Drug Content

So it’s 3:17 PM right now and I am a little tired.  I was up until 4:00 am last night doing some work– but my foot started to hurt so I took my medication and went to bed.  I have been adding some content to DrugContent.com– and I must say that it is coming along rather nice.  I love the layout, and I am getting a lot more comfortable with the Wordpress admin panel.  I definietly am looking forward to the future of this website.

A few other new features that can be found at DrugContent.com is: 1.) I have added a widget on the right side-bar of the site called “Drug Quotes”.  There are only about 5 or 6 quotes, but it isn’t easy finding decent quotes about drugs, so I will continue to search and add them day by day; 2.) I have also added (to the left side-bar of the site) a “Recent Comments” widget, which will show all of the most recent comments that have been posted.  Very convenient; 3.) Last but definitely not least– a videos page!  I added many videos of random popular drugs that you all should definitely check out.  They are YouTube videos and might take a minute to load them all up (depending on your internet connection).

So as I stated a couple of days ago– I am taking Percocet (Oxycodone w/ APAP), 10 mg tablets.  As I type right now– I am really tired, but I took Ambien last night because I have been having major trouble sleeping.  The pain in my toe has been keeping my up late at night, so my pain management doctor figured he would try Ambien.  It certainly works, but the rebound tiredness that I receive the next day is horrible (just like right now).  Tomorrow at 10:30 am– I have to go into my doctor’s pain management office to pick up my prescription refill for my Percocet, and he is also going to put me on a long lasting narcotic– I believe he wants to put me on Kadian, which I have never tried before, so I will update you all on how I feel after I take it tomorrow.

Above is the Oxycodone bottle that I get every couple of weeks.  They are Watson brand generic, and they work excellent.  I think Watson works better than any generic personally– although everyone is different.  I took the pictures with my Kodak EasyShare M853 Digital Camera– which happens to work really well.

Until next time– I am off to do some work…  Gotta make that money ya know.  =)  Anyhow– I will be adding more drug related content later on today, so look forward to that!  Talk to you all later.

Zolpidem- Half Life: 2-2.6 hours; Schedule IV Drug

Ambien (Zolpidem) is a prescription medication used for short-term treatment of insomnia, as well as certain brain disorders.  Zolpidem is a sedative, and also a hypnotic.  It affects certain chemicals in one’s brain that may become unbalanced, which causes the insomnia.  Zolpidem is not a benzodiazepine, but it is a nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic that enhances gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that binds to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain that are located on the GABA receptors.  Zolpidem works really quickly, so it’s important to take it right before you are about to go to bed.

Zolpidem shouldn’t be taken for more than six weeks, as like all medications, there is some risk for dependency–but the main reason being that it won’t work anymore at the same dosage, which means the dosage would have to be adjusted.  Zolpidem has been used long-term in some cases, but the average treatment time period is 1-2 weeks.

Zolpidem is also, in rare cases, used to treat RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome), and might be prescribed to stimulant users to “come down” or taper down after the usage of certain stimulants such as amphetamines, cocaine, or MDMA (ecstasy).

Side effects of Ambien vary in intensity from person to person, so if there are any severe reactions to Zolpidem, seek medical help immediately.  Side effects are as followed:

Daytime drowsiness; dizziness; weakness; feeling ”drugged” or lightheaded; euphoria; altered thought patterns; lack of coordination; amnesia; abnormal dreams; diarrhea; nausea; vomiting; headache; muscle pain; blurred vision; More Severe Side Effects; Worsening sleep problems; depression; suicidal thoughts; unusual risk-taking behavior; no fear of danger; decreased inhibitions; aggressive feeling or agitated; hallucinations; confusion; loss of personality

As stated above–if these severe side effects persist, be sure to contact your doctor immediately, as another underlying cause may be causing this to happen.

While Zolpidem is non-narcotic, there is still the potential for abuse.  If one continues taking the drug after it is no longer prescribed to them by their doctor, they can develop a tolerance to the drug.  With long-term usage, one would have to increase the dosage to receive the same effects, which would make coming off of Zolpidem harder than normal.  Zolpidem can cause perceptual changes, visual distortions, light-based hallucinations, and euphoria, which is why people abuse the drug.

Zolpidem is supposed to be used to fall asleep, but if one “fights” the urge to go to sleep, they will start to feel the effects of the drug, which include vivid visuals and a relaxing body high, rather than calmly falling asleep.  Exceeding 10 mgs of Zolpidem a day is not recommended.  If Zolpidem is used past the doctor’s orders, or increases the dosage so one can either receive the same effects that they were receiving when they first took the drug, or to increase the drugs effect, they can suffer through withdrawal.  The following below can be expected, but is not limited to:

Major confusion; strange behavior; agitation; loss of personal identity; severe hallucinations; worsening of depression; suicidal thoughts; insomnia; major anxiety; aggressive behavior

If you are taking Zolpidem for extended periods of time, DO NOT stop taking the medication abruptly–but contact your doctor first.  It can be tough to figure out if one is suffering through withdrawal or not.

Zolpidem is a great short-term drug, but it must be used properly.  Zolpidem is used over many other competing drugs.  Other prescription sleep aids have the tendency to cause a bitter (metallic) taste in a person’s mouth, which is why more doctors prescribe Zolpidem first.  Ask your doctor if you are a candidate for the distribution of Zolpidem or Ambiem.