Posted by Ame Sans Vie on September 10, 2003, at 5:43:28
In reply to Ambien/Klonopin prices/benefits/side effects ?'s, posted by JaneB on September 9, 2003, at 16:19:21
Ambien doesn't interfere with natural sleep cycles in the way that Klonopin and other benzodiazepines do, but it is also very short-acting. So, if your problem lies solely in falling asleep (i.e. you have no trouble staying asleep, don't wake up too early) then Ambien is certainly superior to Klonopin for that purpose. If you *do* have trouble sleeping through the night though, many doctors employ the tactic of having you take a second dose upon early awakening.
Normally I wouldn't recommend raising one's benzodiazepine dosage just because the sleep-inducing side effect wears off, *but* if it stuck with you for five years, you may be a special case... I'd talk to your doctor about it if I were you. Sounds like a viable option to me.
Just one last thing -- have you tried trazodone or Elavil (amitriptyline) for sleep? They're both very inexpensive (about $10/month) and quite effective.
poster:Ame Sans Vie
thread:258489
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030907/msgs/258654.html