topic Re: Ambien?? in Wellness

Ambien??

PhatCat — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 18:23:49 GMT

I have been taking Ambien for many years and was able to wean off about six months ago. After having severe insomnia again, I gave in and started again.

In the past several weeks I have been waking up extremely dizzy and unable to function for most of the day. I don't know if I am all of a sudden reacting to the drug or if something else is wrong.

Just wondering if anyone else here has had the same reaction?

Yes, I emailed my doc and waiting to hear back. To me, real experience counts more than book smart. (for those of you who will say, ask your doctor!)

tia

Re: Ambien??

Jackielee — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 18:39:36 GMT

I know 3 people who have had awful, awful, awful experiences with Ambien and one of them did not end well. Please get off the Ambien!!

Re: Ambien??

Sunnycorle — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 18:43:20 GMT

I have used Ambien in the past but very limited. My doctor did not want it to be for long term at all. There are good over the counter sleep aids that you can try. I get a great one from Costco for a really good price.

Re: Ambien??

chickenbutt — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 18:48:20 GMT

Did he give you the same strength?

I like Ambien but, in particular, Ambien 10. They work nicely even for somebody like me with a severe sleep problem. I don't have medical care, so I don't get them anymore unless somebody gives me some but what I always did, when I had access to them, was to never take them every night - I took them no more than twice a week so I always had those days to look forward to AND I didn't have to worry about them losing efficacy.

I tried the Ambien time-release once and it didn't do a thing. But maybe you need less help and you had the lesser strength ones and he gave you stronger ones this time (?). Well, I would imagine you know exactly what you are taking but you never know - some people just take something without knowing what it is.

Another thing with Ambien is to take it AT bedtime and get in the bed. Don't dawdle around or you'll end up doing all kinds of stuff. If you get right in bed, it works pretty fast and you should be good. I wouldn't take it if it was going to be a short night, i.e. it's pretty late and you have to get up pretty early. I can see how that could cause you to feel wonky when you get up.

Re: Ambien??

MathisFan — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 18:48:40 GMT

I've taken it for years with no side effects. I suffered with insomnia for a long time before even asking my doctor for it. I'll never do without it again. I would much rather take a pill and be able to sleep than suffer.

Everyone reacts differently to medications. You just have to be careful. It's good you're asking your doctor about the dizziness, etc. You may just need to reduce the dose.

ETA....I still don't get but about 4 to 5 hours of good sleep but if I didn't take Ambien I'd never be able to go to sleep. Usually when I do wake up in the middle of the night I can go back to sleep for a little while.

Re: Ambien??

NiteStar — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 18:51:08 GMT

My 87 year old mother has been taking Ambien for many many years with no ill side effects. She has had insomnia her whole adult life. I remember when we were growing up, if she fell asleep on the couch or anything, we knew NOT to wake her up because chances were she would not go back to sleep. Many days she went to work without having any sleep at all. Even now with taking the Ambien, she only sleeps 5 or 6 hours a night.

Re: Ambien??

culebra — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 18:52:28 GMT

Try over the counter ZZquil. It works well for the occasional sleepless night.

Re: Ambien??

PhatCat — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 18:58:19 GMT

Thanks for your replies. I called the doc for an appt today, to check to see if it is my ears or what...no appointments available. I decided to think back if there was anything new I started to take about the time this all started happening. I did start ubiquinol about that time and sure enough, dizziness is a side effect. What I am having is something I have never had before, a true vertigo. Like going in a circle as apposed to feeling like a drunken sailor on a ship in a storm. It also lasts the entire day which I've not had before. So I am thinking that it could very well be the ubiquinol.

I remember when I was in my 30's I tried coq10 and it made me very anxious and made me shake. Perhaps I just can't tolerate it. I will stop and see if that helps.

also, my cpap machine tells me I sleep between 10-11 hours a night . Something is flukey for sure.

thanks everyone.

Re: Ambien??

wadesmom — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 19:12:25 GMT

Fatcat - when you say you weaned yourself off Ambien, would you mind sharing how you did that and how long it took? How many mgs were you taking?

Re: Ambien??

Madisson — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 19:19:31 GMT

ZZquil is just diphenhydramine, which is the same ingredient in most other OTC medications. Just buy generic diphenhydramine (Walmart brand) and save a lot of money.

FATCATinCT, are you taking any other prescription medications at the same time that you take your Ambien? There could be an interaction. Another thing is that Ubiquinol can lower both your blood pressure and your blood sugar...causing dizziness.

Are you saying that your doctor has absolutely no appointments available? Wow...I would change doctors fast. Ask to see a nurse practitioner or physician's assistant. Until you see your health care practitioner, I would go off the Ubiquinol.

Re: Ambien??

HonnyBrown — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 19:24:52 GMT

Ambien affected me like that the first time I took it. My insomnia is sporadic. I'll sleep well for a few weeks and one night, I will wake up at 1am for the night.

I take the Target version of Tylenol PM. One pill on Sunday night will set me right again, with no after effects.

I tried Alleve PM, but it leaves me a bit groggy the next day.

Re: Ambien??

hondagirl — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 19:29:35 GMT

I started taking Ambien when I got divorced and could not sleep at all. It has been a blessing to me and no side effects. My insurance gave me a hard time about taking it but my doctor straightened it out. When I spoke to my Dr. about still wanting to take the Ambien he felt he would rather me sleep and get rested than toss and turn all night. This medication might not be for everyone but for me I get the rest I need and feel great the next day... I am taking 10mg once a night and if I do wake up which I sometimes do I found that taking a calcium pill helps me fall back to sleep... How it works I don't know but I get results doing that...

Re: Ambien??

carolina2 — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 19:36:34 GMT

I have been taking Ambien only when I haven't been able to sleep well after 4 or 5 nights in a row. I only take half a pill. A whole one caused some effects that I didn't like. I also take a drugstore version of Aleeve every night. I try not to take the Ambien unless I really need it.

Re: Ambien??

HerRoyaLioness — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 19:41:12 GMT

My experience is having bad dreams when on Ambien and then going off. I only use it now when I absolutely need to. Otherwise I take Benadryl, up to 50 mg when I need it.

The dizziness may be from going off the Ambien or just coincidental - only your dr can help you with that, which you already know! I would say give it time - if it is a side effect, it should eventually go away, but make sure your dr knows about the dizziness because it can be a symptom of so many other things, some serious, some not so serious.

Re: Ambien??

bluejeansluvr — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 19:42:20 GMT

FATCAT, you should page the poster Winimac. She is very knowledgeable about prescription drugs, as she is in pharmaceutical sales.

Re: Ambien??

depglass — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 19:46:51 GMT

I personally had much better results with Lunesta over Ambien. With Ambien I totally lost my memory for that amount of time between taking it and going to sleep. I once ordered a Tig bag with auto order on the phone with absolutely no recollection when I saw the email confirmation the next morning. I immediately went back to Lunesta. Both Ambien and Lunesta are now generic.

Re: Ambien??

dooBdoo — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 19:50:30 GMT

FatcatinCT, Please call your pharmacist while you're waiting to see your physician.

I always recommend this because the pharmacist is sometimes a better resource for questions about meds and supplements, if you use the same pharmacy regularly they will know you and know what combinations of meds you might be taking, and even though they have a busy job they're usually there 24/7 and willing to help.

Please... I know you want to hear experience, and posters mean well, however:

Take any and all specific medication advice with a huge grain of salt. "Book smart" and experience are both very important, and pharmacists and physicians have both of those. There's a reason they devote so many years to learning -- there's a reason they're licensed to practice and most of us are not.

I wish you well.

Re: Ambien??

number one queen — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 20:00:05 GMT

Those are side effects from that drug, get off it, it is affecting your central nervous system for one. If you are going to wait for a call back, at least call your pharmacy and speak to your pharmacist! Don't let that drug hurt you, being dizzy you could fall and hit your head, STOP!

Re: Ambien??

dobiesrule — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 20:13:32 GMT

After heart surgery, I could not sleep at all. At all. I was told that can be common after heart surgery. I started on Ambien and was on it for 6 years, every night. I started decreasing the dosage and then switched over to A. Lessman's sleep aid and then went to straight Melatonin for a couple of years and then went cold turkey and now use nothing. Being unable to sleep is horrible and I feel so sorry for anyone who is suffering from it. Good luck to you.

Re: Ambien??

adelle38 — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 20:15:24 GMT

I've take Ambien for insomnia for many years under close surpervision. I've never had bad side effects from it. I've never taken Ubiquinol but had bad headaches and dizziness for CoEnzyme Q. As for OTC remedies, they can have side effects that are as bad as Ambien. If I take 1 benadryl at night, I'm drowsy all day.

How soon can you see your doctor?