Posted by Ted on October 9, 2000, at 12:47:14
In reply to Insomnia-is it wrong to take ambien everynight, posted by Dona on October 8, 2000, at 21:01:14
FWIW, I take Ambien every night. My pdoc continues to agree that it is beneficial. I believe it is probably addicting, but if you keep the dose low, you shouldn't have any long-term problems.
My problem is I fall asleep quickly, but I wake up at 2:00 am and I don't get back to sleep until 5:30 am and for only about 30-60 minutes, then I have to go to work. I take roughly 3.5-4 mg of ambien nightly by breaking the tip off a 5 mg tablet. Now, I sleep more deeply, and when I wake up in the wee morning hours, I quickly fall asleep again. I feel energized when I get up in the mornings. It's great.
I have tried trazodone instead of ambien and it is *terrible*. First, you have to get the dose *just right* by breaking tablets. If you don't do this, then the duration of sleep is screwed up. Then, to top it off, you will get a *KILLER* headache in the morning (like a hangover). If that isn't enough, depending on how you react to it, you might feel like a drugged zombie all day.
Stick with the ambien and keep the dose as low as possible.
Good luck,
Ted
poster:Ted
thread:45978
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000926/msgs/46010.html