Since being dx with severe OSA 2 1/2 months ago, I have been taking ambien to fall asleep. My dr told me it was approved for long term use, and though you did build up somewhat of a tolerance, it tended to level off.

However, I am becoming a bit frightened of my relationship to it. I absolutely cannot fall asleep without it, and without some sleep, I cannot function at work. Futher, I need to take the 12.5 mg dosage size, cr, to sllep through the night  (I started out only needing 5 mg).

I am 53 years old, slightly overweight (149 pounds), and also probably have hormonal issues.

I just don't know what to do, and I have to sleep some at night, my job is pretty intense during the day.

Consumer reports, by the way, has approved use of ambien. I am willing to consider other alternatives, but the drug ones, lunesta and rozeram, don't work for me (lunesta leaves horrible taste in the mouth that will not go away). I have tried everything I know.

Please in reply, try not to lecture about drug use, I am already concerned enough about taking something. But if you have practical experience or other tips, I would really appreciate hearing from you.

With thanks,
Awaken

I was also perscribed ambien a while ago but only take it once in a while.

The only thing that I can really comment on ambien is the fact that everytime i take it, I still end up waking up shortly after I take it and it feels like im on LSD (not that I have ever taken that)

Ambien freaks me out sometimes...I wake up, try to walk around with weak wobbley legs, fall asleep standing, fell once while sleaping standing, eat stuff ( i know there have been several issues with people eating while zonked out on ambien)

I am a big guy and think that only 1 ambien (although I dont know the dosage) will not completly knock me out....I think I will try and take two some day when I can devote a full 8 hours to sleep.

Until then, trip out!  

I also take ambien cr and have been since the start of my dx in June.
Can't sleep without it.
I have insomnia and rather be able to get some sleep than none.
I feel the same way as you do.  I wish I could sleep good on my own.




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Respironics REMstar-Pro 2 with C-Flex and humidifier
Comfort Lite
starting pressure @ 8/2. (Now 10/2 changed in September).
Started - CPAP  June 29, 2006

Ambien did not work for me, trazadone does.  I know that is prescribed a lot for sleep although classified as an antidepressant.


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cyndi

No longer asleep at the wheel!!

Resperonics Bi-pap 29/21
ResMed FF Mask
Hosehead since 04/06

Trazodone (Desyrel) knocked me for a loop at 1/2 a tablet! Talk about being spaced out and out of body experiences!!!!

I haven't tried Ambien CR. 5 mg Ambien will put me to sleep and get me 4 hours sleep but not much more than that. My doctor did say that I could take a second Ambien when I wake after 4 hours but I never have. Fortunately, I also don't have to take it regularly. I can add a regular Tylenol (NOT Tylenol PM) and get an extra 1-2 hours w/the Ambien but that's the best drugs have been able to do for me.

I have heard you can have "rebound" effects, even w/Ambien. That's why when I discovered 5 mg Ambien wasn't going to get me more than 4-5 hours sleep (after about 5 nights) I opted to NOT take it every night but rather to practice all the good sleep hyigene I could and take Ambien only when I needed to on an intermittent basis. It took a couple of months but I started sleeping pretty good most of the time - and feeling a whole lot more rested than I do right now after 30 days on PAP. I haven't felt this exhausted since I thought I had mono back in 1996!!! But that was due to residual pain from a whiplash in 1994. After several cardiac scares that turned out not to be a cardiologist was finally smart enough to figure out that it was a chest muscle keeping me tense and unable to fully relax my neck and shoulders. Physical therapy and some chiro adjustments pretty much took care of that.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
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