Tell me about Ambien

[ilovepcot]

Okay, I'll share. Last year my doctor put me on Ambien and I was soooo glad. Finally, the thought of good sound sleep. Started off with a whole pill and had to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Yes, I woke up! Anyway, I was very groggy and fell over a bathroom scale and broke two toes. And....when I fell, I peed all over a gorgeous new rug!!!!! When you gotta go, you gotta go!!!!!!!!!

Do I still take Ambien? Yeah.

 

[dvcfamily41801]

My DH had a terrible reaction with it. He would take it and not recall anything the next morning. If he took it and we were watching TV he would have no recollection of the show or going to sleep. One night he was downstairs on the sofa and my son and I were watching TV up in our room and the satellite dish went out. I called for him to come up several times and when he did he was so disoriented and did not remember it at all in the morning. That just freaked us out a bit that God forbid there was an emergency or something he was just out of it and sometimes woke up not feeling so well.

We both wish it would have worked for him as he does not sleep at all. He will fall asleep and wake up about 3 hours later and will just lay and stare at the ceiling.

 

[blu3d3vil]

No hallucinations here, but make sure you have at least 8 hours to sleep. I went on 6 hours once and was groggy for a little while after. I've never had a problem waking up. If I stay up and don't go to bed, it doesn't work for me. Plus I remember everything, no memory loss here.

 

[Stephanie218]

My PCM suggested Ambien when I was having problems sleeping while DH was deployed, especially the first and last months. After doing some reading, I decided that any side effects would probably freak me out more than DH being gone...so I decided to just take a Benadryl, which was the Doc's second suggestion.

I've also used Melatonin, which is a vegatarian dietary supplement to help you sleep. I picked it up at Whole Foods, and I've had good results with that as well.

 

[LBAK]

I have used Ambien on and off for several years (under my dr.'s supervision) and it works great for me. I take it when I'm laying in bed then read or watch TV for a few minutes and then I sleep like a baby. I've never had any side effects from it and I don't wake up groggy.

 

[jamimb]

thanks fo all the replies. i am going to try it tonight but the doc prescibed 10mg and told me to take half (why didnt he just prescribed the 5mg) but Im a little skiddish so will only take a fourth. I have asked my husband to watch over me for a while to make sure I don't have a weird reaction to it. Question for those of you who have used it and liked it. Do you wake up more refreshed than if you just went to sleep on your own?

 

[blu3d3vil]

Yes I wake up more refreshed?

Oh 1 question, do you have Ambien or Ambien CR? I tried regular Ambien but it didn't work all night and I would wake up. i switched to CR and it works much better.

 

[livie1205]

I take it because I have had awful insomnia for years...my dh is a cop and I just worry all night.I love it,i have never had any bad side effects from it...I take it and go right to bed...I do not ever get a full 8 hours of sleep and I do not wake up tired or weird feeling.I guess I am one of those people that it is made for lol I suffered for years before I started taking it.I know lots of people will say "oh dont take it because you see strange things or its habit forming " but hey after years of not sleeping I am now addicted to a good nights sleep!

 

[jamimb]

Yes I wake up more refreshed?

Oh 1 question, do you have Ambien or Ambien CR? I tried regular Ambien but it didn't work all night and I would wake up. i switched to CR and it works much better.

Regular Ambien. I really need to feel refreshed. I have been sick and not slept in three days!!

 

[james'mommy]

I've had hallucinations, ambien sex and it gives me the munchies. I've taken it for so long that I have to take 15 mg and it takes about an hour to kick in. But the benefits outweigh the negatives in my situation. I have cronic insomnia and if I don't sleep I get manic. So a little addiction is okay in my book.

 

[livie1205]

I've had hallucinations, ambien sex and it gives me the munchies. I've taken it for so long that I have to take 15 mg and it takes about an hour to kick in. But the benefits outweigh the negatives in my situation. I have cronic insomnia and if I don't sleep I get manic. So a little addiction is okay in my book.

lol yeh you really dont know until you have gone without sleeping and tried everything else how it feels to be able to sleep all night...i understand.I have taken it for almost a year but not every night and never had to increase the dose but it is sooo worth it.
now the ambien love....he he he oh yeh

 

[jamimb]

Is it safe to say that as long as you take it and lay down right away you will probably not have any adverse effects?

 

[claudia]

Anybody have any good experiences? Anybody just take it and have a great nights sleep?? Anybody??/

Yes I had a good experience with Ambien......right to sleep, sound nights sleep and no weird dreams, no hallucinations or seeing things, woke up feeling awesome.....
I took it just before I got into bed....really relaxed me and I was off to sleep in minutes.

 

[dcentity2000]

Is it safe to say that as long as you take it and lay down right away you will probably not have any adverse effects?

Ambien is generally very well tolerated so the chances of major side effects are slim. Taking it approximately 20 minutes before retiring to bed will further reduce the chances of experiencing side effects as a whole.



Rich::

 

[JessicaR]

I've had hallucinations, ambien sex and it gives me the munchies. I've taken it for so long that I have to take 15 mg and it takes about an hour to kick in. But the benefits outweigh the negatives in my situation. I have cronic insomnia and if I don't sleep I get manic. So a little addiction is okay in my book.

I'm sure your husband/SO agrees.

 

[daisax]

I know 3 people who are addicted to it. I might try it to get through a temporary rough patch, but it's not a permanent solution - you will become dependent on it.

 

[LBAK]

I keep it on my night table and take it after I'm in bed. I feel safer doing that. I wake up refreshed and I am greatful for a good night's sleep!

 

[mom of 3G's]

I only take it occasionally, like when I'm in a hotel and my husband is snoring so loud and the doors are banging open and shut down the hall. It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling and I sleep so good. I wake up exactly 8 hours from the time I took it feeling refreshed.

Anybody have any good experiences? Anybody just take it and have a great nights sleep?? Anybody??/

 

[livie1205]

I know 3 people who are addicted to it. I might try it to get through a temporary rough patch, but it's not a permanent solution - you will become dependent on it.

some people will get addicted to anything but if you take things like the dr says you should be fine...I have taken it for almost a year and sometimes I need it sometimes I do not...I do not walk around during the day craving it but it is made for people who need it to go to sleep so if you do not have insomnia you shouldnt take it anyway...it is not 100% for sure that you will become addicted..I knew someone one time that got addicted to nasal spray (really)...it all depends on the person.For people with the problem I have it really is a life saver,when you do not ever sleep it causes a lot of problems.

 

[PigletsPal2]

I've been taking Ambien CR for about a year now and I bless whoever invented it! Due to various health issues, I had a great deal of trouble getting to sleep and rarely slept more than 4 hours at a time. Now I make sure I empty my bladder completely and take the pill after I get in bed. I'm asleep within 20 minutes and wake up naturally with no grogginess 7-8 hours later. My biggest gripe is that Ambien is now available in generic and the CR is not. A difference of $35 on my co-pay. No hallucinations or weird dreams.

Queen Colleen