Posted by Fugly on August 6, 2005, at 14:32:06
In reply to Re: Ambien and Lunestra, posted by 4WD on May 15, 2005, at 16:47:06
Ambien addiction withdrals? I had been taking Ambien for two years prior to "cold turky-ing" it a few months ago; and just got a prescription for Lunestra. Ambien was (operative term "was") allowing me to sleep for more than the typical 3 hours I had been getting on a GOOD night before ever taking it. Anyways.....about the addiction thing. I suppose I became dependent on making the dosing part of my night time routine, and I did notice a tolerance to the dose I was taking (10mg) develop after the first year. Eventually, I was back to sleeping less than 4 hours (still an improvement mind you) when I did quit taking it on my own. My prescription had run out, and one for Lunestra was on order...but not in supply until 3 months later. The withdrawal was not nice. I was "buggy", jumpy, on edgde, could not sleep more than what seemed a few minutes for like almost 2 weeks, a constant headache at migraine level, and on an emotional roller coaster. More than just a little anxious. Most unpleasant, as those around me would tell you. After about 2 weeks, I as back to "normal" napping for about 3-4 hours on "good" nights, (STILL an improvement!), Since being off Ambien for about 3 months, I finally got my Lunestra in, and have taken it for about a week. I take the 2mgs, and it worked on the third day...umm, night without my feeling weirded any. On that night I do not actually remember going to bed (did not set alarm, grrrr!), but I'm pretty sure I slept 7 hours as I do remember the time I took the pill. And yes, I have noticed the taste problem. I thought it was the ice machine in the cafeteria where I work, but noooo...bottled water, watermelon, food in general is icky, which really does not help matters in one way, and in another...it does cuz I want to lose weight, hah hah hah. Maybe it will get better if I took it every night and my tastebuds adjusted,but I am worried about getting psychologically or emotionally dependent on something AGAIN. Ambien was good for me, and helped me get my head back on fairly (for me) straight. There were problems of my own making when I was taking it, and of the nature of the beast when I quit. Overall, nothing in comparison to chronic insomnia for whatever reasons. I'm hoping I won't have the memory, or behavioural issues I had on Ambien with Lunestra (here's a factoid: Ambien has certain "aphrodiciac" qualities...but hey, maybe that was just me). Lunestra has been marketed to be OK with long term...and if it has simular problems. Your pharmacist is right about the approval thing. The withdrawal seemed pretty harsh at the time, did not last that long, and I think it was worthwhile for me. I do worry about repeating the same cycle with Lunestra though, and the next magic bullet after that, and so on. I switched because I was worried about things I was doing that may or may not have anything to do with the Ambien, the percieved loss of effectiveness with the product, and all the noise I hear about how bad the stuff is for me. My insomnia did rebound for a bit after stopping Ambien, leveled out, and I'm back where I was before, albiet a little wiser for the experience; and with a different med.
poster:Fugly
thread:497904
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050803/msgs/538322.html