Depression and lack of sleep

[Mike Booker]

Does lack of sleep cause depressions? For years I have dealt with depression and have recently started taking ambien to help me sleep. I feel 10 times better and have not dealt with the fatigue I have dealt with in the past. I feel like I may have answered my problem but I would like to get other advise to make sure that instead of depression treatment, I need to take meds for sleeping.

[edemunster]

Ambien is the only thing that works for me, I'm on 2 tabs at bedtime 20 mgs. And i sleep like a baby but even with insurance its 50 bucks co-pay for 30 pills. So they decided on Rozerum, which is the biggest waste of an excuse for a sleep med. Thank god for Lorazapam or I wouldn't sleep.

[MOSLEY]

Just a work of warning... Ambien is a controlled substance and can become addicting.  What is your nightly dosage?   I recently switch from Ambien to Trazodone (antidepressant, antianxiety...helps with insomnia).  I was becoming addicted to the Ambien and I was only on it for 2 weeks.

[Jade59]

HI Mike, I have thought exactly this for years now.  My mom says I was never a good sleeper as a baby and have always had sleep issues which is part of the reason I have been depressed my whole life.  I am glad you found something that works for you, however, be ready for the day when your body gets used to them and you need more and more to sleep.  I have been taking something to help me sleep since I was a teenager and all that happens is you get addicted and need more or move on to something stronger.  Its a vicious cycle.  Now I take the same amount of Xanax every night and sometimes sleep sometimes not.  Mostly not.  I am approching 50yrs and am trying to realize that some things never change.  Depression treatment would be much much better in the long run because taking sleeping pills forever is never the answer.