ambien and apnea

handee3 · Post by **handee3** » Thu May 15, 2008 10:54 am

I just started using my cpap machine. I've been having insomnia off and on for a year now and take ambien almost every night. Am I defeating the purpose of the cpap by taking this? I would like to stop taking it. Any thoughts or experiences? Thanks

HelpMeBreath · Post by **HelpMeBreath** » Thu May 15, 2008 1:02 pm

Almost every night? Or every night? I have been taking ambien for seven months or so and I hate to say it but I cannot sleep without it. Its about as psychologically addictive as it gets, so if you are able to not take it, don't. Just my .02

RonS · Post by **RonS** » Thu May 15, 2008 1:59 pm

HelpMeBreath wrote:I have been taking ambien for seven months or so

Just wondering if you have data collection and reporting? If you do, do you have any "non-responsive" apneas (if they are reported)?

Thanks

Boodies · Post by **Boodies** » Thu May 15, 2008 6:56 pm

My sleep doc presrcibes me ambien and I get a good nights sleep when I use it. The half life is short so I do not wake up groggy. I don't take it every night and not after 11pm. It does not seem to affect my AHI numbers.

3isles · Post by **3isles** » Thu May 15, 2008 8:42 pm

I have been using ambien every night for a long time. I used it at my last sleep study and it did not interfere at all. If for any reason I can't use hose I don't take it. Apparently I am one of the lucky ones because I can always fall asleep without it, posssibly because even with pap and ambien I often get less then 5 hours, because I am my dd's night nurse. I just can't use hose without it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 16, 2008 12:43 pm

I do have reporting ect. but I dont know what you mean by non responsive apneas.. I have many nights of reports on this site somewhere in another post, its a safe bet I took ambien on everyone one of those nights. I am actually out today and not getting anymore until next week which is already stressing me out.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Fri May 16, 2008 12:53 pm

Sounds like you are more psychologically dependent on the Ambien than physically dependent on it.

Did you ever see your full data summary report w/condensed graphs? Was there any indiation of a sleep disorder other than OSA that might be the cause of your reliance on Ambien?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 16, 2008 1:32 pm

Ambien does not cause physical dependence, but it does cause psychological dependence which then causes stress that can manifest itself physically, so it feels similar. It is not going to make you sick to stop taking it..

RipVW · Post by **RipVW** » Sat May 17, 2008 3:33 pm

I take ambien ONLY occasionally--for me, if I take it for more than 2-3 nights in a row, I begin to feel "foggy" during the day. I switched to melatonin for nightly use, it works for me. But, I don't think taking ambien interferes with CPAP in any way.

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