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1:31 pm
February 15, 2012
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Hi Dr. Gangemi – I need to ask you a question about sleep. I used to suffer from chronic insomnia because I was addicted to Ambien (10 mg) that my sleep doctor kept prescribing to me for years. Then with the help of my wife, I started to wean myself off it by reducing it to 5mg (pill cuter) then to 2.5mg and then eventually I freed myself (was clean for over a year). Recently we had our first child and the constant midnight crying has knocked me off track again. Then one night I took just 5mg of Ambien again and the next night I couldn't fall asleep without it…i tried to sleep without it many nights and my body would itch as if ants were crawling over my skin and I would get hot and cold flashes and I'd be up all night. So then for a few months I tried going for a 35min jog 1 or 2 hours before bed and then I would take one benadryl pill and 3mg of melatonin after my jog and that would help me sleep without Ambien. Now I think my body's natural cortisone and melatonin regulation has been knocked off track in a big way from the night-time jogs and benadryl and melatonin. Because I tried sleeping without the night-time jog and benadryl-melatonin pills and it doesn't work…I'll just toss and turn until I have to go to work. So I have 2 questions: First, how can I get those 2 important sleep hormones (cortisone and my own melatonin) back on the right track? And also, when (at what time during the day) is it best to go for a jog? I don't have any emotional stress and I follow the paleo diet. Many thanks, Sean 
4:11 pm
January 19, 2011
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Hi Sean, sometimes these things are hard to figure out w/o seeing you and I can't make specific recommendations for you to try (other than the advice I give on this site) since you're not a patient of mine. More info if you'd like to discuss more here.
You may be deficient in a nutrient (B5 is common) that converts serotonin to melatonin or you may have a problem making your own natural GABA (which is how the sleep meds work). It's hard to say without knowing. And you may not have a cortisol problem but some other issue, maybe histamine or epinephrine that is suppressing the melatonin.
In regards to what time to jog or workout, if you're exercising aerobically then anytime of the day is fine. If you're doing more anaerobic or high intensity training then earlier in the day is usually best if you're having sleep problems.
Hope that helps you out some.
4:20 pm
February 15, 2012
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Hi Dr. Gangemi – A general question about GABA…I found a "diet supplement" product in the pharmacy that has 500mg of GABA in a capsule. Here is an example of one: http://www.nowfoods.com/Supple…..002906.htm
Are GABA supplements safe in your opinion? I am thinking about taking it as an alternative to benzos for nights I have trouble falling asleep.
Many thanks!
6:52 pm
January 19, 2011
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GABA short term is safe for most to use, but if it works for you then you need to ask yourself why it works. GABA is not supposed to cross the BBB – Blood Brain Barrier. So if it does, you have what many are now calling "leaky brain". It's like leaky gut, but your brain. MSG, aspartame, bad fats, heavy metal toxicity, and free radical damage, and sugar handling are just some of the main considerations when it comes to a BBB problem. Also, sometimes deficiencies in B6, zinc, and magnesium are the reason you're not making GABA naturally.
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