Anyone take ambien for sleep? My mom said its horrible stuff. Any suggestions?
Posted by janice victorov (Member # 22937) on :
up
Posted by geo (Member # 18333) on :
My regular doctor gave it to me and told me there as no treatment for lyme so take an advil each day and an ambien for sleep each night. It never did anything for me and I ditched the regular doctor.
Posted by janice victorov (Member # 22937) on :
Thanks Geo.
Did it help you sleep at all?
The urgent care doctor gave me just ten 5mg pills to try.
Posted by renny1985 (Member # 25222) on :
I take it occasionally when I cant sleep and haven't slept in a few nights and cant take it anymore!
It knocks me right out and I usually sleep 7 hrs on it. I don't feel as well rested the next day as I would had I slept 7hrs naturally.. But it is a lot better than being up ALL night.
I have no bad side effects at all. People have been known to do strange things in the night while on it.. I dont have any of this.. have taken it for 7 yrs.
Posted by geo (Member # 18333) on :
Janice - did not seem to do much at all for me. Hope it helps you.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I've taken it for years... 10mg.
Posted by janice victorov (Member # 22937) on :
Lymetoo. Did you find that it made you groggy in the morning? I'm a teacher so therefore can't be comatose the first day students come back.
Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
My dad takes Ambien CR daily because he works alternating shifts (days, nights, 3-11's). He doesn't get enough sleep without it because it take the body too long to adjust to such different schedules.
Be warned though, take it immediately before bed. A couple years ago he took the Ambien but got distracted and stayed up too long talking with my sister. He decided to call and check on the status of our computer order. Anyways, he accidentally ordered a second computer!
We didn't realize that this happened until we received two computers on our doorstep. Thankfully the company was understanding and we sent one right back.
As for me, Ambien does not work. It makes me feel more alert and keeps me awake all night. Terrible.
You may want to try some natural alternative before starting the RX. Keebler has some great links.
Posted by zil (Member # 12048) on :
Works for me. No sleep hangover.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I had some horrible experiences with it many years ago. It would literally ROCKET me awake, sitting straight up in bed about 3 or 4 a.m. I'd be in a state of shock, as if a bomb had just landed. It took a huge toll on my adrenal system. Huge.
Ambien can also be hard on the liver. But mostly, to consider: ------------------------------------
Topic: NATURAL SLEEP - Links to articles & supplements -
Posted by janice victorov (Member # 22937) on :
thanks. I was at the vitamin shoppe today looking for alternatives to ambien.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Have you tried l tryptophan or 5 HTP? Also, valerian root helps, too.
Neither (or both) worked for me when I was sick, but it's worth a try before you resort to ambien.
Ambien didn't work for me ,but I finally found a combo that did. I took Lunesta AND Lyrica at night for sleep. Once I got well, I weaned off them over a period of six months.
Posted by jennie46 (Member # 20953) on :
Hi Janice,
Klonopin helps me better than anything. It even helps with herx pain. It can be addictive though, so I only take it when I need it and no more than a couple times a week.
I don't feel groggy the next day either.
Posted by lymeinhell (Member # 4622) on :
Benadryl works in a pinch, since it's main ingredients are the same as OTC sleep meds.
Essential oils are another route you could use to retrain your brain. Got me off Ambien for good
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
Ambien works great for my husband who does not have lyme disease.
Posted by janice victorov (Member # 22937) on :
thanks TF. I might try it and see what happens. The doctor only gave me 5mg to try.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Could you try something like melatonin first?
It's good to remember that lyme adds so much stress to the liver - and ambien can be the last straw (as ambien can be hard on the liver). Someone without lyme is likely to do far better than someone with lyme.
It does not address the underlying reason for insomnia. That is best addressed by support, not something to chemically force a paralytic sleep. -
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by janice victorov: [QB] Lymetoo. Did you find that it made you groggy in the morning? I'm a teacher so therefore can't be comatose the first day students come back.
I guess. I sleep late enough so I don't even notice. It runs out in about 8 hrs though.