OT: Ambien side effects!!!

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jules
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Re: OT: Ambien side effects!!!

Post by jules » Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:56 pm

does ambien CR come in capsules?

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well even if it did the division issue can be figured out - contact me via pm you want more information

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SleepingUgly
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Re: OT: Ambien side effects!!!

Post by SleepingUgly » Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:19 pm

I could tell you that I went cold-turkey 3 days ago and was OK. Jules could tell you she had tons of withdrawal symptoms despite her tapering methods. If you have a doctor, ask him/her because they can take into account your history, including the length of time you were on it, the dose you used, your history of withdrawal from other similar compounds, etc.
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jules
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Re: OT: Ambien side effects!!!

Post by jules » Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:25 pm

people really need to discuss this with their medical provider - I can provide ideas but they need to be discussed with a professional before being done

gpk111
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Re: OT: Ambien side effects!!!

Post by gpk111 » Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:48 pm

I take Ambien CR sometimes. It works, but gives me a hangover. Lorazepam works for me.

You're actually at a lower risk of checking out when you use the CPAP machine, since it helps with the breathing while relaxed.

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Rustyolddude
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Re: OT: Ambien side effects!!!

Post by Rustyolddude » Tue Mar 23, 2010 8:53 am

dwsupt wrote:Ambien gave me a wickd 3 days o no sleep when I came off of it. My doctor warned me, but I thought "how bad can it be"? Like I said 3 days of insomnia- WIDE AWAKE, like I was on uppers or something. NEVER AGAIN!

Ditto for me, if you aren't expecting it, the rebound insomnia is wicked. AmbienCR worked well for me but the ins. co. wouldn't cover it so I got stuck with the 10mg dose. Never did anything weird but I'd wake up at 3am consistently with the regular. Took a 3 day holiday weekend to get off the stuff. Taking Remeron at night along with some sleep/spa music on an MP3 player and almost winking out like a normal person.

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blakepro
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Re: OT: Ambien side effects!!!

Post by blakepro » Tue Mar 23, 2010 10:51 am

I read a pretty entertaining (But scary) story about a guy that was found cooking hamburgers in his sleep because he was on ambien. You can read it here: http://www.apartmentmanageradventures.c ... edications

I think he also hit his head in his sleep or something.

I think he would have started a fire and possibly died if his apartment manager didnt get in there and save him.

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SleepyBobR
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Re: OT: Ambien side effects!!!

Post by SleepyBobR » Tue Mar 23, 2010 3:41 pm

jules wrote:tapering by cutting things down over time is the way to go - I would suggest going slower than posted above if you have been on this poison for a long time

yes there will be rebound insomnia - more if you go faster -

and there are possibilities of other withdrawal symptoms beside insomnia

they will fit in the realm of benzo withdrawal symptoms especially if you have ever taken an extended course of a benzo (or have gone off this before) - this is a link below to some of them -

http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/bzcha03.htm

unfortunately I was given lots of valium and dalmane over 30 years ago for headaches and have had to deal with several of these - I knew not to take benzos again but was told ambien wasn't a problem - wasn't a benzo etc. - lies lies and more lies
Actually, Ambien is technically not a benzodiazapine. It is classed as a non-benzo hypnotic. That said, the distinction is not of much importance because the non-benzos bind to the same receptors in the brain as the benzos do and are equally, if not more, addictive. They also cause the same withdrawal symptoms.

For me, the solution is to keep well clear of any of these drugs. Ambien puts me to sleep for 2 hours for which I pay with 2 days of withdrawal related anxiety starting the next morning. This is my experience but I know people who use it every night with no ill effects. Everyone's different.

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jules
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Re: OT: Ambien side effects!!!

Post by jules » Tue Mar 23, 2010 3:50 pm

SleepyBobR wrote: Actually, Ambien is technically not a benzodiazapine. It is classed as a non-benzo hypnotic. That said, the distinction is not of much importance because the non-benzos bind to the same receptors in the brain as the benzos do and are equally, if not more, addictive. They also cause the same withdrawal symptoms.

For me, the solution is to keep well clear of any of these drugs. Ambien puts me to sleep for 2 hours for which I pay with 2 days of withdrawal related anxiety starting the next morning. This is my experience but I know people who use it every night with no ill effects. Everyone's different.
I am very aware it is not a benzo but also binds to GABA-alpha receptor as benzos do. My benzo history (taking it as scripted) over 30 years ago probably led to my withdrawal from ambien problems. The doctor who kept scripting ambien (who also screwed up my OSA treatment - med school prof he was) kept telling me taking ambien wouldn't be a problem.

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SleepyBobR
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Re: OT: Ambien side effects!!!

Post by SleepyBobR » Tue Mar 23, 2010 4:24 pm

Many doctors prescribe these drugs with no warnings about the potential for addiction, rebound insomnia and withdrawal problems although some are better than others.

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Re: OT: Ambien side effects!!!

Post by famousnick » Tue Mar 23, 2010 7:01 pm

I just recently switched to CR but I still have the regular 10mg Ambien so I'm using it to start my weaning process. I started last night with half of a 10mg but it wasn't enough. I'm planning on staying with 10mg for a few days and then starting a slow taper from there. Thanks for your input everyone.
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jules
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Re: OT: Ambien side effects!!!

Post by jules » Tue Mar 23, 2010 7:07 pm

was your CR 12.5 or 6.25?

half of that is immediate release and the rest is a few hours later if you can believe the manufacturer. after them saying it wasn't addictive I don't have a lot of faith in what they say

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SleepingUgly
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Re: OT: Ambien side effects!!!

Post by SleepingUgly » Wed Mar 24, 2010 5:37 am

Maybe I jinxed myself. Last night I had a lot of insomnia. But I'm not sure if the rebound could be delayed by 4 days... But that was much worse than baseline. Today will be painful. But I'm not going to say anything about the improvement in daytime symptoms off the Ambien-CR, as I don't want to jinx myself again!
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DoriC
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Re: OT: Ambien side effects!!!

Post by DoriC » Wed Mar 24, 2010 8:37 am

SU, keep us updated, I'm very interested in how it goes. I was on Ambien 5mg nightly for about 6 months when hubby first started cpap therapy but was able to just stop a year ago, but now I've been on it again for the last month since hubby's surgery with Rx of 10mg but I don't want to get in trouble this time when I stop. I just spoke to my Dr on the phone and since things are doing better on the home front now, we're planning to start weaning myself off by cutting pill in half every night for 2wks, then half every other night for 2wks,then stop completely. He said if I can't sleep, instead of taking the other half, try a Tylenol.

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jules
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Re: OT: Ambien side effects!!!

Post by jules » Wed Mar 24, 2010 9:43 am

SleepingUgly wrote:Maybe I jinxed myself. Last night I had a lot of insomnia. But I'm not sure if the rebound could be delayed by 4 days... But that was much worse than baseline. Today will be painful. But I'm not going to say anything about the improvement in daytime symptoms off the Ambien-CR, as I don't want to jinx myself again!

insomnia affects from this can last months or reoccur months later so 4 days later may not be that unusual however there is rebound (immediate) insomnia for many from day 1

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SleepingUgly
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Re: OT: Ambien side effects!!!

Post by SleepingUgly » Wed Mar 24, 2010 9:53 am

jules wrote:insomnia affects from this can last months or reoccur months later so 4 days later may not be that unusual however there is rebound (immediate) insomnia for many from day 1
I do not believe that Ambien can CAUSE insomnia to occur months later. I have no basis for for my belief, but without some research or medical information to back that up claim, I just don't believe it. But I do think that people who take Ambien tend to have insomnia, and their insomnia may very well rear its ugly head after the medication is stopped.
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