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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suggest Treatment For Sleep Related Problems After Trauma

I would like to know what the various symptoms I an occurring frequently mean. I am a 47 year old woman and have gone through menopause several years ago. I have had insomnia to the extreme my whole life. I take ambian for it but have been on it many years and it doesn't keep me asleep. Last year I had a traumatic incident and I an now on disability. I have PTSS. Now I can't seem to get enough sleep. 12-14 hours a night. I also am sleeping very deep and experience nighmares several times a week. Usually in the morning hours but also in the middle of the night. I wake up sweating shaking and sometimes screaming. I am almost always being chanced. I also currently take adivan for the last year and I wondering if some of this is caused by the PTSS and /or my body withdrawling form the adivan. thanks for your help
Fri, 5 Dec 2014
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
Hello thanks for asking from Health Care Magic

You have been taking Ambien (Zolpidem) since many years and the drug has resulted in tolerance. You are not able to sleep with this drug. You have main complaints of insomnia. Recently you have developed post traumatic stress disorder after a traumatic incident. Your problems of insomnia have worsened. You have symptoms like waking up in night, sweating, screaming in night, nightmares. You are currently taking ativan or lorazepam. Lorazepam is benzodiazepine and the drug can help in sleep but it can't relieve severe anxiety of PTSS. The symptoms of nightmares are getting worsened with this drug.
Proper treatment of PTSS is done with SSRIs especially Paroxetin, Sertraline etc. Paroxetine also cause sedation so this drug will help in good sleep also. The drug will also improve your anxiety and night mares. I would advise you to consult a psychiatrist for treatment of PTSS and your problem of insomnia. Insomnia will improve with improvement of symptoms of PTSS.

Also try relaxation exercises and improve sleep hygiene to get good sleep.

Thanks, hope this helps you.
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Suggest Treatment For Sleep Related Problems After Trauma

Hello thanks for asking from Health Care Magic You have been taking Ambien (Zolpidem) since many years and the drug has resulted in tolerance. You are not able to sleep with this drug. You have main complaints of insomnia. Recently you have developed post traumatic stress disorder after a traumatic incident. Your problems of insomnia have worsened. You have symptoms like waking up in night, sweating, screaming in night, nightmares. You are currently taking ativan or lorazepam. Lorazepam is benzodiazepine and the drug can help in sleep but it can t relieve severe anxiety of PTSS. The symptoms of nightmares are getting worsened with this drug. Proper treatment of PTSS is done with SSRIs especially Paroxetin, Sertraline etc. Paroxetine also cause sedation so this drug will help in good sleep also. The drug will also improve your anxiety and night mares. I would advise you to consult a psychiatrist for treatment of PTSS and your problem of insomnia. Insomnia will improve with improvement of symptoms of PTSS. Also try relaxation exercises and improve sleep hygiene to get good sleep. Thanks, hope this helps you.