side effects . . .

I blogged a few months back about my battle with insomia (which has come back with a vengeance, by the way). I quit taking the extremely effective Ambien CR because I happened to read about its side-effects one day and got really freaked out. (http://shawnalyne.blogspot.com/2007/08/sleep-deprived.html)

So, I've been trying lots of natural sleep remedies, from melatonin to valerian to something called theanine. If there are any alarming side-effects to these substances, I've not experienced or read about them. Unfortunately, they just don't work nearly as well as their evil pharmaceutical counterpart, Ambien.

So what's a bleary-eyed gal to (yawn) do?

Speaking of side-effects, I came across some real doozies when I did a little research on a new prescription Greg brought home from the doctor's this week. His legs twitch relentlessly at night--probably due to nerve damage from a spinal cord surgery a few years back--making a restful night difficult for both of us.

The following are possible reactions to Requip, a drug used to treat Restless Leg Syndrome and Parkinson's Disease:

Some patients taking ropinirole have shown urges to behave in a way unusual for them. Examples of this are an unusual urge to gamble or increased sexual urges and/or behaviors. If you or your family notices that you are developing any unusual behaviors, talk to your doctor.

Maybe I'm a little paranoid about the whole side-effect thing (hmmm, could paranoia be a side-effect of my thyroid meds?), I think we should take a gentler, and perhaps less life-altering approach to his twitching.

Like twin beds . . . just kidding, dear!