Ambien

firegirlred
firegirlred Posts: 674 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
THIS IS NOT AN AD (or anything else of that sort)

I started taking ambien 3 months ago to help with my sleep. One day out of three, I can guarantee that I won't get much sleep (must tend the stubbed toes and broken fingernails of america). So the nights I am at home sleep is really important. I've never been able to get to sleep easily (enter husband who can fall asleep in 30 seconds, and begins snoring like it's going to save the world). So I talked to my doctor, who tends many emergency services personnel, and she recommended ambien. I take it the first night I'm home from work. (so one night out of three) At first, I loved it. 8 hours of solid sleep. Then I started building a tolerance to the sleep aid. But I build tolerances to pain medicines and other medicines faster than most. I actually smacked the guy who took out my wisdom teeth because I metabolized the anesthesia too fast. (funny story, actually).
But back to the subject...
If I'm not in bed within 15 minutes of taking the ambien, I start seeing double and having strange side effects. Enter husband again. Let's just say he benefits from the side effects. (Sorry if TMI).

Anyone else have any experiences with ambien or other sleep aid they would like to share? I'm going to the doctor today in order to reevaluate my prescription and wanted some advice.

Replies

  • firegirlred
    firegirlred Posts: 674 Member
    THIS IS NOT AN AD (or anything else of that sort)

    I started taking ambien 3 months ago to help with my sleep. One day out of three, I can guarantee that I won't get much sleep (must tend the stubbed toes and broken fingernails of america). So the nights I am at home sleep is really important. I've never been able to get to sleep easily (enter husband who can fall asleep in 30 seconds, and begins snoring like it's going to save the world). So I talked to my doctor, who tends many emergency services personnel, and she recommended ambien. I take it the first night I'm home from work. (so one night out of three) At first, I loved it. 8 hours of solid sleep. Then I started building a tolerance to the sleep aid. But I build tolerances to pain medicines and other medicines faster than most. I actually smacked the guy who took out my wisdom teeth because I metabolized the anesthesia too fast. (funny story, actually).
    But back to the subject...
    If I'm not in bed within 15 minutes of taking the ambien, I start seeing double and having strange side effects. Enter husband again. Let's just say he benefits from the side effects. (Sorry if TMI).

    Anyone else have any experiences with ambien or other sleep aid they would like to share? I'm going to the doctor today in order to reevaluate my prescription and wanted some advice.
  • Skittles6617
    Skittles6617 Posts: 247 Member
    Have you tried the new Ambien CR? It is a control release. You may do better with this one. And I can only take it like twice a week because I get used to it as well and then I am back to not sleeping again. Speaking of.....:yawn:
  • 1harleygal
    1harleygal Posts: 226 Member
    :grumble: I have used Ambien & Ambien CR which gave me really bad side effects of sleep walking, dizzy, memory loss and then also being exhausted the next day because I couldn't get enough hours in for Ambien to wear off! I took myself off of it when my mom who lives with me asked me a couple of times about something I did while on Ambien and didn't remember doing it!:angry:
  • littleissac
    littleissac Posts: 3
    Yes, several years ago I was on ambien and had developed terrible side effects. It seemed to help at first, but then I started having severe moodiness and irritability and some of the stuff "harleygal" talks about. It harms your memory, so you think you're sleeping throughout the night, but you're actually not going into a healthy, deep sleep. This is partly why you start to feel such a hangover and, for me, develop emotional problems (these come with impaired sleep night after night). When I tried to go off of it, I would have rebound insomnia and bad nightmares. After years of struggling with sleep issues, the most effective thing that I've found is exercise and/or treatment for the underlying cause (which may be anxiety and require a mild dose of an SSRI, biofeedback, etc). Many health professionals that I know are becoming concerned about ambien, so be careful.
  • Ezzie
    Ezzie Posts: 665 Member
    It works well for me EXCEPT...when they caution you not to use with alcohol they aren't kidding. I did some very strange sleep walking, talking on the phone( and NOT remembering the conversation) and such. It is also habit forming (for me) if I use it very long. But it does give me a good nights sleep. S now I;m very careful not to drink and only use it once in awhile.

    My sleeping patterns are finally better....(apparently menopause plays havoc with sleep, and you'll 'outgrow it...thanks Doc..) with a new hormone replacement..yeah!!!
    Ezzie
  • firegirlred
    firegirlred Posts: 674 Member
    So the doctor kept me on ambien.

    With the weekend i've had, I'm now facing some aftershocks of a difficult call, and the ambien appears to do less harm than good.

    I guess the lesser of two evils.

    Thanks for your advice. I'm still interested in knowing what other side effects everyone has had.
  • Manda86
    Manda86 Posts: 1,859 Member
    I'm very VERY allergic to Ambien (hallucinations, vomiting, seizures, the whole 9)

    Needless to say I didn't get much sleep the couple of nights I took it. I was in the hospital at the time and 3 male nurses had to hold me down and sedate me. I didn't remember a thing, I woke up with a headache and a bandaid on my butt. :grumble:
  • TNTPete
    TNTPete Posts: 701 Member
    You're supposed to go to bed immediately no delay.... that's all I know about it. Otherwise you can have *odd* experiences.
  • michlingle
    michlingle Posts: 797 Member
    I love love love Ambien....I can't sleep some nights but in order to not have a tolerance I alternate nights with an OTC med...my sis can't take it though since the night she decided to go for a drive and order a McFlurry...bad news thankfully no one was injured. The sleepwalking/driving/eating has not been an issue for me.
  • kimber607
    kimber607 Posts: 7,128 Member
    Hi

    Ambien is pretty potent stuff
    My mom was taking it for some time with NO side effects
    One night...she took the ambien and fell down an entire flight of stairs at her house...went back to bed with a bloody head (woke in the am with NO clue of what happened)
    SCARY..so be careful
    My MIL had a similar experience but she went next store to talk to the neighbors at some wacky hour and doesn't remember a thing


    Kim
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