Posted by Tony P on May 13, 2004, at 20:38:15
In reply to Re: Does Sonata/Amb.act on the same GABA as Klonopin? » florence, posted by chemist on May 10, 2004, at 13:06:40
I have been on Zopiclone (aka Imovane) - that's the longer-acting one available in Canada - for far too long (most of the last few years). Like the benzodiazepines, it develops tolerance, although not as quickly. Initially 7.5 mg worked for me, but then I had to bump it to 15 (with Dr's approval), and now I find it takes 30 mg (NOT approved) to get me three or four hours sleep. I may have some cross-tolerance from the benzos I take, too.
I don't think I have true chronic fatigue syndrome, but I sure have many of the symptoms (plus sleep apnea which doesn't help). I haven't slept more than three hours straight through more than once or twice in the last six months. I know it's time to stop the Zopiclone - but what else to do? I was already on 4 mg klonopin a day; my MD is having me try Xanax 30 mg at bedtime, and drop the klonopin to 2 mg/day, but the Xanax seems to me to be very mild and slow to work.
Where's that magic pill???!!!
Tony
> > I am chronically fatigued. [...] I want to know if Sonata or Ambien even, act on GABA the same way.. I have had no luck with lamictal, trileptal, zyprexa, neurontin, etc. There is a theory that NMDA is more activated than GABA in patients with "actual" Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Thanks for any help.
>
> hello there....sonata and ambien bind to sub-units of the GABA receptor in a different fashion than do benzodiazepines, although the resultant anxiolytic effects (or hyponotic/sedative) are from the same mode of action with the receptor....i recall a very short action for sonata, and it being used (mostly) for people who have trouble falling asleep; ambien lasts longer, and is used when one has trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. the site-selectivity in the GABA type A receptor probably accounts for some non-benzodiazepine characteristics of these drugs, e.g., preservation of duration spent in a couple(?) of sleep stages....hope this helps a bit, and all the best, chemist
poster:Tony P
thread:345256
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040510/msgs/346590.html