[Jedi67]

I know it's quite different for many, but what are everyone's experiences with amibien? I started it this past monday and my pdoc wants me to only use 2-3 nights a week, but I feel like it's needed more. still not sleeping quite thru the night. I've taken one each nioght since I started it. he took me off of remeron which was causing my mixed states and mood swings. can ambien be used long term? or is it only a short term solution for insomnia? any info or feedback would be awesome. thanks!

[still_crazy]

it stopped working for me after a couple months. tapering after 1 year was kinda rough, but i think it made my depression worse. i had been taking it just hoping...something might help...why not keep taking Ambien?

after ambien stopped, i was briefly treated with restoril (temazepam). I needed the big pill, the 30mgs, to get the job done. thankfully, i was only on it for a short time...i hear tapering that can get really ugly. these days, i don't need sleeping pills...at most, i take a little gabapentin at night to unwind, that does the trick. each person is different, of course.

[Jedi67]

Originally Posted by still_crazy

it stopped working for me after a couple months. tapering after 1 year was kinda rough, but i think it made my depression worse. i had been taking it just hoping...something might help...why not keep taking Ambien?

after ambien stopped, i was briefly treated with restoril (temazepam). I needed the big pill, the 30mgs, to get the job done. thankfully, i was only on it for a short time...i hear tapering that can get really ugly. these days, i don't need sleeping pills...at most, i take a little gabapentin at night to unwind, that does the trick. each person is different, of course.

I take gabapentin for nerve pain. when my pdoc found this out he suggested I take it and alternate it with the ambien. so far I haven't, but I may actually try that. my pdoc is old school and doesn't order benzos, so ambien it is for now. I just don't want to be on it for a very long time and grow dependent on it. my pdoc seems to think it will help me more short term for now. we'll see. I will also try incorporating melatonin as well. thanks for the feedback. much appreciated!

[FearLess47]

I’m happy to see this question, Jedi! I was trying to keep my typing fingers shut when you first posted but now that you’ve asked...

Ambien can be very quickly addicting. It can be tempting (we’re talking about precious sleep!) to take it all the time. It’s a hypnotic. But often doesn’t leave one with the fuzzy groggy hangover feeling that some sleep meds can cause. I challenge myself to only take half or a full one if I know I just need to konk out.

I am actually going to start a magnesium supplement today that supposedly helps with sleep. Since I have so many other concurrent medical issues happening at once, though, my doctors want me to sleep however the heck I have to for now.

It’s very individual like all things. But it can be super easy to become dependent on it for some. It also can have sleepwalking effects. And other bizarre things. It’s a miracle though when you need it!!

Keep sharing.

[unaluna]

I took it for ten years, 5 mg only. Then my insurance company wrote to me and hey b you are getting too old to take this, we are cutting you off. And by then i was 62 and i was like, yeah that sounds right.

[Jedi67]

Originally Posted by FearLess47

I’m happy to see this question, Jedi! I was trying to keep my typing fingers shut when you first posted but now that you’ve asked...

Ambien can be very quickly addicting. It can be tempting (we’re talking about precious sleep!) to take it all the time. It’s a hypnotic. But often doesn’t leave one with the fuzzy groggy hangover feeling that some sleep meds can cause. I challenge myself to only take half or a full one if I know I just need to konk out.

I am actually going to start a magnesium supplement today that supposedly helps with sleep. Since I have so many other concurrent medical issues happening at once, though, my doctors want me to sleep however the heck I have to for now.

It’s very individual like all things. But it can be super easy to become dependent on it for some. It also can have sleepwalking effects. And other bizarre things. It’s a miracle though when you need it!!

Keep sharing.

thanks FearLess47!
I've taken it 3 nights in a row and my sleep is getting better and better, but tonight I may just go with a gabapentin and a melatonin just for the heck of it and see how I take to it without the ambien. let me know how that magnesium supplement helps out! I'm curious about that.

my pdoc did share his concerns about the addictive nature of ambien and he actually only wants me to take it no more than 3 nights a week and I'm sure I know why now. he told me some people have driven cars and operated heavy machinery while taking ambien and even sleepwalking like you mentioned.

I'm going to try my best to try and avoid that lol. like always, thanks for the support and kind words, FearLess47. hope all is well on your end.
hugs!

[Jedi67]

Originally Posted by unaluna

I took it for ten years, 5 mg only. Then my insurance company wrote to me and hey b you are getting too old to take this, we are cutting you off. And by then i was 62 and i was like, yeah that sounds right.

10 years? wow. that's good to know. thanks. I'm curious how long of a run I'll have with it. I hope it helps. people say many different things about it. I appreciate the feedback!

[Ellie_jo]

I think it is a short term solution. My doc said it's not good for long term because you get used to needing it and then it messes up your sleep if you stop it. It worked like a charm when I took it a few years ago. It was the only sleep med that didn't make me tired the next day. But I stopped it because it would cause me to hallucinate or get up in the middle of the night to eat food and wander around without me even remembering that I'd done it. Sorry that your sleep is disturbed. I know how rough everything gets if you aren't sleeping well.

[Jedi67]

Originally Posted by Ellie_jo

I think it is a short term solution. My doc said it's not good for long term because you get used to needing it and then it messes up your sleep if you stop it. It worked like a charm when I took it a few years ago. It was the only sleep med that didn't make me tired the next day. But I stopped it because it would cause me to hallucinate or get up in the middle of the night to eat food and wander around without me even remembering that I'd done it. Sorry that your sleep is disturbed. I know how rough everything gets if you aren't sleeping well.

yeah, that's my deal...I need sleep fast! my sleep is so disturbed now. but I do have to keep an eye out for the longer term effects of this new med I'm on. I don't want to find myself driving aimlessly around or taking a swim in my pool in the middle of the night. I want to just be very careful. I heard it has hypnotic effects as well on some people, too. I may skip a night here and there and just take melatonin with some gabapentin. my pdoc would be happy to hear that! lol. he's so old school!

[Nammu]

I've been on it for 4-5 years. I alternate between 1-1 1/2- 2 pills occasionally doing without or else it will stop working. I also take melatonin and Benadryl, I need all of them to get 5-7 hours of sleep. In all that time only once did I do something during my sleep, I got up and layer out all my clothes for the next day's appointment. obviously I was worried about it before I went to sleep. Plus that was back years ago when I was also on pain meds I I suspect it was the combo.

[Unrigged64072835]

I’ve tried it and it didn’t do anything for me. My pnurse put me on Lunesta and at least I fall asleep though not necessarily stay asleep. I take so many sedating meds that I feel I need horse tranquilizers to knock me out long enough. I get really vivid dreams and I wake up.

My husband was on Ambien for a while and has done things he didn’t remember. That scared him off of it.

[FearLess47]

Originally Posted by Jedi67

thanks FearLess47!
I've taken it 3 nights in a row and my sleep is getting better and better, but tonight I may just go with a gabapentin and a melatonin just for the heck of it and see how I take to it without the ambien. let me know how that magnesium supplement helps out! I'm curious about that.

my pdoc did share his concerns about the addictive nature of ambien and he actually only wants me to take it no more than 3 nights a week and I'm sure I know why now. he told me some people have driven cars and operated heavy machinery while taking ambien and even sleepwalking like you mentioned.

I'm going to try my best to try and avoid that lol. like always, thanks for the support and kind words, FearLess47. hope all is well on your end.
hugs!

Jedi
Awareness ahead of time is key and it is fantastic that you are investiaging and keeping an open mind. I will definitely let you know about the magnesium supplement.

FL47

[BeyondtheRainbow]

It worked for me for a while and then it wasn't very good. They often give it in the hospital because sleeping is extra difficult for me there and it may work for 2-3 nights and then we have to find something else.

Gabapentin is much better for me.

[Victoria'smom]

My pdoc wants me only to take 1-2 a week. I'm trying 9 mg of melitonin a night instead.

[~Christina]

I took it for about 6 months , it really was hit or miss. I don’t like sleeping meds because it’s like fake sleep, hard to explain but it wasn’t good restful sleep.

[Jedi67]

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

It worked for me for a while and then it wasn't very good. They often give it in the hospital because sleeping is extra difficult for me there and it may work for 2-3 nights and then we have to find something else.

Gabapentin is much better for me.

I'm thinking that gabapentin is the safer choice. took it last night without the ambien and slept pretty good. thanks!

[Jedi67]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

I took it for about 6 months , it really was hit or miss. I don’t like sleeping meds because it’s like fake sleep, hard to explain but it wasn’t good restful sleep.

I'm thinking about reducing it to 2 nights a week or so. going to stick with gabapentin and melatonin for sleep. thanks!

[Jedi67]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

My pdoc wants me only to take 1-2 a week. I'm trying 9 mg of melitonin a night instead.

my pdoc asked me to do the same. melatonin and gabapentin worked great for me last night. thanks!

[Jedi67]

Originally Posted by FearLess47

Jedi
Awareness ahead of time is key and it is fantastic that you are investiaging and keeping an open mind. I will definitely let you know about the magnesium supplement.

FL47

please do! only took a gabapentin and melatonin last night and slept ok!

[BP1beauty]

I took it for about 3 months but my body became immune to it pretty quickly especially if I took it every night.

[Jedi67]

Originally Posted by BP1beauty

I took it for about 3 months but my body became immune to it pretty quickly especially if I took it every night.

dang. that is what I'm afraid will happen to me. I think I will only take it every other day or two. instead I'll go with melatonin and gabapentin. or maybe even benedryl or unisom lol. thanks!

[FearLess47]

@Jedi67...been wondering how the ambien situation is going for you?

FL47

[sarahsweets]

I think short term is best- aside from needing it to sleep in general after awhile- the short term memory loss you can get with it combined with (in some cases) behaviors and conversations that you will have no memory of and will not be completely conscious for are not worth the risk of taking it everyday. I just read an article about 2 weeks ago where they want to issue black box warnings about hypnotics and also how they can be not so good for people with mental illness. Some people need it though and can handle it.

[Jedi67]

Originally Posted by FearLess47

@Jedi67...been wondering how the ambien situation is going for you?

FL47

I'm only using it twice a week or so. using gabapentin and melatonin instead. also some over the counter Unisom helps, too. I have one refill left on the ambien and I will probably use it. but only sparingly. thanks for asking and sorry for the late reply!

[speckofdust]

My personal experience - I have been on Ambien 10mg for about 4 years, with only a 4 month break while I was on a med that doesn't play will with Ambien. So can it be used long term? Yes. Should it be? I have read conflicting medical information. But, you and your doctor(s) will be the best ones to determine what is best for you.

Sleep is a good thing!

Oh, and, the rule I made for myself since I'm taking Ambien long term because I have done things while under its influence that I didn't remember the next morning such as eating, throwing important things in the trash, "drunk" texting, etc. - as soon as I pop the pill:
Lay down and stay down!!