Ambien: just another sleeping pill?

[Pepsei]

Ambien is awsome, I took it while I was in Taiwan, it helps me with the time differences.

I love the side effect, first time I took it, after 30 minutes a picture on the wall turned 3-d like with movements, but no audio. while the second time, i was typing a document when all the letters in WORD starts to fall off like rain to the bottom of the screen.

 

[redgtxdi]

I don't have experience with Ambien CR.


I'd assume it is better and probably was the natural evolution of Ambien to begin with.


As others mentioned here...........Ambien will *get* you to sleep, but as I experienced, won't *keep* you asleep.

I found no negative side effects with it. As per my doctor's instructions, I just made sure I went to be within 10 minutes of taking it.


As for what makes it different????

It's supposed to be one of very few.........(I believe it was the *only* one on the market in '02)........that actually gives REAL sleep. Again, I believe the CR part was necessary as I would go to sleep but it never lasted more than 4 hours.

I hear Lunesta is doing well since its inception!

 

[darkxshade]

Originally posted by: Pepsei
Ambien is awsome, I took it while I was in Taiwan, it helps me with the time differences.

I love the side effect, first time I took it, after 30 minutes a picture on the wall turned 3-d like with movements, but no audio. while the second time, i was typing a document when all the letters in WORD starts to fall off like rain to the bottom of the screen.

That sounds awesome, I'd take it just to experience that.

 

[EXman]

just don't take klonopin unless you want to sleep a week. well better part of a day

 

[FeuerFrei]

I've taken Ambien but my mind was so f'd up from lack of sleep that I can't really say what it did for me. Nothing useful.

 

[Pepsei]

yeah klonopin makes you tire all day, that's what my wife told me.

my doctor didn't give me a lot of ambien when I ask for it.. I only got 15 pills. so I'll save them.

 

[MX2]

Originally posted by: redgtxdi
I hear Lunesta is doing well since its inception!

:thumbsup:

 

[SilentZero]

I take ambien on occassion (workaholic) and it is great stuff! And yes you need a prescription.

 

[KarenMarie]

i did not read the entire thread... so i apologize if the original question was answered.

the difference betwee Ambien and other sleep aids is that Ambien was designed to work thru your system quickly, usually 6-8 hours... so you dont wake up groggy after 8 hours sleep.

 

[NetGuySC]

Tylenol PM works for me...

 

[CKent]

Wow, I'd love to have the reaction to Ambien that some of you are reporting :Q ...

Most Ambien ever did for me was make me feel slightly stoned, it did do the job though. I've found Klonopin to be pretty nice as well, some report next-day grogginess but it's the opposite for me, I actually feel more energized, and in a good mood to boot (probably because the only really good & restful sleep I ever get is when taking it). I sleep like sh!t drunk, and found Xanax to make me groggy the next day. I guess it just goes to show you we're all different. If you see a doctor about it you can perhaps try a few and see which one is right for you.

 

[Pepsei]

mofo, just asked my doctor to prescribe some ambien for me due to my problem adjusting to the jetlag from my trip a months ago.

he only gave me 10 pills, something about shouldn't take this for longer than 7 days.

that 10 pills cost me $35.00!!! I should ask for 30 next time for the same price.

 

[jfall]

start exercising more

 

[Encryptic]

Smoke a bowl before you hit the sack.

 

[TraumaRN]

Originally posted by: Pepsei
mofo, just asked my doctor to prescribe some ambien for me due to my problem adjusting to the jetlag from my trip a months ago.

he only gave me 10 pills, something about shouldn't take this for longer than 7 days.

that 10 pills cost me $35.00!!! I should ask for 30 next time for the same price.

Thats what happens when the patent hasn't expired :laugh:

 

[jdiddy]

Originally posted by: jfall
start exercising more

When I exercise too close to bed time I have a even harder time sleeping. After a good work out come home take a shower then I'm wide awake.

 

[TraumaRN]

Here's the official info from Micromedex, first Lunesta

ESZOPICLONE
Common Tradenames (See Complete Tradename Listing)
Lunesta
Class
Nonbarbiturate Hypnotic
Dosage, Adult (usual)
Insomnia: 2 mg orally immediately before bedtime (non-elderly patients); dosing may be initiated at or increased to 3 mg as clinically indicated
Dosage, Pediatric, (usual)
Insomnia: safety and effectiveness of eszopiclone in children less than 18 years of age has not been established
Dose Adjustments:
Geriatrics: elderly patients having a difficult time falling asleep should start therapy at 1 mg orally immediately before bedtime, while those with difficulty staying asleep should start at (and not exceed) a 2 mg dose
Hepatic: no dose adjustment is necessary for patients with mild-to-moderate hepatic impairment; patients with severe hepatic impairment or patients coadministered potent CYP3A4 inhibitors should start at 1 mg (may increase to 2 mg)
Administration
administer immediately before bedtime or after patient has gone to bed and experienced difficulty falling asleep
ingestion of a heavy/high-fat meal with eszopiclone may slow the absorption and reduce effects
How Supplied
Oral Tablet: 1 MG, 2 MG, 3 MG
Indications
FDA labeled indications
Insomnia
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to zopiclone or eszopiclone
Precautions
Concomitant illness (i.e. condition that affects metabolism and/or hemodynamic responses)
History of drug/alcohol abuse or psychiatric disorders (depression)
New abnormal behavioral signs or symptoms
Pulmonary disease or disorders (eg, sleep apnea syndrome), or patients with acute respiratory insufficiency (increased risk of respiratory depression)
Rapid dose reduction or abrupt withdrawal
Adverse Effects
COMMON
Dermatologic: Rash
Endocrine metabolic: Gynecomastia
Gastrointestinal: Dyspepsia, Nausea and vomiting, Xerostomia
Neurologic: Confusion, Dizziness, Headache, Migraine, Somnolence
Psychiatric: Anxiety, Depression, Hallucinations, Nervousness
Reproductive: Dysmenorrhea, Reduced libido
Other: Viral disease
SERIOUS
Cardiovascular: Chest pain, Peripheral edema
Drug Interactions
Ketoconazole (moderate, probable)
Pregnancy Category
C
Breast Feeding
Infant risk cannot be ruled out.
Notes
dependence and tolerance were not observed with eszopiclone

And now Ambien

ZOLPIDEM TARTRATE
Common Tradenames (See Complete Tradename Listing)
Ambien
Class
Nonbarbiturate Hypnotic
Dosage, Adult (usual)
Insomnia, Short-term use: immediate-release tablets, 10 mg ORALLY at bedtime
Insomnia, Short-term use: extended-release tablets, 12.5 mg ORALLY at bedtime
Dosage, Pediatric, (usual)
Safety and efficacy in children under the age of 18 has not been established
Dose Adjustments:
debilitated patients: 5 mg ORALLY at bedtime (immediate-release), 6.25 mg ORALLY at bedtime (extended-release)
geriatrics: 5 mg ORALLY at bedtime (immediate-release), 6.25 mg ORALLY at bedtime (extended-release)
liver disease: 5 mg ORALLY at bedtime (immediate-release), 6.25 mg ORALLY at bedtime (extended-release)
Administration
extended-release tablet: swallow whole; do not divide, crush, or chew tablet
How Supplied
Oral Tablet: 5 MG, 10 MG
Oral Tablet, Extended Release: 6.25 MG, 12.5 MG
Indications
FDA labeled indications
Insomnia, Short-term use
Contraindications
hypersensitivity to zolpidem products
Precautions
depressed patients
elderly or debilitated patients
hepatic or severe renal impairment
respiratory impairment
zolpidem has no anxiolytic properties, thus overuse is possible when used in anxious patients for sleep induction
Adverse Effects
COMMON
Gastrointestinal: Diarrhea, Nausea (7%), Xerostomia
Musculoskeletal: Myalgia (4%)
Neurologic: Dizziness (12%), Drugged state, Headache (19%), Somnolence (15%)
SERIOUS
Psychiatric: Depression, worsening, Suicidal thoughts
Drug Interactions
Bupropion (moderate, probable)
Desipramine (moderate, probable)
Ketoconazole (moderate, probable)
Rifampin (moderate, probable)
Sertraline (moderate, probable)
Venlafaxine (moderate, probable)
Pregnancy Category
Zolpidem: B
Breast Feeding
Zolpidem: Infant risk cannot be ruled out.

 

[UglyCasanova]

I took ambien for my sleeping problems with pretty good results at first. I ate 1/2 of a pill the first night (what the doctor told me to start with), then for the next week or so I took a full pill and started to change my sleep schedule a little bit. Then I started taking 2, 3, then 4 pills a night and then I ran out and haven't bothered to get any since. I've never hallucinated on ambien or anything on ambien, but my friend does some crazy things with it. He will sit in a corner of a completely dark room and eat a couple of them and then start drawing. After a while (he says like 30 minutes or so) he will fall alseep, but still be drawing. Supposedly ambien makes you fall into REM sleep quickly or whatever so that your mind is still active, and when he wakes up he has drawn some crazy sh!t. I've seen his pics and it is not anything that you can make out or distinguish, but they are some very interesting pics non the less. I've tried drawing on shrooms before but quickly lost interest after the trip began.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: acemcmac
warm whiskey will help too. Ever thought about trying to burn more energy during the day so your body will be more eager to take the sleep when it can?

They don't call it a "nightcap" for nuthin'.

I agree, do some exercise; getting to sleep by actually being tired is much, much better than relying on pills.

 

[49erinnc]

I take Klonopin but I hate that I'm dependent upon. It doesn't make me groggy it all the next day but I've been on it a while so my system adjusted. It's also really cheap (generic version). A lot of doctors won't prescribe it just for sleeping problems though because it's so habit forming.

All the OTC ones are crap. They may help you fall asleep but I've yet to take any that didn't make me feel terrible the next morning. This doesn't include the natural herbs though, just stuff like Benadryl, Tylenol PM, etc.

 

[xenocyd3]

lol my friend took ambien(not for a sleep problem)

and he said when he was typing on the computer, the keys were popping up and then he started typing it with the keys popping up

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: xenocyd3
lol my friend took ambien(not for a sleep problem)

and he said when he was typing on the computer, the keys were popping up and then he started typing it with the keys popping up

Yep. Ambien will trash you if you don't get right to sleep or take a high dose.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

Lunesta
Class
Nonbarbiturate Hypnotic
Dosage, Adult (usual)
Insomnia: 2 mg orally

woah, strong stuff

 

[Colt45]

The stuff in NyQuil that puts you in a coma is doxylamine succinate, available in pill format (unisom).

strongest OTC sedative on the market, IIRC


although pay attention to which unisom you get, they make two kinds, one is diphenhydramine (a la benadryl).

 

[Squisher]

Have you tried?

Time released Melatonin
Relora
5HTP (L-5-hydroxytryptophan)

It won't have the kick of a prescribed sleeping pill, but it works for me.