Brain Injury May Be
Reversed With Common Sleeping Pill - Ambien Has Helped Some Patients
Regain Use of Some Functions - Reverse Damage
July 16th 2006
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Remarkable research shows that the common sleeping pill Ambien may help
patients with brain damage recover the use of some of their brain.
Although the awakening side effect is rare, doctors say that some
patients may benefit.
ABC News reporter, Mike Von Fremd, interviewed a doctor that has been
studying the prescription sleeping pills. Dr. Ralf Clauss speculates
that while brain injury may cause some parts of the brain to remain
dormant, sometimes the drug may temporarily reverse this change.
The news segment involved a young man, George Melendez, who had a
passion for baseball, but was involved in a traffic accident leaving his
brain damaged. The injury was serious enough that he was unable to talk
or take care of himself.
Although Melendez is still in a full-time care facility, the doctors
believe he has made progress. The progress, they believe is due to
Ambien. It actually helps Melendez become more alert and able to
respond to his parents by either shaking his head yes or no, or
sometimes he even speaks.
Clauss said “We are seeing restoration of consciousness and restoration
of function in our patients.” The researchers are not sure what is
happening, but the mother of Melendez is sure.
Flores Melendez learned about the effects of Ambien by accident. She had
gotten a prescription for the drug to give to her son because he was
having trouble sleeping, and his constant moaning kept them both awake
at night. Ten minutes after his first dose she noticed that the moaning
disappeared.
She turned to her son and said “Hey George”. Her son responded “what?”
That was the first word he had spoken since his accident. He began to
respond and say other words as well. Since that very first dose in
2002, pat has given Melendez Ambien three times a day, every day.
Recently the reporters went to visit the family. The morning they saw
George was remarkable. Before Ambien he was stiff, unresponsive and
uncomfortable. After the first dose of the day he was able to say his
name and hold up one or two fingers.
His mother told the reporters that the drug will last for hours before
it begins to wear off. She gives him three pills per day and says she
is happy to have just a little more of her son back. Doctors are
uncertain whether George will continue to improve.
Dan Wilson
Best Syndication
Books on the Mind
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