[Dolfin]

I saw my doc today about my meds. Last month he added Ambien 5mg to my regiment of Lithium (900 mg), Klonopin (2 mg) and Seroquel (100 mg) because of intermittent insomnia, and frequent waking through the night. It hasn't worked all that great for me. I don't get sleepy, and I don't sleep through the night. After a lengthy discussion, and even requesting that he put be back on Valium again, he suggested we try 10mg of Ambien for a month and see where we are. If that doesn't work, he said he'd rather tweak my Lithium or Seroquel than to put me back on Valium on an as-needed basis.

Was I too gutsy to ask for the Valium back? Has anyone else had bad results with Ambien? I would appreciate any feedback that you guys can offer. I just want to sleep through the night again!

A really cranky Dolfin

[wi_fighter]

Ambien only worked for about a week for me, and then it was like not taking anything at all. Doc never even suggested upping the dose.

I don't think you were gutsy at all to ask for something that's worked in the past.

I'm wondering about Lunesta. The commercial says something like "it quiets your mind so you can fall asleep fast."

[lenjan]

Ambien did absolutely nothing for me, no matter the dose! You're well within your rights to ask for something you KNOW works!

Candy

[krzyk101]

Back in the day when Ambien first came out on the market I attempted to take it for sleep in replacement of the Dalmane I had taken for years. I did not get any benefit from the medication as far as falling and staying asleep.

I believe it depends on the person. Ambien is a Seditive/Hypnotic Class of drug in retro to a mild version of Halcion, and for some people, the Sedative/Hypnotic Drug class does a real good job at helping with insomnia.

While others (myself included) depend on Valium type sleep aid's in the Benzodiazapham Drug Class. I would am currentyly taking the generic to Valium and did have in the past success with Restoril or Dalmane who are in the Valium Family and may benifit those who suffer insomnia and respond to the Bezo class for relief from anxiety and insomnia. Not a professional at all opinion just personal experience over the years.

I hope it works out for you and you are able to get some good rest and all night sleep.

KK101

[(JD)]

http://forums.psychcentral.com/showf...v=1#Post267053 hope that works. That's my latest on the ambien cr. I had to go off of it.

I'm currently back trying the plain Ambien 10 mg. It is NOT working again, now after a few days back on it and it worked. It only works for maybe 10 minutes. YOU MUST be totally ready for bed, take it, lights off and planning to sleep. Once it wears off (about 10 minutes they say) it no longer works...

it isn't enough to put me to sleep...and I'm awake the whole night. I didn't take it last night, and didn't sleep. I will try it tonight. I have thought about asking the MD to let me take 2 of them to see if that will knock me out initially. It didn't keep me asleep anyway... so if I can get to sleep, then I will see if taking another one when I wake during the night..to go back to sleep.

Ambien also isn't for long term insomnia. (Lunesta is. But I had to go off it, too.)

I don't understand why doctors keep wanting to change things that are working...unless it's the pressure of the drug companies?

[praxis]

Gee, I guess I'm one of the lucky few. I've been an insomniac since childhood and Ambien really helps me. I started at 10 mg last Sept. I mentioned to my p-doc that I could tell when it wore off b/c I woke up after 6 hours. I wasn't complaining- I was getting more sleep than I ever had in my life. But he upped the dose to 12.5 mg Ambien CR. I sleep a full 8 hrs with it, but it is very expensive. Recently it has been less effective. Sometimes it takes me well over an hour to fall asleep, but then I stay asleep all night. I try not to take it every night b/c I'm worried about developing a tolerance to it. When I don't take it though, I'm awake most of the night. I hope it keeps working; I actually have a pretty normal energy level now. Keeping my fingers crossed.

[Azalysa]

Ambien (regular, not the newer CR type) works well for me until I build up a tolerance. Then I switch to Restoril. 50 mg of Seroquel has been added.

So I kind of go "round robin" with those meds.

I tried Lunesta and it was a nightmare. I never felt like I slept all night. I watched the clock tick off the time, plus felt weird on it. My mother says it just relaxes her, but it doesn't put her to sleep.

My 2 cents worth!

[Dolfin]

Thanks for all of your feedback gang. I tried the 10mg last night, with the same results as the 5 mg - 1 hour to 1.5 hour catnaps all night long. If it doesn't start to work over the next month, I'll let my doc play with my other dosages. I'm hoping he increases the Seroquel, because that gave me the best initial results when I started taking it. It's been over a year since I've had any med adjustments, so maybe it's time.

I only suffer from intermittent insomnia, usually brought on by the stresses of my work day (I got promoted to General Manager for a new 'sister' company and I'm trying to put my new office together, so it's making me a bit hypo-manic). As far as the 10-minute window you mentioned Sky, I have never heard that before, and when I take it, I am in bed, for the night. I just simply am not getting drowsy or sleeping through the night.

My doc did say that if we have to play with my other meds, he will give me the Valium short-term. He explained that Ambien falls under that same category of the other benzo's and that's why he wants to give it another shot at a higher dose.

I just hope I can keep my crankiness in check for another month. I have been so happy-go-lucky since September when I started this new job that I hate feeling that way. I LOVE what I do, and the lack of sleep is starting to reflect in my personality and I don't want that to happen.

One of my friends mentioned the illegal stuff to smoke, but I've grown beyond those days in my life. But, I have considered it... Another suggested a couple glasses of wine to help relax me more, but I'm afraid of mixing it with my meds. I am borderline desperate here!

Larry or Cam - Can you possibly give some clarification about the drug class with Ambien and benzo's? It's not that I don't trust my doc; I just want to keep the facts straight in my own head.

Thanks again everyone!

Sleepless Mammal in the Snow Belt