ambien

[Guest guest]

From: Christa <TCraig1@...>

SOmething happenend in my brain and I suddenly couldn't sleep.

cfids followed after many weeks...

[Patti:] Yes. Back when I used to have a life, I used to joke about how I

was usually asleep before my head hit the pillow. I couldn't understand how

anyone couldn't just " go to sleep " . You just put your head down, close your

eyes, and go to sleep - its simple. I was pretty chagrined when I got

insomnia. Getting it was almost like flipping a switch - first I could

sleep, then I couldn't. It took me a long time to admit to anyone that I

had insomnia. I always say, the older I get, the more of my words I have to

eat.

[Patti:] BTW - I also feel that ambien saved my life. After 6 months

without sleep I was ready to do just about ANYTHING just to get a little

rest. I have no detectable side effects and do not need more to get same

effect as time goes on.

[Guest guest]

One approach to not come off it, stay on it forever if it works. I take ambien

every night but I constantly change the dose. I take 3 to 5 mgs most nights and

10 if I think I really need the help.

I have ran out a few time & when I do I take a little extra doxepin.

Steve

[Guest guest]

ambien has been a great deal of help for me. not sleeping.... we here

all know the consequences

of that. I've been using it about 2 yrs.

Christa wrote:

>

> From: Christa <TCraig1@...>

>

> Message text written by INTERNET:onelist

> >That alone was worth the time I spent

> reading.I've been using it for about a year and a half. Sweet dreams, jo

> <

>

> I've been using ambien for six years. Not only does it allow me to sleep

> (it does not 'knock me out') but it's helped with severe headaches that

> nothing else could touch. There isn't a doubt in my mind that it's saved

> my life. SOmething happenend in my brain and I suddenly couldn't sleep.

> cfids followed after many weeks...

>

> I wouldn't trade it for anything but I can't wait for a generic!!

>

> Christa

>

> ---------------------------

[Guest guest]

You guys are lucky...I am lucky if Ambien puts me to sleep and I take one ambien

and one remeron together...if I dont lay down I stay awake all night long and

sometimes even when I do lay down. Mine are little pink ones..the ambien I

mean...lol...anyway, take care and God Bless

Sandy

Judy M <tmckee@...> wrote:Debbie....when I was taking ambien, I did the

same thing, sleep all night

and everytime I sat down in the daytime so I cut back to a half of one and

it helped me just sleep through the night....I did good with half....judy

[Guest guest]

Dear Cathie,

All of my drs. okayed the Ambien but I really like your idea of a new mattress, egg crate and new pillows We are due for a new bed, too.

I've never tried melatonin so I don't know anything about it.

As far as prednisone goes, my drs have always said to take it early because otherwise you will be up all night I learned that the hard way the first time I was put on it several years ago because it said it could cause agitation or something like that, and I didn't want that in the morning before I taught my first graders. I learned quickly that no sleep causes a lot more agitation!!!! Anyway a friend who was also on prednisone said to always take it early. My drs have been saying that recently, too.

Good luck! Sleep well

Amy

[Guest guest]

Amy and Others,

Just wanted to put my two cents in on the subject of Ambien,.....I gave taken sleeping pills since 1975, until just recently. (my sister and Mother were also on them) I quit taking Ambien because I wouldnt remember ANYTHING and it took me until noon to "wake up" the next morning," I couldnt remember if I took my son to school, feeding him, or WHAT I dressed hiim in!! It was VERY scary to me!! My Mom and sister had similar experiences. I changed to Restoril after I told my doctor I wanted something I could still wake up at night for the babies and REMEMBER what went on during the night!! We have all heard that Ambien mskes you very forgetful. among worse things. I am not trying to scare any of you, but my experience was VERY SCARY!! I (now this is funny; in a way..... BUT what made me realize I needed to change sleeping pills!! because it scared me so bad!!) I concieved my third child WITHOUT me even knowing we made love!!!!!! Okay, I have embarrassed myself so I will shit up!! Love to all of you!

Beckieholzboog@... wrote:

Dear Cathie, All of my drs. okayed the Ambien but I really like your idea of a new mattress, egg crate and new pillows We are due for a new bed, too. I've never tried melatonin so I don't know anything about it. As far as prednisone goes, my drs have always said to take it early because otherwise you will be up all night I learned that the hard way the first time I was put on it several years ago because it said it could cause agitation or something like that, and I didn't want that in the morning before I taught my first graders. I learned quickly that no sleep causes a lot more agitation!!!! Anyway a friend who was also on prednisone said to always take it early. My drs have been saying that recently, too. Good luck! Sleep well :)Amy

[Guest guest]

Sorry for all of the typos....havent had enough coffee yet this morning::

Beckie

bgrant ham <grandma417_2000@...> wrote:

Amy and Others, Just wanted to put my two cents in on the subject of Ambien,.....I gave taken sleeping pills since 1975, until just recently. (my sister and Mother were also on them) I quit taking Ambien because I wouldnt remember ANYTHING and it took me until noon to "wake up" the next morning," I couldnt remember if I took my son to school, feeding him, or WHAT I dressed hiim in!! It was VERY scary to me!! My Mom and sister had similar experiences. I changed to Restoril after I told my doctor I wanted something I could still wake up at night for the babies and REMEMBER what went on during the night!! We have all heard that Ambien mskes you very forgetful. among worse things. I am not trying to scare any of you, but my experience was VERY SCARY!! I (now this is funny; in a way..... BUT what made me realize I needed to change sleeping pills!! because it scared me so bad!!) I concieved my third child WITHOUT me even knowing we made love!!!!!! Okay, I have embarrassed myself so I will shit up!! Love to all of you! Beckieholzboog@... wrote: Dear Cathie, All of my drs. okayed the Ambien but I really like your idea of a new mattress, egg crate and new pillows We are due for a new bed, too. I've never tried melatonin so I don't know anything about it. As far as prednisone goes, my drs have always said to take it early because otherwise you will be up all night I learned that the hard way the first time I was put on it several years ago because it said it could cause agitation or something like that, and I didn't want that in the morning before I taught my first graders. I learned quickly that no sleep causes a lot more agitation!!!! Anyway a friend who was also on prednisone said to always take it early. My drs have been saying that recently, too. Good luck! Sleep well :)Amy

[Guest guest]

Jan:

First, NEVER NEVER take more than the 10mgs of Ambien. It's one of those

drugs (your doctor will tell you too) that you can't increase the dosage past

10mgs. I've taken it for a couple of years now (off and on). If you increase

your dosage, the side effect is hallucinations. I once woke up in the middle

of the night and found myself in my kitchen washing and drying quarters,

preparing to toast them!!! (No, I'm not usually insane lol). I also was

seeing things. Better to get a prescription for another medication if you're

taking it every single night. I've taken Ambien for several years now. I went

through a horrible period of insomnia and still, occasionally have it.

I find that Ambien works great sometimes and other times not as good. I

haven't heard of the medication you're now taking but there are lots of good

ones out there. Just DO NOT TAKE MORE THAN 10 mgs of Ambien. OK???????

Unless, of course, you're into hallucinations LOL.

Robin

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/6/02 10:29:01 AM, no_reply writes:

<< Meletonin an over the counter suppliment may help briefly or valarian

root. Sometimes combos of things. Hope you feel better. (soft gentle

hugs). >>

Have many friends who've tried this. They've told me Melatonin gives them all

bad dreams. Have no first hand experience on this though.

Robin

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi all,

> It has been a pretty difficult time lately. My lower back now

has problems and I can't sit for more than a few minutes (makes

driving in a car really hard). My neck is doing okay but definitly

being slowed down progress wise by my lower back.

> My question, though, for anyone out there is about Ambien, the

sleeping aid. When I was first prescribed it when my neck injury

happened I thought it was non addictive (because it is nonnarcotic).

Well...I've been taking it for the last 6 months...because it is

great in helping me sleep. About a month ago I had to up the dose 5

mg (I was taking 5)..to 10 mg. I didn't want to but I had a hard time

getting to sleep. About a week after that...even 10 didn't do the

trick. I thought, okay, I'll stop it all together. Ha....I didn't

sleep one wink or the next day. I was so desparate and full of pain I

too 15 mg.fa night for the next week. I finally realized ( a duh)

that this is stuff is SO addictive. I have to stop. I took 10 mg last

night and slept about 5 hours. I wanted so badly to take more to

sleep. But didn't. My doctor yesterday prescribed premelor..which is

an antidepressent but he said helps sleep. I took that but nothing

happened as far as sleep. I guess Ambien is in a class by itself when

you want to get to sleep fast and stay asleep.

> Anyway...anyone have any probelms in this area? I never took sleep

aids before all this back pain happened so I'm not sure what is going

on. I'm going crazy.

> Thanks

> Jan

Hi Jan,

I have to write this one down and ask for it. I am having so much

trouble sleeping too. Usually I try taking the pain killers closer

together at night time. Tried red wine but that is not to helpful.

Meletonin an over the counter suppliment may help briefly or valarian

root. Sometimes combos of things. Hope you feel better. (soft gentle

hugs).

-Nick

[Guest guest]

> Jan:

> First, NEVER NEVER take more than the 10mgs of Ambien. It's one of

those

> drugs (your doctor will tell you too) that you can't increase the

dosage past

> 10mgs. I've taken it for a couple of years now (off and on). If

you increase

> your dosage, the side effect is hallucinations. I once woke up in

the middle

> of the night and found myself in my kitchen washing and drying

quarters,

> preparing to toast them!!! (No, I'm not usually insane lol). I

also was

> seeing things. Better to get a prescription for another medication

if you're

> taking it every single night. I've taken Ambien for several years

now. I went

> through a horrible period of insomnia and still, occasionally have

it.

> I find that Ambien works great sometimes and other times not as

good. I

> haven't heard of the medication you're now taking but there are

lots of good

> ones out there. Just DO NOT TAKE MORE THAN 10 mgs of Ambien.

OK???????

> Unless, of course, you're into hallucinations LOL.

>

> Robin

Robin,

My grandmother used to make silver dollar pancakes, send the recipe

for the quarters, lol.

-Nick

[Guest guest]

>

> In a message dated 12/6/02 10:29:01 AM, no_reply@y... writes:

>

> << Meletonin an over the counter suppliment may help briefly or

valarian

> root. Sometimes combos of things. Hope you feel better. (soft

gentle

> hugs). >>

>

> Have many friends who've tried this. They've told me Melatonin

gives them all

> bad dreams. Have no first hand experience on this though.

>

> Robin

Trust me if your tired enough even a nightmare can be pleseant

dreams.

-Nick

[Guest guest]

> Robin,

> I took 15 mg almost every night since Thanksgiving (except last

night) , not all at once but I would wake up and take another 1/2,

etc. and I wasn't hullicinating but I was having extremely strange

dreams and feeling extremely anxious during the day (more than

normal). When I did a search on Ambien all these recreational drug

sites came up saying how great Ambien is if you want to get high

(they were talking about taking 25mg). Unbelievable! I just can't

wait till it is cleared out of my system!

>

> I'm still dealing with this butt pain that neither one of my

orthos know what it is. THey say it shouldn't be from my back based

on MRI's. I'm going to a nuero on Monday. Let's see what he says! It

just seems like all these doctors are a pain in my butt! ;-)

>

> Jan

Hi Jan,

Did you ever try a massage? Not for the buttocks the back. Sometimes

the temporary relief of spasms might encourage a sleepy night. Ask

your significant other or see if you can get it approved through

insurance. The hands do work magic!

-Nick

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/6/02 2:54:56 PM, no_reply writes:

<< My grandmother used to make silver dollar pancakes, send the recipe

for the quarters, lol.

-Nick >>

Nick:

Not quite the same thing. Sorry. (Am still laughing so hard I can barely type)

Robin

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/6/02 2:57:28 PM, no_reply writes:

<< Trust me if your tired enough even a nightmare can be pleseant

dreams. >>

You crack me up.

Robin

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/6/02 2:57:28 PM, no_reply writes:

<< Trust me if your tired enough even a nightmare can be pleseant

dreams. >>

You're right. It's been a while since I've stayed up for days at a time. A

good nightmare would have been preferable. LOL

Robin

[Guest guest]

ROFLMAO. So glad you guys have joined this group.

Robin

[Guest guest]

Jan:

Yes, you're right....doctors can be a pain in the butt!!! Can't believe none

of them have mentioned Pyriformis Syndrome!! Unbelievable. I'm so sorry

you're in pain. I know what it's like to go without a diagnosis and have

weird symptoms. For me it was 9 years. Don't give up!!! They'll find out what

it is. Have you tried stretches? There are a couple. Try this one: Lie on

your back, knees bent, now take your right foot and cross it over your left

knee (ankle should rest/hook at top of knee), now put your hands together

(clasped) underneath your bent knee. GENTLY, lift your left knee up off the

floor (or bed or wherever) and pull towards you (hands are still under leg

pullling) till you feel the stretch. Breathe and hold. Then try the other

side. See if that works.

Wow, on one hand I'm surprised about the Ambien being a good high on the

other hand....not so much. lol. You took 25mgs every night????????? And you

didn't write down those dreams????????????? Bet they were amazingly

interesting. LOL

There are so many other kinds of sleeping pills. I'd ask the doctor for

another prescription and alternate. Even now when I take Ambien so

infrequently, sometimes it works great and othertimes i'll take it and be up

all night. Sucks! Sleep well.

Robin

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/6/02 10:29:01 AM, no_reply writes:

<< Meletonin an over the counter suppliment may help briefly or valarian

root. Sometimes combos of things. Hope you feel better. (soft gentle

hugs). >>

Have many friends who've tried this. They've told me Melatonin gives them all

bad dreams. Have no first hand experience on this though.

Robin

[Guest guest]

Hi Jan:

I'll be thinking of you on Monday and thinking good thoughts (for your

doctor's appt). So glad to hear the pyriformis stretch (and others) are old

hat for you. I'm so sorry to hear what you've been going through. I've also

had horrible spasms for years around the sacrum (on both sides). None of the

doctors could offer any explanations (then again, I went misdiagnosed for 9

years and it turned out that my disc was badly torn up and I'd had every test

imaginable and saw many many top notch specialists so who knows lol).

I started taking Topamax a few months ago for back pain. Unfortunately it's

done nothing at all for the pain but it's been rather amazing for the spasms.

I used to have to get trigger point injections monthly just to break up the

spasms (like rocks) around that area. Since the Topamax I've had virtually

none. I also was taking 4 Flexeril a day, now I take a few Flexeril a week!

None of the antiinflammatories or other muscle relaxants ever helped but this

Topamax has been really great. I took Neurontin/Gabapentin years ago (same

family as Topamax) and it never helped my spasms so it's a pretty big

mystery. Anyways, I hope your appt. Monday goes well (and that they find

something---not bad but that they can treat---you know what I mean).

Take good care.

Robin

[Guest guest]

Janet,

My internist prescribed Ambien for trouble with sleeping. You mention

that your doctor prescribes it for more than sleep. I have not heard of

this. Could you explain more?

Thanks,

Pat

[Guest guest]

Pat,

The way I got on Ambien was because prednisone makes me more anxious. I

cannot tolerate the tranquilizer type medicines like Xanax, they make me too

depressed. So, my psychiatrist was experimenting with different medications

to reduce my anxiety. We tried Ambien at a low dose (5 mg.), and I

immediately noticed a big reduction in nighttime arthritis pain. I am a

side sleeper but I have arthritis in my left shoulder and my right hip, so I

could not get comfortable at night. For some reason, Ambien makes me

comfortable enough that I can sleep. It's not that it knocks me out, I

actually feel less pain.

I thought I had invented this use of Ambien, but when I saw my

rheumatologist in July, I told him I was taking 5 mg. of Ambien every night

for nighttime pain. He had no problem with it, and wasn't at all surprised.

He said it made sense that it relieves my nighttime pain. So, apparently

it's a known thing.

It was kind of a serependitious discovery. So far, I don't seem to have any

side effects from Ambien. It does not make me drowsy in the morning as long

as I take it early enough in the evening. I usually take it about 9, 9:30

and go to bed at 10:00. If I do that, it doesn't cause me any problems

waking up in the morning.

God Bless,

Janet in SF

ReA since 1973; diagnosed 1997

[Guest guest]

Just wanted to state for the record, for accuracy's sake, that Ambien

(zolpidem) is a NON-BENZODIAZEPINE hypnotic. It is *NOT* chemically related to

the

benzos at all (e.g. Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, etc.)

HOWEVER, it does act on the GABA-benzo receptor complex on the brain and

shares some of the same properties as benzos (e.g. tolerance, dependence, etc.).

It shouldn't be combined with benzos unless directed by a doctor because of CNS

depression. Also, as a CNS depressant, the manufacturer warns against

prescribing it for patients exhibiting signs of depression. This is why a

consult

with an actual psychiatrist is a good idea, IMHO.

Half-life of Ambien is an average of 2.5 hours which is short, and it has no

active metabolites. A generalized translation: Should be out of your system

quickly, possibly too quickly to keep you asleep the entire night.

Also, Ambien acts quickly, so it should be taken only when bedtime is near.

Normal dosage is 10 mg, but doses can range from 5mg to 40mg, depending on

the patient.

Hope this helps clear up the confusion! Ambien helped me get through the

insomnia of Lexapro, but Restoril (a bona-fide benzo) at the high dosage of 30mg

really did the trick.

Here's wishing everyone a restful night,

in Houston

[Guest guest]

Although it is not chemically related to the benzo's, it interacts with the

GABA-BZ receptor complex and SHARES some of the pharmacolocical PROPERTIES

OF THE BENZO'S. The mean elimination half life is 2.6 hours without a build

up in it's concentration--no active metabilites.

Sorry, about the confusion, regarding the 4 hour half life--the Ambien

should be taken only if one can get 4 hours of sleep--- no less. Accordng

to the literature there was subjective evidence from adverse event data for

Anterograde amensia occuring in association with the administration of

Ambien, predominantly at doses above 20mg. According to the PDR: Ambien

should not exceed 10mg.

Hopes this clears the confusion...

>From: txcowboy911@...

>Reply-Lexapro

>Lexapro

>Subject: Re: Ambien

>Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004 23:24:18 EST

>

>Just wanted to state for the record, for accuracy's sake, that Ambien

>(zolpidem) is a NON-BENZODIAZEPINE hypnotic. It is *NOT* chemically related

>to the

>benzos at all (e.g. Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, etc.)

>

>HOWEVER, it does act on the GABA-benzo receptor complex on the brain and

>shares some of the same properties as benzos (e.g. tolerance, dependence,

>etc.).

>It shouldn't be combined with benzos unless directed by a doctor because of

>CNS

>depression. Also, as a CNS depressant, the manufacturer warns against

>prescribing it for patients exhibiting signs of depression. This is why a

>consult

>with an actual psychiatrist is a good idea, IMHO.

>

>Half-life of Ambien is an average of 2.5 hours which is short, and it has

>no

>active metabolites. A generalized translation: Should be out of your system

>quickly, possibly too quickly to keep you asleep the entire night.

>

>Also, Ambien acts quickly, so it should be taken only when bedtime is near.

>

>Normal dosage is 10 mg, but doses can range from 5mg to 40mg, depending on

>the patient.

>

>Hope this helps clear up the confusion! Ambien helped me get through the

>insomnia of Lexapro, but Restoril (a bona-fide benzo) at the high dosage of

>30mg

>really did the trick.

>

>Here's wishing everyone a restful night,

> in Houston

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

See my two posts on my year-long experience solving long-term anxiety

and getting of benzos on my blog, I've discussed it previously on this

list also.

http://kurtsprotocol.blogspot.com/

--Kurt

Re: Re: Bell and klonopin

>

>

> for what it's worth, i take a lot of sleep meds at one time when i go

to

bed

> (and even then i rarely get to sleep until late morning or early

afternoon).

> i take 10mg ambien, clonazepam 3mg, gabitril 8mg, carisoprodol (soma)

350mg,

> sonata 10mg, and a bunch of OTC supplements, including GABA. i've been

doing

> this for years. in december i had a bad case of pneumonia, and felt so

sick

> and tired i slept three nights in a row with no sleep meds at all!

>

> anyway, i had no withdrawal symptoms at all. i was surprised and

pleased.

> and i know what drug withdrawal feels like, having gone through the

absolute

> hell of getting off that demon drug, paxil. i've gone off other

> antidepressants, but the experience was nothing like going off paxil.

(and i

> was very slowly weaning myself off paxil following a doctor's

instructions.)

> actually, the only thing that helped me with the paxil withdrawal was

> clonazepam, now that i think of it.

>

> anyway, i just wanted to post my experience. maybe if i don't take my

sleep

> meds again sometime in the future, my experience would be different.

>

> --maggie

>

> Re: Bell and klonopin

>

>

> :

> :

> : I had read that these drugs have a shape that fits into the gaba

> : receptor (not inhibit reuptake) and that over time our receptors

> : shift to fit the drugs...so also when you get off, that may require

a

> : bit of time for your receptors to get back to normal.

> :

> : We're all individual in how we respond to drugs. I have a friend who

> : had been on klonipin for years, who tapered off it within 2 weeks

> : without a problem.

> :

> :

> : > >

> : > > Dr. Bell in his latest newsletter talks about sleep including

> : > > " Clonazepam (KlonopinR) 0.5 mg

> : > > In general, I do not like most benzodiazepines for the treatment

> : of

> : > sleep.

> : > > However, Klonopin is very mild and I feel that it can be used

> : even up

> : > > to long-term if

> : > > necessary for the treatment of the sleep disorder associated

with

> : > > CFS/fibromyalgia. Other

> : > > benzodiazepines such as XanaxR and ValiumR, I try to avoid. All

> : drugs

> : > > of this class

> : > > have the potential to be habit forming, so clonazepam needs to

be

> : > used

> : > > cautiously and intermittent use is best. "

> : > >

> : > > Volume 2, Number 1: January 2005

> : > > Information and Support for the ME/CFS/FM Community

> : > > S. Bell MD, FAAP, Editor

> : > > SBell.Com

> : > > Sleep in cfs

> : >

>

>

>

>

>

> This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with

each other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any

treatment discussed here, please consult your doctor.

>