Opinions on Ambien?

[On2better]

Hey all, I'm just looking for some input and opinions here. I just started a new job where I'm required to work 3 12 hour night shifts per week. It's really tough on my sleep schedule. Especially since I try to have a "normal" sleep schedule on my days off. Anyways, I never get a good night or day of sleep. I've tried melatonin, Benadryl, sleepy tea, exercising, you name it. I've taken ambien in the past with good results, and I have never abused this medication. I'm thinking about asking my doctor for a rx.

My DOC is opiate pain killers, and I've been clean for 70 days. My doctor is aware of my addiction. I talked to my sponsor and she thinks ambien is OK as long as I'm taking it as directed. I'm a little scared to start taking a controlled substance but I'm at my wits end here. I'm just so exhausted. What are your thoughts?

[marycarmel]

Too much coffee isn't helping your sleep.  Catch 22, I know, but maybe do half decaf??

[On2better]

Thank you all so much! This is why I love this forum! I had forgotten about alteril, it's a combo of melatonin and other natural alp aides I think.  I'm going to try it, and then just tough it out for a little while and see if my body will normalize. In the mean time, coffee coffee coffee to get me thru my waking hours! I'm just worried I might be playing with fire by starting ambien. I'll give it some more time. Thanks again everyone!

[OpenMind24hours]

I also found Alteril to be really good in a pinch too. It contains a little bit of everything natural including Melatonin and Valerian Root. Seems to be some really good OTC products out there now.

I found that one good subject for anyone with insomnia to look up is sleep anxiety. That was a big problem of mine. I'd say to myself "got to work tomorrow and be on top of my thinking and I just KNOW I'm not going to be able to sleep". And of course I wouldn't! I had thought my way into anxious thinking about sleep.

[marycarmel]

I had been on Ambien for around 13 years and was taking 10 mg.  The last few years I didn't feel like it was doing much good.  Somehow I managed to come off with nothing a few nights of having trouble getting to sleep.  I initially went on it when I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

My doctor called and said she was reducing the dose to 5 mg because it seems at higher doses women were getting more side effects though I never had too much trouble (though if I had taken one and one of my kids came in and asked me something I wouldn't always  remember them telling me anything the next day.)

I didn't always take them every night, which may be why I didn't have much trouble coming off them.  I used to switch off 'using Melatonin '(which worked so-so for me) Alteril (which worked as good if not better for me than the Ambien,) and Sleepy Time tea (which worked fairly well.)

When my doctor decreased the dose, I figured if there's problems with the higher dose, I don't want to be taking it at all.  My doctor is fantastic.  She is brilliant and has a great gift of diagnosing and is also very compassionate.

I know lots of people who have used Ambien.  One has had a terrible time coming off it and she is now trying a slow taper and using another med while transitioning.  One friend did abuse it.  She had other addiction issues and at one point she was stealing morphine from her dad who was dying of pancrearic cancer.  She was a nurse that worked in many different departments and also was stealing her patient's meds.  She was caught and had to go to an impaired nurses program.  It was during that time she started abusing Ambien and antidepressants.   She stole Ambien and antidepressants from heer sister and she stole Amnien from me.  I guess I don't see why someone would want to abuse Ambien as it just made me go to sleep.

A lot of my friends and family have the same doctor.  She recently prescribed Ambien for my dad.  She's prescribing it now in a different manner and I think it makes a lot of sense.  Basically she suggests taking the Ambien for three nights in a row and hopefully that will break a bad sleep cycle.

Shift work is really hard on your body.  As long as you stay aware of how you're using it, I would think you'd be okay.  But give Alteril a try.  I've had really good luck with it.

[madge23]

Hi,
     I think in the UK ambien is called zolpidem or stilnoct. I have been taking these for nearly 12 years. My addiction to codeine is why I joined up here, but I want you to know that the sleeper doesnt always work for me anymore - and I know that I would really panic if I realised I didnt have any at night, whether they help me or not. They are addictive so please be careful, all the best.xx.

[OpenMind24hours]

Around 4 years ago I was taking LESS Ambien than prescribed at first. I was cutting them in half and taking 3/4 doses. After 9 months I was up to the full 10mg and I decided to quit. I simply couldn't. I tried going CT and got bad withdrawal. No Ambien no sleep.Then I googled around and found out how screw-d I really was. To make a long story short, it took me 4 months of careful tapering to finally get off of it. I really wasn't trying to avoid the WD as much as training my body to sleep without it.  And eventually, just like Tooter described, my doctor gave me the same medication her doctor gave her for sleep. Now I'm off all medication and I don't sleep very well. I wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. The Sleepy Tea helps, sometimes a couple Tylenols and a Calms Forte (regular Tylenol  not the PMs). Exercise dose help...

If you take something for sleep you'll need to pay it back with really bad insomnia if you want to stop. REALLY bad insomnia.

[ariley13]

Hey there! You are doing fantastic with your clean time! Ok, I am a fellow troubled sleeper, and I know how infuriating and downright exhausting it can be, but I say at least try to go the natural route first. The problem with taking anything to aid sleep (besides say something natural like Melatonin) on a regular basis is that our bodies become dependent on it, and our sleep will be even worse when and if we stop the med. If the natural way doesn't work and you get to the point where lack of sleep is really affecting you, maybe reconsider and take them as infrequently as possible. That's just my two cents, for what it's worth. I hope you figure out a good plan that works for you, and get some good sleep! Congrats on the new job!! :)

[ROSYouralright]

A BIG C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S on a S U P E R 70 DAYS!! Keep on rockin it, one good choice at a time!

[ROSYouralright]

All medicines are made fir a reason and serve a purpose. Their will come a point in recovery where we are all faced with having to take meds. Cross addiction is always a huge concern. IMO IF you have thoroughly discussed this with your doctor & he KNOWS that your an addict, then take them ONLY AS PRESCRIBED and ONLY for as long as they are TRULY NEEDED!! Also, maybe someone can dispense them to you if you feel like you would take more than you should.

[tooter212]

I wouldn't get started on it. I was on it and got so dependent on that I couldn't go to sleep without it. I had to get to take another pill to get off it. That's just my thoughts. God Bless