Wellness

[HonnyBrown]

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.

[hondagirl]

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...

[carolina2]

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.

[HerRoyaLioness]

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.

[bluejeansluvr]

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

[depglass]

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.

[dooBdoo]

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.

[number one queen]

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!

[dobiesrule]

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.

[adelle38]

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?