Do you take Ambien to sleep? How much and how often?

[Anonymous]

The ER (extended release) generic is called zolpidem ER.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The ER (extended release) generic is called zolpidem ER.

Ha! I get what you are saying now. Didn't know that was the name of the CR generic.
Just glad they both are generic now!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I'm asking because I've been taking it for years now, and I'm worried about it, but feel I really need it. I've always had sleep problems, but never took any sleeping pills until after my daughter was born three years ago. I had a bad delivery and a very severe and scary case of PPD (I also have a long history of depression, including two psychiatric hospitalizations). I was unable to eat or sleep properly for weeks, and began taking Ambien regularly as a sanity-saving measure. Three years later, I still take it - 10 mg every night. No more, no less, and it makes a world of difference in my life, because I can function so much better when I've gotten a good sleep. My shrink, whom I have been seeing for ten years, prescribes it, and feels that given my three-decade history of depression, my dependence on it is not really a big deal.

So just wondering if anyone else out there takes it regularly. I hate feeling dependent on a drug, but in so many ways it's a lifesaver for me.

Thanks.

10mg every night. I tried the 5mg but I was still awake. I would give up chocolate before I would give up Ambien because it is a lifesaver for me, as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ambien is addictive and only meant for short term use. Ask your doctor for another solution.

Finally falling asleep at 5:00 AM and getting up at 6:30 AM is a lot worse than being dependent on Ambien. Not sleeping was making me crazy.

[Anonymous]

I used to take Ambien but my psychiatrist said it is not recommended for long-term use, so she switched me to 50 mg of trazodone. It gets me to sleep just as well as the Ambien but in a more gradual, natural-feeling way.

[Anonymous]

Not the OP, but I might as a long-term insomniac, I might ask to try the trazodone - thanks for the suggestion, PP. I personally find that even with Ambien, my sleep quality isn't that great and I don't wake up feeling refreshed. It's more like being switched off than like getting good sleep. Also, the rebound insomnia is horrible for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to take Ambien but my psychiatrist said it is not recommended for long-term use, so she switched me to 50 mg of trazodone. It gets me to sleep just as well as the Ambien but in a more gradual, natural-feeling way.

You may really want to keep it to an MD. Lots of people with depression may actually be Bi-Polar Misdiagnosed. If you give someone say like Trazadone for a sleep aid it may reverse effect and keep them awake Anti depressants can send a person with Bi Polar disorder into a complete spin out. Personally think a good jog in the AM might really help. I'm an insomniac and Bad. been about a week trying to get a good nights rest, I need to take my own advise about the Jog. Nothing has worked for me. Still up all night on ambien and Xanax. Do not like the prescription route. up till 5am after recommended doses then after I do finally fall asleep I sleep til noon and feel tired and unproductive all day. Tennis shoes are going on in the am. Good luck to you all. Oh and if it works for you. Don't change it. No sleep sucks

: ) PA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No I am not an MD but my sleep disorder MD has had me on it every night since 2003.

Do you feel that it's not as effective as it was initially? I would worry about that. I would love to take it every night! unfortunatey, my MD won't give me a long term prescription. I borrow from friends and family that visit. I would kill for a full nights sleep!

[Anonymous]

I take ambien 10 mg every night. I am also up all night- literally-without it & trazedone does not work for me & gives me nightmares. I agree re bi-polar that the pp mentioned, but, have not been able to find a dr. knowledgeable about bi-polar 2 (anxiety & depression). While I am sorry anyone goes through this, it is good to hear I am not alone.

[Anonymous]

lifelong insomnia struggles, but without any underlying depression or anxiety. When my insomnia gets really out of control and I've exhausted my other options, I use ambien for about a week to "snap" my body back into a normal sleeping pattern. Generally 2-3 times a year (I'm fortunate that my doc will almost always see me same day when I call and write a script) this happens and I use the ambien to address it. Gets my body back to normal and I can achieve regular sleep on my own.

I don't actually like taking ambien. It causes very short term memory loss, which no matter how short term is still unsettling. My husband also reports that I twitch in my sleep when taking it. I'm basically down for the count, too. Not even an alarm right next tot the bed can rouse me in the middle of ambien-induced sleep.

[Anonymous]

I don't take Ambien, but I have taken Lunesta for years (no increase in dosage). My insomnia is so bad that a dependence on Lunesta is a small price to pay for getting sleep regularly. Without sleep, I am a walking disaster.

I would certainly prefer to sleep without it, but that just doesn't happen.

[Anonymous]

Try taking melatonin you can get them at GNC or a herbal store they are safe and not additive I give the 1mg to my ten year to calm him down at bedtime.... and they do have extended release for adults.

[Anonymous]

I've been taking 5 mg of Ambien for years. I wish I could get off but the alternative is no sleep. I started taking it regularly for my cancer treatments. How does one wean off of it? I still feel really tired during the day because I wake up often during the night but I do fall I asleep which I like. I suffer from hot flashes and cold flashes from the tamoxifen (anti-cancer) medicine that I take. I also been to a sleep study where they diagnosed restless leg. I feel sometimes all I want to do is sleep during the day. I've always been an insomniac for most of my life and so I figure Ambien would be one less worry.

[Anonymous]

My dad is elderly and has had insomnia for yeArs after serving during two wars and has other health problems, survived cancer, the list goes on..he uses melatonin and I think the other is tryptophan.