It's after midnight here in NC (southern part of the USA for our global friends) and
I wanted to post another question about perimenopause to all my sisters.

Are any of you having a paradoxical (contradictory or an opposite effect) reaction
to common medications? For example, I was taking Benadryl (antihistamine) to
help me sleep but it makes me hyper instead of drowsy. I took Ambien (sleep aid)
for a while, but it begin to make my insomnia worse and gave me other things to
worry about. I would make strange phone calls in the middle of the night to friends or relatives and have no memory of the calls. Apparently I called my old, sick uncle and talked about how BIG and exciting his treadmill was (!!). I have
xanax and ativan for anxiety - courtesy of my doc who is happily making the drug
companies wealthy beyond their wildest dreams - but neither of them help. In
fact, xanax makes me feel even more anxious. Like my throat is getting tighter.

Could this be related to hormonal imbalances ? Any of you sharing this problem?

suzy

Hi Suzy,

We all react to medications differently! Some people are able to take huge dosages of things, while others have a terrible time with small amounts of the same drugs.

Also, with hormones swinging, it makes sense that the "chemistry" of our bodies shifts, so that we react differently to something we've done well with in the past.

It's really a matter of determining what does/doesn't work for you.

BTW, Benedryl makes me hyper, too.

Quite a ride, huh?

Yikes Suzy - it sounds like your talking/walking in you sleep perhaps...maybe - I don't know. Have you talked to your Dr. about the "side effects"? I feel so sorry for you...what a strange and scary feeling that must be for you.

As Jacquie said - alot of people have different reactions to medicines depending on the chemisty within the body. I personally can only take a very low, low dose of any medication because of side effects...

Blessings,
Stacy

Suzy,

I don't see this on the list of "normal" menopausal symptoms, but I have to tell you I have done the same thing!

It is bizarre. My doc gave me Ambien for insomnia. I find that if I take and go right to bed, I am ok. But if I take it and don't go right to bed, it's as if I "lose" the last hour(s) of my day.

People will tell me I called them.... or I will find that I emailed someone....and don't remember it at all! Yikes. A lot of times I will wake in the morning and tell my husband "Did I dream this or did I do it?"....because sometimes I swear I dreamt something, only to find out that I actually did it -- or vice versa.

It's very embarassing to be so out of control, while only trying to get some sleep!