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paradoxical effect of zolpidem
Does anyone have experience with using zolpidem off-label for temporary relief of long covid symptoms? This was my experience:
I have had fairly severe long covid since June 2024. Among several medications I take Zolpidem for sleep. It is very helpful, and I suffer none of the common side effects. At the end of December 2024 I accidentally took a Zolpidem mid-morning, and dreaded the groggy day I was sure would follow. Intsead, within an hour, a remarkable thing occurred: my brain fog lifted, and my physical symptoms improved a great deal – basically, I felt like a normal person for about 4 hours, until it wore off and I felt as before. I repeated this experiment with a few extra doses of Zolpidem that I had, each time with the same result. I have managed to obtain extra Zolpidem from time to time, and it still works the same way for me. Symptoms recede and I feel pretty good for four hours or so.
So far mostly what I hear when I tell about this is a chuckle, as if it is so improbable that Zolpidem could have this effect. Thus far no one will give me a prescription for 10 or even 5 zolpidem a month for this purpose (I no longer use it for sleep), despite scientific accounts of this effect.
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I should also add a portion of the text of a letter I received from a neuroscientist at a prominent medical school: "Thank you for sharing your story, this is very helpful to have on record. As it turns out we wrote a whole NIH grant on trying to help long-Covid with methods like this adapted from our work on treating patients with structural brain injuries (the grant was summarily rejected of course...). What you describe is canonical as a paradoxical response with zolpidem and other agents that work on the GABA receptor. The time courses are right on for the extended release version."
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1 Reaction@wtt I had a paradoxical effect with Versed (midazolam) which also works on the GABA receptors. Unfortunately it was not pleasant at all. I went in for knee surgery and VERSED is supposed to put out so that you don’t remember what’s going on, Instead it gave me horrific panic attacks and caused me to pace non stop like a crazy person for 8 hours till it wore off. The doctor called off the surgery and sent me home.
Glad to hear yours has been a positive one.
glad that gave some relief.It's otc name is AMBIEN.You can buy it in a store.