I have taken Ambien every single night for years and it always works for me. I am a 65 year old female with bipolar disorder and (repaired) heart defects. Ambien is a wonderful medication. I sleep 6-8 hours.

Anonymous wrote:I've never taken Ambien but I did take Tylenol P.M. once and it made me feel really weird. Like my heart was racing and I couldn't catch my breath. I refuse to take any type of sleeping pill anymore. If I can't sleep, then I'll just be tired the next day.

Yeah, me too - I have a bad rash that's keeping me up half the night but am scared to take benadryl because it makes me feel so strange, with racing heart - and I'm already a bit of a hypochondriac so it sets off a bit of anxiety.

really..

Ambien and Lunesta work for me only once. Then I have to not use them for at least 2 months before I can take a new dose. I have had great luck with Trazadone (25mg) and then one melatonin Pill.

I started ambien 3 months ago and never missed a night. I love them. They let me sleep a good five hours. I am fine the next day, very awake and functioning. I feel they changed my life. The only addiction I feel is when I run out of them and then I can't sleep again. I hope I can take them forever or until I can sleep on my own. I know someone who was on ambien for 15 yrs and she just stop and she just started ...sleeping on her own and it worked. My brother and his wife are in the medical profession and take ambien, there co workers take ambien for years and years wand they are fine.
I hope that will be me. I am 10 yrs past menopause and hoping my ambien sleeps will end one day as well. :)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you need to ask. . . . . Come on OP! You know that's not healthy. You're hooked, get help.

This was a really unnecessary, not to mention completely not helpful response...

OP.. If the doctor tells you that it's ok.. providing you were being honest with him about how much you take it, than you should be alright. If you have doubts, you can try not taking it for a night or so, and see what happens.

Seriously OP -- 'because the doctor said so' -- you really think that every doctor is right every time?

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/24/us-usa-court-generics-idUSBRE95N0RC20130624

for the RN comment, It takes longer than 2 years to become an RN. secondly RN's have to know these drugs and side effects, etc. There are questions on the Boards on them.

The sleep doctors at the sleep disorder clinic at mayo told me that I should not take ambien more than two or three times a week, and never more than two nights in a row. You can dependent but not addicted but it loses efficacy over time. There are other sleep aids you can take every night, like elavil. Ambien, no.

I have been on Ambien for over a year. I am an extremely hyperactive person and, though I do tire, my brain refuses to shut up. I work in a busy medical clinic and have a lot going on I my life all the time. I have no issues going to bed but sleep always eludes me. I take 5 mg about five nights per week. I have never had any of the side effects that I have read in all the blogs I see. I have had people tell me that if you starts taking Ambien you won't be able to sleep without it. ok, Well sounds pretty much the story of my life before Ambien. Only difference now is I can actually sleep. I do not suffer from headaches. I do not suffer from sinus problems. I do not suffer from strange nocturnal behavior. I do not suffer from depression. I recently had a full medical workup done just to make sure every thing was fine. I had my female annual preventative medicine exam, I had a full blood workup, I had a chest x-ray, I had my mammogram. I even had MRI done, all of which came back clear as a bell. No bad cholesterol, triglycerides are perfect, my blood sugar is perfect, My blood pressure is perfect, I am healthy as can be. I realize that everyone's body is different and everyone is affected differently by different medications. That being said, I really have no problem taking Ambien and I do not feel I have had any adverse effects from being on the drug. And for the record, no I am not writing this in my sleep. The reason I even posted a comment here is that it is offensive to call others a drug addict and not know their situation. I have a physical and medical reason why I need a sleep aid and I have found a sleep aid that works for that problem. If a person has high blood pressure and they take their high blood pressure medication and it works and They must continue to take it for it to continue to work, Is that a drug addict as well? I think not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you need to ask. . . . . Come on OP! You know that's not healthy. You're hooked, get help.

This was a really unnecessary, not to mention completely not helpful response...

OP.. If the doctor tells you that it's ok.. providing you were being honest with him about how much you take it, than you should be alright. If you have doubts, you can try not taking it for a night or so, and see what happens.

It's possible to be addicted to drugs a doctor prescribes you, and it's possible for the doctor to be complicit in that addiction.

Anonymous wrote:Super super stressed all the time from work; it's the only thing that allows me to rest.... I have taken them for years, per doctor recommendation - he says not sleeping outweighs the potential negatives of Ambien - but am a bit afraid that they must have some negative long-term effects.... Anyone been there or have an informed opinion for Sleepless (without Ambien) in DC??

drug dependency is never a good thing.

you are dependent on this drug since you say you have to take it every night.

that makes you an addict.

so sorry.

I used to take Ambien regularly, but quit after having my son. When I had a drink with Ambien, I hallucinated and did weird things that I couldn't remember the next day. Eventually, Ambien hardly worked. It still took me a few hours to fall asleep then I would only sleep for four hours. I fall asleep normally, without help, now. No caffeine after mid-day, eat dinner earlier and only occasional drinking. My husband, on the other hand, can take Ambien and get a good nights rest without any negative side effects. Different strokes for different folks.

Anonymous wrote:.iThis drug ruined my life.it caused me to have panic attacks

Do you still have them?

.iThis drug ruined my life.it caused me to have panic attacks

Anonymous wrote:ambien ironicly dosent give half the hangover benedryl does. i take a bennie and im in a funk all he next day

Drink more water when you take an antihistamine.