Photo Courtesy of Medical MD.
It’s easy to understand why Julie Frostman is often overwhelmed.
She has three children ages, 5, 11 and 13. She also has a full-time job.
In addition, Frostman has to cope with Insomnia, which leaves her feeling worn out almost all of the time.
“I’ve always had trouble going to sleep and staying asleep, even as a child. But as I got older me not going to sleep became somewhat of an issue and I knew I needed to get it taken care,” she said.
Frostman made an appointment with her primary doctor and had multiple tests, which determined she has chronic insomnia.
Frostman was prescribed a popular medication called Zolpidem, commonly referred to as Ambien. It is used to treat insomnia in adults. If you have trouble falling asleep, it helps you fall asleep faster, so you can get a better night's rest.
Zolpidem belongs to a class of drugs called sedative-hypnotics. It acts on the brain to produce a calming effect.
This medication may cause withdrawal reactions, especially if it has been used regularly for a long time or in high doses.
Frostman’s use of Ambien lasted for there years. “You know I knew I had to let these bad boys go when I realized that I was feeling dependent on them and I didn’t like that. I could feel a difference in myself the longer I took them, so I completely cut them out and still had a hard time sleeping making me groggy.”
“I did my research on alternatives and came across medical marijuana and its relation to dealing with chronic insomnia,” she added.
Dr. Matt Roman, a physician who prescribes medical marijuana, said it could be effective.
“Marijuana is an effective sleep aid because it restores a person’s natural sleep cycle, which so often falls out of sync with our schedules in today’s modern lifestyle,” he said.
Frostman looked into what it took for her to participate in the medical marijuana arena. She says her primary doctor, who believed she was capable of handling herself and what came with medical marijuana, provided the information to her.
Frostman has been using Medical marijuana as an alternative to Ambien for six months. She said she’s feeling like her old self, but well rested. She describes using the medical marijuana as a relief and has been able to see a difference in her day-to-day activity.
She highly recommends anyone using pharmaceutical pills to explore their options. Most pills have an addictive side effect which can take a toll on someone’s personal life.