The Median Sib

I went through a year of being unable to sleep, and my doctor prescribed Ambien.  I hated the idea of taking sleeping pills, and so I cut each pill in half so I’d only take a half-dose at a time.  As a result I was able to get some sleep occasionally.  My year of taking Ambien was an eye-opener - which is paradoxical since it’s supposed to be an eye-closer.  (Sorry - weak attempt at humor).  The sleep carried a price, though.

I remember clearly one day attending a  meeting at another school.  I pulled into the parking lot and gently brought my car to rest against the car parked facing me.  It was like watching a movie in slow motion.  I turned to the student teacher who was riding with me, and said something like “Did I hit that car?”  She nodded in the affirmative - most likely thinking I’d been hitting the sauce a  little early in the day.  That night - horrified that I’d been so foggy and certainly hadn’t set a professional example for my student teacher - I took each half-pill and cut it in half.  I was down to taking 1/4 pill each night.  I was still a walking zombie often during the day.  After a few days, I stopped taking them altogether.  It wasn’t worth the risk.

My sleeping problem was solved shortly afterwards when the snorer and I parted ways, and I’ve slept wonderfully chemical-free ever since.

My point is that if Patrick Kennedy was taking Ambien - especially if he’d been taking it long term and in full or increased doses - he most likely DID have no recollection of what happened that night.  It’s powerful stuff.

Others posting on this topic: My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy,  Michelle Malkin, The Liberal Wrong Wing, Scared Monkeys, RightWinged, Wonkette, The Radio Equalizer, Stuck on Stupid, Wiz Bang, Sister Toldjah

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