weird, scary side effect with Rozerem
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| Mon, 10-30-2006 - 10:35am |
Last week my p-doc gave me some samples of Rozerem to try for my insomnia. I've taken it a couple of times and each time I had this same reaction and I was wondering if anyone else had experienced this. After becoming drowsy and getting into bed, my entire body felt very heavy and paralyzed. Throughout the night--almost every hour--I kept waking up in a panic thinking that I was paralyzed and moving my arms and legs to assure myself that I wasn't paralyzed. I was not having nightmares or anything like that. My body felt drugged to the point where I was afraid that I couldn't move my limbs, yet I couldn't stay awake because the drug was a sleeping pill. I kept moving my body to make sure I could still move, and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to breathe (not a panic attack). I've never had this happen with Ambien or OTC sleeping aids.
My doctor had said that Rozerem works differently from Ambien, and I didn't think to ask how. But this really scared me. My doctor tends to be a little dismissive when I speak up about side effects. I wonder if he would believe me if I told him about this the next time I see him.


Sheri Ann
It sounds like sleep paralysis. Regardless of what it is; it needs to be reported to your doc and he needs to take you seriously. If not, find someone else who will. About the sleep paralysis: my husband experiences this from time to time. What happens in sleep paralysis is when you dream your body produces a chemical/hormone that basically paralyzes your body so you don't act out your dream. With this problem the body sometimes produces too much and it bleeds into the waking. When you experience this does it take a while for you to be able to move your body, does your body suddenly jerk, and you mentioned that you fear you will stop breathing; a lot of people who experience sleep paralysis have this same fear because they can't feel themselves breathing. Just like any disease or disorder there are more mild forms of it. Speak with your doctor, and like I said; if he doesn't take it seriously its time to send that doc packing and find a new one. I hope it gets better for you. :)
Ashley
I'm not taking any more Rozerem until I see my doctor in a couple of weeks. At least I had samples and didn't have to pay for them.
I don't want y'all to get the wrong impression of my doctor. He is a very good doctor and very thorough, but I have the feeling he sees me as some conspiracy nut who scours the internet looking for side effects and excuses not to take medicine because I have in the past refused to take two antidepressants he had recommended. In any event, he's leaving in January and is working with his patients to find other doctors.
I have heard of the sleep chemical thing--not sure what it's called. All I know is that I was perfectly awake when it happened, and it was definitely no dream! I'm going to ask him if I can go back to Ambien.