dangerous medical advice. Also (from wikipedia) on Seroquel / Quetiapine: "Despite being widely used as a sleep aid due its sedating effect, the benefits of such use do not appear to generally outweigh the side effects." https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8812/afd4bc713c03435b68f2bb... Personally I woul…

This is a gross misunderstanding of what Seroquel is used for. It's one of those medications that several different side effects depending on the dosage. Yes, it can be used as an anti-psychotic. However, in most of the cases I've heard, it's used as a sleep aid. This was the case for me, too. I was on it for 10 years and ultimately went off because I grew out of my chronic insomnia. Aside from a muted personality an…

> Yes, it can be used as an anti-psychotic. However, in most of the cases I've heard, it's used as a sleep aid.

I've never taken anti-psychotics. I've asked my doctor for anti-depressants a few times (usually during relationship issues) and they are not my thing.

You're not a medical doctor, right? Obviously, or you wouldn't be giving out such frivolous advice. Dude... it's an anti-psychotic drug.

Re: Severe brain injury and paralysis temporarily reversed with a sleeping pill

#86

Post by b112 » Sat, Nov 07, 2020, 8:41 AM UTC

mdoms wrote: post #27

jetrink wrote: post #13

Reading the HN title, I was immediately reminded of the Oliver Sacks book Awakenings[1]. He discovered that the drug L-DOPA could temporarily awaken encephalitis patients from a coma-like state. I wonder if the article's title "Awakening after a sleeping pill" is a reference to that book. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awakenings_(book)

There's a House M.D. episode about this. It's one of my favourite episodes, but if you weren't already following the show it wouldn't be the best one to start on, as it involved Wilson doing a lot of analysis on House's way of thinking which you'd lack context on. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_Coma_Guy

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099077/

Two incredible actors, and one very touching movie.

Re: Severe brain injury and paralysis temporarily reversed with a sleeping pill

#87

Post by opiate_addict » Sat, Nov 07, 2020, 8:46 AM UTC

apatheticonion wrote: post #78

Found out promethazine (over the counter antihistamine) can make me sleepy after trying to use it to help with virtual reality sickness. I've recently started taking it a few times a month to help out when I am having poor sleep, in an attempt to kick me back into a decent rhythm. Reading the experiences in this thread of people using Seroquel or Zolpidem and their negative reactions - I am feeling a little sketchy a…

Careful with antihistamines. I've abused diphenhydramine in the past. Like crazy amounts each night. And I know at least 2 other addicts who have as well - one even claimed they shot it lol... so it can be addictive (and slightly physically addictive hard to get sleep until after 'withdrawals' end).

it helps 'slow down my thinking' and just kind of nod out to nothingness when taken alone. and combining with other drugs/alcohol amplifies

I feel like it has permanently worsened my memory. For sure brain fog is definitely noticeable for weeks after stopping.

There are also a few scary articles I've read linking to alzheimer's/dementia. It kind of makes sense from my limited wikipedia understanding of brain chemistry that blocking Acetylcholine would have long term effects. amped up version of this action is used to kill people vx seren etc

im sober from everything now. but every once and a blue moon i'll take diphenhydramine if i'm having serious insomnia.

one night feels restful. after that it just exasperates & continues the cycle. It also is hard to take just one, I literally have to buy a travel pack, take one, throw the rest away or i will keep taking them until they are gone. annnnd now i want one to zone out. don't abuse drugs kids!

Re: Severe brain injury and paralysis temporarily reversed with a sleeping pill

#88

Post by DanBC » Sat, Nov 07, 2020, 8:48 AM UTC

junon wrote: post #73

7839284023 wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am happy that this works for you, but you can't really compare a Z-Drug with an atypical antipsychotic. That's some dangerous medical advice. Also (from wikipedia) on Seroquel / Quetiapine: "Despite being widely used as a sleep aid due its sedating effect, the benefits of such use do not appear to generally outweigh the side effects." https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8812/afd4bc713c03435b68f2bb... Personally I woul…

This is a gross misunderstanding of what Seroquel is used for. It's one of those medications that several different side effects depending on the dosage. Yes, it can be used as an anti-psychotic. However, in most of the cases I've heard, it's used as a sleep aid. This was the case for me, too. I was on it for 10 years and ultimately went off because I grew out of my chronic insomnia. Aside from a muted personality an…

Seroquel is quetiapine. People are calling it an anti=psychotic because it is an anti-psychotic. That's its main use, and that's what it's licensed for.

https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/quetiapine.html

https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Treatments/Mental-...

> Quetiapine is a medication that works in the brain to treat schizophrenia. It is also known as a second generation antipsychotic (SGA) or atypical antipsychotic.

If doctors are prescribing seroquel for sleep problems i) that's pretty scary and ii) it's an off label use.

EDIT: here's the FA information showing that seroquel is an antipsychotic and is not licensed to treat sleep problems. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2013/02...

Re: Severe brain injury and paralysis temporarily reversed with a sleeping pill

#89

Post by goldenkey » Sat, Nov 07, 2020, 8:51 AM UTC

uberduper wrote: post #41

mariopt wrote: post #11

Zolpidem, I use this pill to sleep and works fantastic for me. My MD told me that regular use could lead to dementia and the risk for addiction is considerable. I've tried antidepressants to sleep but always wake up with a headache, the feeling of it it's not great either. But with this one, never had an issue.

Ever tried Hydroxyzine for sleep? It's an anti-anxiety med that was prescribed to me for insomnia after zolpidem and the other popular non-benzo hypnotics had the opposite effects on me. Hydroxyzine works ok for me. Not great. Flexirol + hydrocodone work fantastic for me, but that's not a viable option.

Hydroxyzine aka Atarax aka Vistaril is an anti-histamine. Off-label used for other things. Habitual anti-histamine use causes Parkinsons...

Re: Severe brain injury and paralysis temporarily reversed with a sleeping pill

#90

Post by b112 » Sat, Nov 07, 2020, 8:56 AM UTC

toolz wrote: post #17

getlawgdon wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You could phrase this much more kindly.

I believe it would be on you to interpret it more charitably. I'm unsure how you've found a way to take offense with words that aren't readily associated with malice.

I'll add one thing here.

"Slither" is definitely a negative term. A human doesn't slither, unless it is up to something nefarious, sneaky, malign, or evil. The devil is seen as serpentine in the Christian religion, and historically known as 'slithering about' to do evil. The apple offered to Eve, as part of the 'fall from grace' of humanity, was offered by Satan in serpent form.

The English language evolved and formed over centuries, in parallel with Christianity as a religion. Hence, many such negative or positively charged words and phrases exist.

For example, 'awesome' is "good awe" and "awful" is "bad awe", but why is "some awe" good, and "being full of awe" bad?

Because there is the concept that one cannot withstand being in full presence of God. Having some "awe" of God withstandable, but all? Will destroy you. To be filled with awe, something immensely wonderful to have some of, is horrible.

Irregardless of the current state of Christianity, English is derived from its historical, cultural roots, and some words can be "associated with malice". And again, I've only ever heard 'slither' used in reference to a human being in a highly negative connotation.

NOTE: I fully agree, especially on an international forum which has non-native speakers, assume good intent. However, the initial reply was not angry, or hateful, at least not from inakarmacoma.

Anyhow.

My 2 cents, worthful or not.

(Edit for all sorts of weird errors, and added a bit of context)