Any Ambien users out there?

[hydster]

I was on ambien for almost 3 years. I will not take it again. It is an addictive drug that is hard to get off from. I had several episodes of things happening to me after taking ambien that were disturbing. You can PM me if you want details.

It was hell wasn't it? I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. The night sweats, depressed, I would cry, I thought about suicide more than once, it was awful.

Ambien is not supposed to be addictive - not sure what the "withdrawal" comments are about (unless more of a pyschological dependence).

Ambien is very addictive IF you take it longer than 2 weeks as it is suggested. The reason they say 2 weeks is after that it really starts making you dependent on it for sleep both physically and mentally.

This drug is a hypnotic and alters chemicals in your brain and if you take it longer than 1-2 weeks it can have withdrawal symptoms.

Even the ambien website tells you this here

http://products.sanofi-aventis.us/ambien/ambien.html#SPECIAL_CONCERNS

BOLDING MINE

Sleep medicines can cause dependence, especially when these medicines are used regularly for longer than a few weeks or at high doses. Some people develop a need to continue taking their medicines. This is known as dependence or “addiction.”

When people develop dependence, they may have difficulty stopping the sleep medicine. If the medicine is suddenly stopped, the body is not able to function normally and unpleasant symptoms (see Withdrawal) may occur. They may find they have to keep taking the medicine either at the prescribed dose or at increasing doses just to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

All people taking sleep medicines have some risk of becoming dependent on the medicine. However, people who have been dependent on alcohol or other drugs in the past may have a higher chance of becoming addicted to sleep medicines. This possibility must be considered before using these medicines for more than a few weeks.

If you have been addicted to alcohol or drugs in the past, it is important to tell your doctor before starting Ambien or any sleep medicine.

Withdrawal: Withdrawal symptoms may occur when sleep medicines are stopped suddenly after being used daily for a long time. In some cases, these symptoms can occur even if the medicine has been used for only a week or two.

In mild cases, withdrawal symptoms may include unpleasant feelings. In more severe cases, abdominal and muscle cramps, vomiting, sweating, shakiness, and rarely, seizures may occur. These more severe withdrawal symptoms are very uncommon.

Another problem that may occur when sleep medicines are stopped is known as “rebound insomnia.” This means that a person may have more trouble sleeping the first few nights after the medicine is stopped than before starting the medicine. If you should experience rebound insomnia, do not get discouraged. This problem usually goes away on its own after 1 or 2 nights.

If you have been taking Ambien or any other sleep medicine for more than 1 or 2 weeks, do not stop taking it on your own. Always follow your doctor’s directions.

 

[dcentity2000]

If you need a long term sleep aid a sedative antihistamine might be in order, or a sedative antidepressant (such as Dothiepin at, say, 50mg nightly). Both would be far more sensible, more effective in the long time and lesslikely to cause dependence.



Rich::

 

[lyzziesmom]

hydster: I find that information about Ambien addiction very interesting. I was told by my Dr. that it is not addictive and is fine to use long-term. I rarely use it daily, only because I don't always need it. From the info given, it does seem like the effects vary widely from one person to another. I guess I am just not an addictive personality. I gave up cigarettes with no withdrawal symptoms after several years of smoking, just woke up one morning and did not enjoy it anymore and haven't had one since - that was 7 years ago. I've also tried some casual drug use waaaaay in the past, which I gave up very easily. These things considered, I can understand how Ambien, just like any drug, could affect different people in different ways.

Very interesting! Thanks for the info.

 

[FormrCastMbr]

We take Ambien CR from time to time and it works very well. I've taken Lunesta too and that worked but it leaves an after taste...

 

[Jpgirl]

DS, 19 was on it occassionally when his manic episodes kept him up all night and the anti psychotics weren't enough to control them. We didn't use it but 3 times. He literally had to be in bed when he took it and we had to watch him until he fell asleep. He would act drunk as a skunk-and fall out of bed. One time we thought he went to sleep and he managed to come downstairs and fall over a coffee table. He would sleep 14 hours and be very drowsy when he got up. He never remembered anything that happened from 2 hours prior of taking it till he got up. We switched antipsychotics and now he doesn't need the Ambien-his episodes are very well controlled.

 

[Judy from Boise]

Addiction is psychological, dependence is the physical need.
I am dependent on ambien because i have a sleep disorder as part of my Fibro. I have taken it every night for over 8 years.
Every year I do a 1-2 week drug holiday to validate that I am dependent and not addicted!

 

[Lachesis00]

I am going to remember this.

My mom is addicted. She insists she needs 2 ambien a night (minimum of 2). Her doctor gives it to her too.

I think she is mentally dependent on them.

Addiction is psychological, dependence is the physical need.
I am dependent on ambien because i have a sleep disorder as part of my Fibro. I have taken it every night for over 8 years.
Every year I do a 1-2 week drug holiday to validate that I am dependent and not addicted!

 

[hydster]

hydster: I find that information about Ambien addiction very interesting. I was told by my Dr. that it is not addictive and is fine to use long-term. I rarely use it daily, only because I don't always need it. From the info given, it does seem like the effects vary widely from one person to another. I guess I am just not an addictive personality.

Very interesting! Thanks for the info.

You know neither am I except for that stupid drug! I've never had an addiction in my life. I know dh would like me to get a certain "addiction" but I can't even get addicted to that!

Glad the info was interesting. I think they "dumb" the effects down to make them sound mild when you see them on tv or even talk to doctors. I had one that would give it to me like candy..........then I had one who gave me 10 a month

 

[djgeffers1]

My daughter took ambien twice and both times she had very strange side effects, she would see things coming out of the tv at her and she thought I was an alien, we ended up taking her to the er where the Dr. said it was one of the possible side effects and told her not to take it anymore.

 

[camreesmom]

I have really bad insomnia and my doctor prescribed Lunesta. It didn't work for me at all. I thought the first time was a fluke but then it didn't work the second time either. All that happened was I ended up ticked off because I still couldn't sleep!!!!! Benadryl works the best for me. One usually does it.

 

[Lachesis00]

I get bad bad BAD anxiety from OTC meds and stuff like Benadryl.

 

[Caropooh]

I've been using it for maybe 6 months now and it works well for me. My doctor will only perscribe 15 a month though, just so I can't use it every night. If you use it, make sure you can get a full nights(7-8 hours) sleep or you will wake up really groggy. I'll normally fall asleep with in about 15 minutes of taking it and will sleep soundly the whole night.

 

[lyzziesmom]

I had no idea some dr's kept such a tight rein on the Ambien. Mine gives me 60, with 3 refills. At this rate, I have about a lifetime supply!


Well goodnight folks, it's time to take my Ambien and get a good night's sleep.