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Topic Title: Ambien and Insomnia Topic Summary: Is it worth it? Created On: 01/20/2010 01:57 PM Status: Post and Reply |
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01/20/2010 01:57 PM
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The last month or two I've been having issues with insomnia. Usually staying up 36-48 hour days before finally getting any amount of sleep (6-8 hours). At first I didn't mind because I had movies to watch, books to read etc, but there's only so long you can keep yourself entertained before nothing is interesting anymore.
I've been in the hospital since Thursday. 5 days ago I mentioned it to my doctor, and he asked me if I wanted to take Ambien; I accepted. I slept decently the first 3 nights, about 4 hours of pure sleep then 4-5 hours of drifting in and out of consciousness; I woke up totally rested though. Then last night I decided to try and sleep without the Ambien, I had done some medical marijuana and had worked out intensely earlier that day so I was exhausted. It was the most awful night I've ever had, with only about 30 minutes of real 'sleep' after 8 hours of laying there trying. So the Ambien is definitely still necessary. The problem is that Ambien has a lot of side effects, to the point that my friends and family became worried when I mentioned that it was prescribed to me. Ambien is an easily abusable hallucinatory drug, it is addictive and leads to dependency, plus there's plenty of horror stories of 'ambien comas' in which people do insane things that they don't remember after taking it (I've already had a nurse tell me I tried talking to her while she hooked up my IV, and then try to go back to bed while she was still connecting it). Withdraws coming off of it lead to intense depression and even worse insomnia. All this, along with an already addictive personality and love of hallucinogens lead me to be wary of it. I have the restraint not to abuse it for now, but I can't say for sure I'd be able to hold back if I've been taking it for a month. So my question is, is it worth it? Insomnia is pretty distressing, but Ambien is a double edged sword of a cure. Ideally I'd only be taking it for a week or two, long enough to get past whatever is wrong, and no matter what I'd quit in a month. I could also try taking it for 2-3 days and then staying up a day or two so dependency doesn't set in too quickly. What does everyone else here think? I've already been told to 'talk to my doctor', but there's nothing he can do besides give me the pros and cons that I'm already aware of. That and the fact that he didn't warn me about all this in the first place makes me believe he's not really a reliable source. More opinions = a better choice. Thanks! ------------------------- 19yo Male, CF diagnosed @ birth. CFRD & history of MRSA. |
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01/20/2010 04:21 PM
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Hey there, just finished reading your post. Ok, there is one answer for you....lunesta. I have the same problems with insomnia (not quite as bad as you). I have tried everything...I have had this for many, many, years. Both ambien and tylenol PM give me body twitches and I am in a disturbed sleep (in and out) with lots of nitemares. I have taken both Ambian and Ambien CR (controlled release). Lunesta does not have side effects to my knowledge but I wouldn't rely on the drug everyday. I take it when I ABSOLUTLY have to. It works like a charm. What you really need to figure out is what is causing your insomnia. For me it was anxiety...work, life, etc. Also when I drink heavily I wake up 2 or 3 hrs into my sleep. I guarantee you will become addicted to the drug (any sleeping aid) if you are on it for a month. Good luck my friend!
------------------------- 40yrCF**female**W1282X and R117H...starting PTC124 Ataluren trial...wish me luck!! |
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01/20/2010 05:49 PM
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hello,
i have had lots of life changes in the past several months and have taken ambien CR (the smallest dose) nearly every single night since april. it is still working for me and though it does cause the walls to move if i don't go directly to sleep, i haven't had any other side effects. other sleep aids make me extremely groggy and this is the only one that hasn't. i know everyone is different though and you have a very valid concern with regard to your hesitation with ambien. i do think it is VERY important to be followed by an actual psychiatrist for this versus your regular CF doc alone. my psychiatrist is very educated on ambien and other sleep aids and also trained to know if i'm abusing it or needing more and more. i see him regularly. somehow, even with taking it every night, it still works for me at a very small dose. my psychiatrist (and doc) has said that sleep is so very very important for us (made increasingly important because we have a chronic illness and our body needs rest) that i should be on something all the time if i have trouble sleeping. we will likely ween off it once things have settled in my life, but for now it does help me get great sleep. they are monitoring me closely though. have you been in touch with a psychiatrist who can follow your sleep aid/insomnia needs? another option would be to get with a sleep clinic (probably associated with the hospital) and see if they can do a sleep study and/or monitor your sleep habits. they will likely try more natural paths to get your insomnia under control. best of luck. i know insomnia is awful!!! ------------------------- Sonia - 32 w/ CF and CFRD |
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01/20/2010 08:13 PM
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My opinion is that sleep is crucial to good health. If you need pharmacological help to do so, then I think it's worth it. I have been on sleeping meds for about 3 years and it has improved my overall health. I don't really care that I'm "addicted". I hope you find some relief soon.
------------------------- born w/ cf in 1976 |
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01/20/2010 10:52 PM
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I can't take ambien or lunesta cause I still feel drowsy when I wake up after a full nights sleep, and I can't get "concious" enough to care for my daughter if she gets sick during the night. Therefore, I take temazapam. I can still get the sleep I need, and wake up rested instead of drowsy, and if DD gets sick I can wake up to care for her. BTW I have CF as well so I am in a catch 22 with my sleep as far as what I can and cannot take.
------------------------- <BR>Samantha w/ cf (dx 6 months June 2004) <BR> <BR>Nicholas w/o cf but probable carrier <BR> <BR><a href="http://cfforsamantha.blogspot.com"> http://cfforsamantha.blogspot.com</a> |
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01/20/2010 11:11 PM
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Have you tried melatonin???
You are right about the side effects of ambien. I worked in a facility where the majority of our patients were on ambien. The side effects are not rare, they are very commonly seen. Especially the one where you do stuff in your sleep and don't know it. Most of our patients ate in their sleep. blessings, missa ------------------------- Worry about nothing, pray about everything! mom to Ethan Sky born 2/28/04 and Caleb Kenneth born 9/07/07 both with CF chasingTruth 
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01/22/2010 08:45 PM
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I've been taking Ambien CR and Trazadone for years. I have chronic pain issues and insomnia. If I don't take these I have non-restorative sleep and wake up as tired as I was when I went to bed. My previous CF doc said if he took what I take for sleep, he'd never wake up. Har. I'm much older than you... but I frankly don't care about the addiction part. My rest is as precious as gold to me. I do see a psychiatrist for these. That is a good suggestion especially if you have a history with addictive meds.
------------------------- 55 w/CF, diagnosed at 26, PA & MRSA, cf arthralgia, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic sinusitis, connective tissue disease, scoliosis |
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01/22/2010 09:03 PM
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.
------------------------- Be proactive, not reactive, about your health: http://noexcusesnoexcuses.blogspot.com |
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01/25/2010 11:45 AM
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I too suffer from insomnia and it's been a real problem for me, especially when hospitalized. I tried Ambien, Lunesta and Ativan...all expensive and with no long lasting results. I now take Lorazapam (2mg)and it works well. Not 100%, but enough so that I can get 6 solid hours of sleep if I plan ahead. This drug isn't covered by my insurance, but only costs $15. It's been around for years and years and thats probably why it wasn't the first one I was given....don't even get me started on the politics of drug dispersal. My pharmacist told me not to continue with Lunesta because of the cost and Ambien/AmbienCR are similar...way too expensive. He suggested this and WOW...what a difference.
Sleep disorder can have many, many causes, but it needs to be taken seriously. 45yof w/CF ddF508 |
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01/25/2010 05:20 PM
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In my opinion, I think you're better off avoiding benzodiazepines if possible. Benzos include ativan (which is the same as lorazepam), xanax (alprazolam), etc. Benzos lead to rebound anxiety if taken on a regular basis. So, if you can get by with something like trazadone, seroquel, or ambien/lunesta, I would try that first. I'm not saying the other meds don't have a place, but unless you need them for anxiety, I wouldn't take them for a sleep disorder. These are all serious medications. I'd recommend getting them through a psychiatrist if you can, as opposed to a PCP. A psychiatrist can better monitor you.
------------------------- born w/ cf in 1976 |
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01/25/2010 10:56 PM
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For all intents and purposes Ambien is a benzodiazepine, and will cause revound insomnia and anxiety if taken long enough. In fact, due to it's very short half life, the rebound will be worse that mid-range benzos like temazepam or valium.
I have been medicating myself to sleep for about 8 years now. My sleep specialist and I rotate back and forth between ambien and a longer acting benzo like valium depending on how my sleep quality is. If I'm having a lot of daytime grogginess we go with a shorter acting medication and if I'm only getting 3-4 hours of sleep we switch to a longer acting benzo. As a general rule, if you start treating insomnia on a nightly basis, you will likely be on medication the rest of your life, as it is extremely difficult to stop. Having said that, sleep is very important and given the choice, I chose to sleep well. Good luck ------------------------- -Jonathan, 28/m (DF508 R560T) |
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01/31/2010 09:36 PM
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I don't know much about sleep disorders but I'm going to throw a little twist in here, being the nutty oddball that I am...
Valerian is a natural herb that is as effective as Valium but is nonaddictive. It's like benzodiazepine drugs in that it puts you to sleep without a morning hangover, interaction with Alcohol or any addiction risks. Research has shown that it not only helps you fall asleep faster, but improves the quality of sleep. The only addictive risks are if YOU mentally convince yourself you can't sleep without it. ------------------------- Blake - 24 CF'er (Double Delta F508) and brother to James - 28 CF'er. Both DX from the start, both living our dreams, and there's nothing you can do to stop us! "If He heals me, or if It kills me, I still win." |
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02/07/2010 07:56 PM
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I am a big fan of melatonin because its all natural. I do take lunesta at times when the melatonion starts to not work and my body becomes used to it.
------------------------- Alisha 28 w/CF and Living Life To The Fullest...... Mom To My Miracle Boy Nicolas Born 1/28/10 
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02/07/2010 10:03 PM
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If you don't mind me asking...why were you smoking medical marijuana?
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02/08/2010 05:03 AM
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If you don't mind me asking...why were you smoking medical marijuana? Why am I doing it or why am I smoking? Marijuana usually puts me to sleep, and it helps with appetite and nausea issues. It's easier than taking 7 pills a day for all that. If it's smoking you're questioning, I use a vaporizer. Vaporizing puts out nearly pure thc without all the lung ruining chemicals from combustion (burning). It's virtually safe. In addition, cannabis also triggers your lung's defense mechanisms without any actual harm, cleaning out your lungs just like chest therapy or running for a bit. Contrary to what most doctors would tell you, I've been healthier and stayed out of the hospital far longer since taking it up. As for the Ambien issue: Thanks for the replies everyone. I took it inconsistently for 2 weeks, and eventually got over the sleep problems. I imagine I'll need it again soon, but hopefully not too soon. ------------------------- 19yo Male, CF diagnosed @ birth. CFRD & history of MRSA. |
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Ambien and Insomnia
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