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My Experience with Long-term Use of Ambien


Posted by Joan on November 12, 1999 at 10:41:24:

In Reply to: Tell me about Ambien. posted by Nickle on November 11, 1999 at 22:54:33:

I have had prescriptions for Ambien for appx 10 months. First from my Psychiatrist who was helping me with symptoms which were present and actually disappeared when Apnea was finally diagnosed and CPAP took over. He gave me 10mg. I planned to stop the psychiatric visits because I didn't need them anymore and asked my family doctor if he would keep up the Ambien prescription and he said, "I'm not comfortable with long-term use." I knew he meant possibility of addiction.

Following my second sleep test, I asked that doctor if the Ambien could be continued and told him about the family doctor's comments. He said, "We sleep doctors do some things differently and I want you to have it but let's cut back to 5 mg." I asked about addiction and he said it wouldn't be a problem.

Nickle, I shared the same concerns you do and had already been all over the net reading everything about Ambien. I have no problem with it. No addiction problems. I take it just before I go to bed, if I need it, and fall asleep fast. Two or three times I have stayed awake on purpose to see if anything crazy happens after it takes effect- nothing. The only problem with it is that it seems to drop me off after 5-6 hours and I wake up. Sleep doctor confirmed this can be the case as Ambien helps people GET to sleep.

Now that CPAP is going so well he changed me to half a 50mg tablet of Trazadone which is taken about 2 hours before bedtime and is better at maintaining extended sleep. That seems to be the case after about 3 wks of trial. (The two drugs are never taken together.) Neither drug seems to have undesirable side effects other than a slight dizziness for just a few minutes after I get up. However, that may just be me, "the dizzy dame" who has all these shirts that say "I don't do mornings!". Ha! Ha!

There are many who would pay whatever I asked for the Ambien prescription because they really can't sleep without it and their doctors only let them stay on it a short while. From reading many, many comments, it seemed that a good many who reported the crazy things were recent or current drug users, heavy drinkers, or over-dosers. Several of them were looking for the side effects and loving it. I have never used drugs and have not even had a wine cooler (moan!) since being on this medication. I do not need to use any medication on many nights because CPAP works so well. I certainly am no authority but hope my experience helps in your research of the subject. -Joan

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