Could Ambien Sleep Drug Help ‘Awaken’ Those With Brain Damage?
- Posted on December 2, 2011 at 12:22pm by
Liz Klimas
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For most people, the drug Ambien puts them out like a light. For others, specifically those in a vegetative or minimally conscious state, the drug does the exact opposite: it wakes them up — at least to an extent.
Over the years, there have been several accounts of Ambien helping patients with severe brain damage make improvements in focus and cognitive abilities. The New York Times Magazine reports that while research on the drug for this use isn’t new — accounts of using Ambien and similar drugs to “wake” vegetative or minimally conscious patients have been seen throughout the 2000s — the first large-scale study of drug and its generic version zolpidem began this year and hopes to answer several questions of how exactly it does this and what it means for healing the brain.
The Times features the story of Chris Cox, who became permanently brain damaged in 2008 from lack of oxygen to the brain after taking too many pain killers. He was resuscitated and unconscious for four days. When he awoke he was considered vegetative. But after some time and seeing some small improvements, Chris was deemed minimally conscious and his parents — Judy and Wayne — eventually decided to enter him into a study using Ambien and were amazed when it “woke” him up:
Chris was 26. He had not been well. An A.T.V. accident the previous August left him with debilitating back pain that physical therapy did nothing to alleviate. His doctor had recently prescribed Oxycontin. His parents learned later that he had taken too much.
[...]
Convinced that the son they know and love is still “in there,” Chris’s parents have spent the past three years searching for a way to bring him back out. So far, their best hope has come from an unlikely source: Ambien. A growing body of case reports suggests that the popular sleep aid can have a profound — and paradoxical — effect on patients like Chris.
Chris Cox. (Image: Screenshot via New York Times video)
Watch the Times video about Chris’ story here.
There are several accounts of Ambien or zolpidem helping to focus awake but otherwise vegetative patients, but the Times reports that less than 10 percent of brain-injured patients will experience the drug’s effects. Even still, the Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute and at the University of Pennsylvania began a study this year to gain understanding about zolpidem as a treatment for such debilitation. The Times describes the drug’s success thus far and upcoming research as sort of a “tortured kind of hope” for the Cox family.
So far, John Whyte, director of the Moss Institute and head of the zolpidem trial, and his team of researchers are in the process of testing 80 patients, including Chris, in both a non-medicated and medicated state. From there, they will analyze the data to see what differences in the brain, if any:
[...] maybe a specific brain region that lights up unexpectedly, or a pattern of neuronal firing common to one group but not the other. Any such discovery could light a path not only through the labyrinths of Chris’s fractured mind but to a better understanding of consciousness itself.
The Times reports that according to several studies, 40 percent of those declared vegetative are actually minimally conscious, and the research is looking at both these types of patients to see if the drug provides different results. Results in the cases, which are still very preliminary, are mixed, varying on an individual basis, according to the Times. Of those who do show response to the drug, Whyte said it is looking like some can take it daily without becoming conditioned to it, while others — perhaps a more common occurrence — seem to gain a tolerance to the drug and “awakenings” become less and less with continued use.
As for the unusual effects the drug seems to have in these cases, the Times reports that even in patients who take the drug for its intended purpose as a sleep aid can experience unusual side effects, including “sleepwalking, even sleep driving.” Gizmodo reports that some people who take the drug and purposefully try to stay awake can experience hallucinations.
It is clear, as Gizmodo sums it up, that this drug is “doing something crazy with our neurons.” Hopefully, upcoming research will be able to tell us more.
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Katie822
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 1:12pmWhy would anybody be against waking people up from vegetative states? I mean really, if ya‘ll were sick or had a family member sick you’d be willing to try anything and eating gluten free is not going to wake somebody up……….. All these people with their natural talk have NEVER been sick and never had their sleep taken from them; take away somebody‘s sleep and they’ll be begging on hands and knees for ambien. I have a sleeping disorder which causes me to never have deep sleep (along with a host of other problems), so I never feel restored and NEVER feel like I’ve slept. It is possibly the most horrifying feeling.
Anyways, this is great news but we know so little about the brain and about psychiatric and neurological medications. It‘s quite odd that certain medications primarily used for RLS also help Parkinson’s and depression and bi-polar disorder. It’s odd that people respond differently to neuro meds. We need more advancement in this field so we can better treat people. Good luck to this young man. So odd that ambien wakes them up, definitely needs to be researched.
Report Post »packsack54
Posted on December 4, 2011 at 3:08pmMaybe they should give it to the people in Washington, because I think the most of the have Brain damage, I wonder if they been smoking something as they seem to be clueless and have brain damage to what is going on in this country. You can ask congressman Kennedy not to drink while taking Ambian, had to get his as- to Mayo clinic here in MN a few years ago.
Report Post »ConservativeCharlie
Posted on December 4, 2011 at 10:36pmLOL. Blaze people crack me up. That was a good one. Clever. Wish everyone was as quick as Blaze readers.
Report Post »kimberlyjesus
Posted on December 4, 2011 at 3:03pmIn 2012, GOD will burn all illegal drugs and pharmacy drugs. You will have to rely on The LORD for your healing not man!
Report Post »ConservativeCharlie
Posted on December 4, 2011 at 10:37pm? please share if you have info. How you know we the burn in comin in 2012?
Report Post »Katie822
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 1:16pmStop talking like an idiot, you’re making christians sound like imbeciles.
Report Post »guyjack
Posted on December 4, 2011 at 2:29pmIt does work…I have MS and sleep problems associated with it. With Ambien, not only do I get blessed sleep, but I now see that 99.9% of all politicians are corrupt and are fleecing the world. I now recognize that many, not all, big corporations are capitalizing on that rampant corruption so that they can get their products, no matter how harmful, to the market faster! Religion is a snare and a racket. Religion should never get mixed up in politics but, no matter where you look, you see the Pope or Mormons or Muslim Imams or Pastors or whatever a church Leader is called in any religion, stepping into the political arena to give their views or to try to shape opinion for a certain political leader or topic. The bible speaks of all of these people as “oppressive wolves”. Boy, was Jesus right when he labelled them that! Politicians, Religious leaders, Corporations and the media are all “OPPRESSIVE WOLVES” and I hope God takes them all down soon!
NOTE: To all of those who didn’t get the gist of this post: This started out as a joke about Ambien, but turned into a rant, Sorry! I do have a prescription for Ambien to treat my MS related insomnia. The Ambien did NOT awaken me to all of the corruption. That was the joke.
Report Post »Tresse
Posted on December 4, 2011 at 2:16pmToo bad this wasn’t given to Terri Schiavo, she may still be alive and some else may be on death row.
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on December 4, 2011 at 9:41pmAmen!
Report Post »PCFree
Posted on December 26, 2011 at 11:53pmThere was no brain left in Terri Schaivo’s skull. Post mortem autopsy showed all that was left of her brain was the stem that kept her body alive. The rest of her brain was reduced to goo. There was nothing to wake up.
Report Post »Triumverate
Posted on December 4, 2011 at 11:31amI suffer from bouts of insomnia related to my Multiple Sclerosis, and once too Ambien to help me sleep. Then I began to find ceral bowls, or other evidence that I had somehow gotten up in the middle of the night and ate without my knowledge. I would also do “posturing” in my sleep. My husband would roll over and see me laying on my back or side with one of my arms sticking straight up in the air or my hands would be raised up as if I were holding something. I no longer take Ambien, and although I still have sleep issues, I found healthier alternatives to help me sleep. If this drug can help “awaken” coma victims, maybe they better make sure they aren‘t just aren’t sleep walking or getting up for a bowl of cereal first!
Report Post »readyfornov
Posted on December 4, 2011 at 8:50amI took one pill, that was enough for me. I had no memory of what I did but with in just a few seconds I was bouncing off the walls acting like a drunk person, ranting and raving. I had everyone around me terrified. I was told by the pharmacist that I had to have been drinking for ambien to affect me that way. I didn‘t drink so I knew it wasn’t that. He said there was no way if would affect me that fast and it wouldn’t have had that effect on me. BS because now I know different. I now understand why people drive and have no memory of what they did. Ambien is not for some people. If you are sensitve to different meds then you should probably not take ambien.
Report Post »Kara_ite
Posted on December 4, 2011 at 8:21amAmbien is a good excuse for people who just want a quick fix. I teach people how to get healthy without drugs. Sleep comes when you are healthy.
Report Post »Fina Biscotti
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 4:29pmAmbien – is a strange – but interesting drug – for sleep. If used correctly – only taking it – when you have EIGHT Hours available to sleep – you wake up – like clockwork – just about exactly eight hours – and you are wide awake – as if you had a B-12 shot.
No grogginess – if eight hours sleep.
I do not know what else happens – if less sleep – or if someone is forced awake by an emergency or some other reason – before eight hours.
Report Post »NoRoomForSocialismHere
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 7:27pmI started ambien in the late 90s. I was told by the doctor it was none habit forming and in time it would reduce its power.
Report Post »At first is was a perfect 8 hrs and no hang over effect. It has reduced time of sleep now to hardly 5 hrs and that is broken. So I dont know where your infromation come from its not true for more than a few yrs. Yes, I am looking for a new one that was as pleasant as Ambien was. Dont get the one ambienCR that is for increased sleep. It has a layer of of another drug, light yellow in color and it has caused some really scary results, like sleep walking and other severe actions.
RediPatriot
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 3:41pmNo it does not help people with brain damage awaken. Proof – I work with a Lib that is on Ambian and not only did it not fix his brain damage but it is making him a comatose zombie for all things lib like OWS, “oh Obama deserves a vacation”, “it’s ok for people on food stamps to use them at restaurants”, “he is not a socialist!”, “Obama is not upping class warfare”, and my favorite “I think Mitt Romney would make a good President”. See with all of these examples it is proof positive that Ambian does not help people with brain damage awaken…
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 8:38pmthat is ridiculously funny cannot stop laughing
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on December 4, 2011 at 9:53pm@RediPatriot
Report Post »Posted on December 3, 2011 at 3:41pm
No it does not help people with brain damage awaken. Proof – I work with a Lib that is on Ambian and not only did it not fix his brain damage but it is making him a comatose zombie for all things lib like OWS,
***
I would check the label more carefully! THERE SHOULD BE AN ITEM “WARNING, DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG WITH THE OBAMA KOOL AIDE, THERE COULD BE SERIOUS AND DEBILITATING SIDE EFFECTS, (sometimes lasting a lifetime!)”
CulperGang
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 2:26pmThere ARE NO LONG TERM benefits in synthetic drugs period. The side effects kill you.
Report Post »America is fat. America has rampant cancer. America has rampant Alzheimers. America is totally unhealthy, due to big pharmas poisioning the water and the food and over prescribing.
The 1% way of reducing the population for the purpose of saving the earth from corruption of pollution via human activity.
dontbotherme
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:33pmThis is amazing! I sincerely hope & pray that this really helps comatose people. Like Yankl161 said, this reminds me of “Awakenings”. I hope the curative outcome lasts longer.
Report Post »hungerymedstudent
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 8:07amWe had a patient’s family request this treatment on their father in the ICU last year. We tried it since we figured it could hurt. It didn’t work.
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 12:42pmHungery_ Oh. That’s too bad.
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 8:07pmWell the good news is I am not brain damaged- my reaction is sleep, blessed sleep.
Report Post »Amy
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 5:37pmIf this is true, it is marvelous. Sad fact, drug companies are not always able to know which drug affects what and how- the brain is still a mystery.
Report Post »yanki161
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 4:02pmReminds me of the movie “Awakenings”, a true story where dopamine in large quanities had the same result. There is so much we have yet to learn.
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 8:07pmIt’s basically the same thing. And so far it has the same effects. It sometimes works initially, almost to a miraculous degree, and then slowly becomes less and less effective until it stops working completely. It’s truly an amazing phenomenon, but they’re nowhere near actually understanding what is actually happening or why.
Report Post »Steev
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:49pmColor me surprised – there’s actually a good thing to come out of thereputic drugging, true the side affects are a wildcard ( actually i guess the benefit to Chris is an unforseen side affect, but it’s obviousally a positive one ) .
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