Is Ambien good for sleep relief?

16 Jan 2005

I have been on ambrian for a month now had to take it as lost my son dec 16th and it helps me to sleep as couldnt without it,a blessing to me without it ,my blood pressure would be way up there

18 Jan 2005

Both of you need to stop taking ambien and find some more natural remedies. Ambien has shown lately to only be an effective cure for sleep disorder in 10 day trials. Your trying to cure ur insomnia, not just find a temporary solution, just like you wouldn't want to be taking vicodin your whole life for back pain. Once you've been on ambien for a year try and stop taking it and see how well you sleep... thats called dependence and its the same thing that happens to people on all kinds of other STREET, not just pharmaceutical drugs. The pharmaceutical industry has created a whole entire realm of drugs, that are illegal in the streets, but legal in a pill form and with the right doctor. ambien is no different, in fact, ambien is strong and can be deadly at even just double the dose. So try and ween yourself off of ambien, try and actually cure your sleep disorder, or go back to your doctors and say your pissed that he kept you hooked on such an addicting substance.

18 Jan 2005

Well actually I am not ''pissed'' that the doctor cut my ambien way down... I am worried... that I will go back to dozing during my long drive to and from my job and yawn all day and be so tired and sleepy all the time... I have actually dozed off driving and only woke up when I hit the ditch... fortunately I did not hurt myself or anybody else... the ambien was the only thing that saved me... when I would get a good nights sleep with ambien I am alert and not sleepy at work... it is a good feeling... I know about the not sleeping after not taking ambien for so long... but what is worse? Being a hazard on the road or depending on ambien?

21 Jan 2005

If not contraindicated, you may try over the counter Benadryl. Take it according to package directions. Some of my patients ( I am a nurse) have more success on the Benadryl than Ambien. If that doesn't work, contact your doctor for medication alternatives. Tell the doctor what you wrote on your message. Being straight forward is the best way to communicate your needs to your healthcare provider.
Good luck.

29 Jan 2005

It's amazing that your doctor would keep you on Ambien for the length you mentioned (a year). As mentioned by someone else, Ambien is only for SHORT TERM USAGE (7 to 10 days) and does nothing for the underlying cause of your insomnia. It may seem to help with your problems since it is allowing you to get a good nights sleep, but you need to resolve the "true reason" why you are not sleeping.

Maybe a visit to your doctor and mentioning your "issues" will help him make a informed decision on what should be done next.

I remember when I took Ambien for a few weeks straight and the first night that I didn't, I could barely sleep. It's called "Rebound Insomnia". A person who takes it for a week or so MAY have this sort of insomnia for a few days. I really wonder how it may be for yourself who has taken it for a whole year?

This site also has more information:

www.ambien.com

Good luck if you are trying to get off of them.

J

21 Feb 2005

I take benadryl when I have difficulty sleeping and it works very well. Only side effect is a bit of dry mouth next morning but coffee took care of that haha. Ambien is very addictive. I refused it when it was offered to me for that reason.

22 Feb 2005

I have also taken Hydroxyzine for sleep problems. It's a prescribed antihistamine that works along the same lines as taking Benadryl would.

There are other drugs that are non-addictive that would probably help just the same as Ambien would.

Talk to your doctor about other alternatives.

J

16 Jun 2005

Mailman: I have been on Ambien for over a year, and it works GREAT for me. I spent 20 years with insomnia that even counseling couldn't fix. The first night that I took an ambien, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I was awake one minute, then waking up rested the next! I had even had to change professions because I wasn't safe to take care of patients in a sleep deprived state. I just hope that it keeps working/
ambien_lady

17 Jun 2005

Thanks Ambien Lady... I feel the same way about ambien... I have no side effects or any problems with ambien... I did the first time I took Ambien have a blackout period but I was at home and my wife told me to go to bed and I went although I don't remember it... I take the Ambien 15 minutes before I go to bed and everything is fine... I guess it effects everyone different ways... good luck!

26 Jun 2005

I normally do not need nor take any sleep aides. But, one night about a month ago, I was offered an ambien by my wife who takes them only on an as needed basis. She breaks the pill into 3 pieces and only takes 1/3 of a pill at a time. I made the mistake of taking a whole pill. Didn't remember going to bed, or getting up once during the night (according to my wife). I was in a "fog" for about 2 days after that but did sleep very well both of those nights. I think that I won't be taking any more unless I'm directed to do so by my doctor.

El Supremo

20 Aug 2005

17 Oct 2005

I have been taking Ambien for well over a year and have had no problems with it. I take one 10mg dose then crawl in the bed with a book. Before I know it, I am asleep. I have suffered from insomnia most of my life, even as a child. As have many members of my family. This medication has been a godsend to me, especially now that I am recovering from a year long Percocet addiction. I have no qualms about taking it. There is nothing worse than not being able to sleep especially when everyone in the house is asleep and it is so quiet all you hear is the ticking of the clock.

28 Oct 2005

My husband was on ambien for 1 year or more. The longer he took it the less he slept. The doc kept switching him from ambien to other drugs when it stopped working. Finally he wasn't sleeping just halucinating and walking about. Next, he began to act really abnormal, like mean and untrusting. Sleeping no more than 2 hours a day at the most. After one particular horrible weekend, he agreed to go to the Dr. , she made him go to the psych Dr. and we found out he is bi-polar. Hurray for effexor and zyprexa!! He's been stable for 2 years now. People please, if you are not sleeping and are hard to live with, or if someone tells you that you are acting mean or crazy, pleeeeeez go to a psychiatrist and be evaluated. We have lived 30 years of pure hell and all it took was a few visits and loving support and now we are living "happy ever after"!! WOO HOO God Bless all of you having any trouble of any kind. I send you prayers and angels.
MamaEarl

30 Oct 2005

I have begun sleepwalking while using Ambien. I have been on it for about 5 years (I know, it is supposed to be for short term use.) and have worked with my doctor to increase the dosage to 20 mg per night. Less and I don't sleep at all.

Now I am sleepwalking, and that can be dangerous. Has anyone found a good solution, other than doing without?

Lcj

1 Nov 2005

My husband was changed from ambien (it just plain quit working like all the rest of the sleeping pills did), to effexor for the anxiety and nervousness, and zyprexa (as he was needing the psychotic at the time) and also short term klonopin as a boost. If he needs the klonopin, and he does every couple of months maybe, he takes it at .25mg or .50 and it helps him fall asleep nicely. NOT an everynight thing. His effexor is 225mg and the zyprexa starting at 10mg, then 5mg, and now the 5mg in half, he is weaning off of now after 3 years. This all was prescribed by a psychiatrist... that's the best thing we ever did for him. He is very thankful he went. He is a changed man after 30 years, the last 15 being the worst.