AMBIEN AND APNEA

I am new to sleep apnea and cpap machine. My Dr told me taking Ambien while having sleep apnea (I have PTSD) = death. I have cut back on ambien to 5 mg a night. Am waiting for new mask in mail as pillows were leaking too much.

I have read posts about ambien and apnea and do not see where it says it is not safe to do. Dr also told me trazadone is bad too. Something about repressing your breathing. I'm scared to sleep now with any sleep aid.

I've been cruising around here today and have read alot of helpful information.

In the future I am looking forward to restful sleep.

I was misdiognosed 5 yrs ago. I had sleep study and lab said results were inconclusive. My pulminary Dr looked at results 2 weeks ago(differant state) and said I had 89 episodes an hr and sent me home with machine. Im at the mercy of VA so I pretty much have to take what I can get. My machine has no humidifier. Is one necasary for sleep sucess?

Take care, Mo

My Doc. prescribed Ambien for both my sleep studies and I've been taking as req. since my first visit. Seems rather harsh to say it will kill you unless you have some other underlying condition. It's a hypnotic not a CNS depressant when taken in it's prescribed dosage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zolpidem

Thanks for link. I'm off to read

I have COPD also. I'm going to talk to him about it because what he said and the facts I'm researching are not adding up. For me it would be good to still be able to use Ambien. Cuts way down on nightmares.

MO

AVMO wrote: I am new to sleep apnea and cpap machine. My Dr told me taking Ambien while having sleep apnea (I have PTSD) = death. .........

I like your doc!

His statement may be a little like one this one, "Treat every gun like a loaded gun."

Now every gun is not loaded and many people will write here that they have sleep apnea and take Ambien. But nevertheless, both statements are excellent advice.

When you are having apneas, with or without CPAP, you have to wake up to start breathing again. If Ambien is effective at keeping you asleep, then it is effective at making your apneas longer. And that is a dangerous situation.

Count me as one person who will never take another Ambien.

Rustyolddude wrote:My Doc. prescribed Ambien for both my sleep studies and I've been taking as req. since my first visit. Seems rather harsh to say it will kill you unless you have some other underlying condition. It's a hypnotic not a CNS depressant when taken in it's prescribed dosage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zolpidem

Yeah, I'm with Rusty... I don't see where Ambien would cause a problem with PTSD and OSA...
Maybe if you have Central Apnea events, but you'd be on a BiPAP were that the case. I think a detailed explanation is in order here.