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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by CarolW on March 22, 2004, at 17:18:36
My doc wants me to take 10mg. of Ambien for the next couple of nights or so. I've been waking up too early or can't fall asleep. Anyone have any experience with Ambien? I worry about getting addicted, side-effects, and wonder if I'll be too drowsy the next day.
Posted by CareBear04 on March 22, 2004, at 18:21:32
In reply to Any experience with Ambien?, posted by CarolW on March 22, 2004, at 17:18:36
Ambien is great! I was on it for almost five months, and I didn't get addicted. I fell asleep without any problems, and I got a good night's sleep. Sometimes, I woke up a little early and couldn't get back to sleep, but Ambien overall definitely helped. Unfortunately, I had to stop taking it because it caused me to start hallucinating. I haven't found a substitute sleep med that works as well as Ambien, and I would go back on Ambien in a second if I could. HOpe it works for you! CB
Posted by knicknack on March 22, 2004, at 22:53:51
In reply to Re: Any experience with Ambien? » CarolW, posted by CareBear04 on March 22, 2004, at 18:21:32
I was on ambien for about 3 weeks a few years ago when I started on wellbutrin. It was great, no side effects, but you absolutely have to go to bed immediately. I didn't just one night (got a phone call that lasted about 2 hours) and I started seeing flat things in 3D. My flat matisse poster had depth all of a sudden, and the floorboards looked like they were undulating. It was really trippy and weird!
Posted by traveler on March 23, 2004, at 15:15:40
In reply to Re: Any experience with Ambien? » CarolW, posted by knicknack on March 22, 2004, at 22:53:51
I too had a great experience with Ambien. I was on it for almost 6 months straight, and when I was feeling like I no longer needed it - I just stopped. No withdrawal, nothing. I was taking 10 mg initially, and then went down to 5 mg. 10 mg knocked me out flat and I had a hard time getting up in the morning. But, 5 mg worked like a charm. Good luck! A good nights rest makes all the difference in the world.
Posted by Joy on March 23, 2004, at 18:15:30
In reply to Any experience with Ambien?, posted by CarolW on March 22, 2004, at 17:18:36
Ambien worked well for my sister, but not too great for me. I woke up after 4.5 or 5 hours. For me, Xanax .5 helps me sleep. I've taken it for years [I go off it for a month or two once in a great while] and I've never had to increase the dose. We are all different. I hope Ambien works well for you.
Joy
Posted by f l y on March 23, 2004, at 22:26:33
In reply to Any experience with Ambien?, posted by CarolW on March 22, 2004, at 17:18:36
i've taken ambien off and on for 5 years. i have never felt addicted. i also don't feel sedated following day.
i have to take 20mg about 2 hours b/f i go to sleep. i sleep the whole night and feel fine in the morning. ambien also has a pleasant onset for me > similar to klonopin.best to ya,
fly
Posted by Mandybella on March 24, 2004, at 17:57:20
In reply to Re: Any experience with Ambien?, posted by Joy on March 23, 2004, at 18:15:30
My experience has been nothing but bad. I started it 10 years ago to medicate chronic sloeep problem. When I became major depressed about 3 years ago I started increasing the dose to escape the world. Soon I was using it during day as well as night. I finally realized I was addicted and had treatment in January of this year. There is a strong history of addiction in our family but I never thought it would happen to me. I do not mean to imply this would happen to everyone, but do not believe when they say it is non-habit forming. Some of us need to stay far away from this drug. In meantime I still have awful sleep and do not know what to do about it.
Posted by sobeit on March 24, 2004, at 18:23:02
In reply to Re: Any experience with Ambien?, posted by Mandybella on March 24, 2004, at 17:57:20
I tried it for about 2 months to reduce insomnia associated with MAOI use. I, unfortunately, did not find it beneficial. Even at 20mg, I could still read a book (or stare at the clock) during the time it should have been working. Snuggling up next to the fireplace this winter worked much better - with no side effects.
Posted by vjw on April 8, 2004, at 20:56:56
In reply to Re: Any experience with Ambien?, posted by sobeit on March 24, 2004, at 18:23:02
It's been great for me, but beware-for me, it's been hard to get off of it. If I miss one night, I'm pretty much up all night
Posted by Bela on September 30, 2004, at 15:04:51
In reply to Re: Any experience with Ambien?, posted by vjw on April 8, 2004, at 20:56:56
Is this thread on Ambien still alive? If it is, I would appreciate some advice from experienced users and those who have successfully quit Ambien.
I use about 5 mg. of Ambien in the early morning, every morning, usually about 3 a.m., to return to sleep. This seems like a bad habit but I have found no other alternative if I want to avoid sleep deprivation, which is a horrible trip for me. I am definitely addicted and I would like to find a non-Rx substitute, if it even exists.
Bela
This is the end of the thread.
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