Is it Ambien or Altzheimers?

[yukiko11]

Originally Posted by Woof Woof Woof!

I've heard that Ambien causes you to "black out." It's strange and freaky. I have trouble sleeping, too, but I'm not taking that stuff!

As a life long insomniac, I agree. I would never take anything for fear of the addiction. I have always said, when I get old, (I am almost there) that I don't want to be forced to choose between my medications and my basic necessitites. But, she knows me well enough to know how I have had a life long struggle with fatigue in a stressful career. She always tells me, if you can get a good night's sleep you can be ready for the next day. She either hasn't experienced wierd or unexplained behavior at night or any other time or she is hiding it because she knows I want her to get tested. for altzheimers. After the horrible experience she has been through with the Hep-C, she has often said that she is thankful she has it because if she developes Altzheimers, she can only pray that the Hep-C gets her first.
Genetically, she will outlive me by many years. I cry whenever I even think that at some point in her life she will have to face this alone in a place where nobody cares. I pray every day that if this developes, I can somehow live long enough to see her through.

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by Woof Woof Woof!

I've heard that Ambien causes you to "black out." It's strange and freaky. I have trouble sleeping, too, but I'm not taking that stuff!

It's some bad stuff, especially when you take it with a glass of wine. I kinda remember the things I did when I took it, but it's foggy. I know I hallucinated and heard things that weren't happening, and one night I called my friend and didn't remember any of it. He called me the next day and asked "were you drunk last night?". I've heard of people getting in their car and driving around and not even remembering it (I don't think I did that, don't remember). I won't touch the stuff anymore.

[JanuaryGirl]

Ok, the key here is probably not the Ambien or Alzheimers, it is probably the Hepatitis C. One of the common side effects of infection is memory loss, confusion, and mental fog. This usually results from a build up of amonia in the body (if I remember correctly... been a few years since a family member had this disease).

There are medications to treat this particular symptom, one of which is Lactulose. Is it possible she was on this and quit taking it? I'm not sure what you mean "she discontinued the drug treatment." Was she taking an interferon-type treatment? Many people try that and are successful, others can't take the side effects or it doesn't get rid of the virus.

Either way, she should (if she hasn't already) mention the symptom of confusion to her doctor right away! This could be a sign that the virus is doing more damage or isn't being treated properly. Also, hopefully she is on an Ambien dose appropriate for someone with possible liver damage from HCV... too much would not be a good thing.

PLEASE get her to talk to her doctor about these symptoms. HCV IS NOT PRETTY, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SYMPTOM, AND IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED! I know (really, I do) that it can be frustrating dealing with someone that has HCV-caused memory problems, but try to talk to her about it!

[I LOVE NORTH CAROLINA]

Originally Posted by cjma79

five years

Yep five years with no problems! ( but I am only taking 5mg)

[yukiko11]

Dnoami
Thank you so much for your information. Yes she was on an interferon treatment for a year.. It did significently reduce the virus count, but did not put her in remission. The next treatment was daily injections, and she couldn't tolerate it and keep working, which, is necessary to both of us now. She had a liver biopsey that showed no damage yet so decided to wait until she retired and let medicare bear the expense.
I will look into this and see if I can convince her also. She is currently taking homeopathic treatments from a chiropractor that she works for as a massage therapist. I am sure this person wouldn't do anything to hurt her as they have been friends for many years, but I am not so confident that these are the only hands she should be in..