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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by partlycloudy on September 15, 2004, at 8:03:15
Hi, I have been taking 5 to 10mg of Ambien to sleep since being put on 300mg Wellbutrin XR about 6 months ago. I also take .5 to 1mg of xanax per day for panic attacks, and Effexor XL 150mg for my depression and anxiety. I have a history of alcohol abuse and am scared to death of the benzo I take already.
During the past 2 weeks I ceased taking hormone therapy for perimenopause. Since that time, the Ambien is working less effectively. Last night I took my 10mg, woke up at midnight, and every hour thereafter until morning. I'm guessing the hormones have something to do with this?
Benadryl makes me too groggy the next morning to be of help. Any other alternatives to Ambien that would do the same job?
Oh, yes. I have spectacular hot flashes pretty much all the time. My body heat is officially an alternative energy source by now :)
Posted by SLS on September 15, 2004, at 8:20:48
In reply to Ambien tolerance need non-benzo solution, posted by partlycloudy on September 15, 2004, at 8:03:15
Hi.
Perhaps the sleep disturbances will subside with time? It has only been 2 weeks since your hormone change. Maybe your system will adjust.
I can appreciate your fear of addiction, but I don't think you are any more apt to become addicted to a hypnotic benzodiazepine than Ambien. They actually work on the same receptor. If choppy sleep is the issue, a mild benzo like Restoril might serve the purpose.
I would look at Remeron first as a non-benzo alternative. Doxepin, trimipramine, trazodone, and amitriptyline are other alternatives.
Sad Panda and King Vultan are probably better able than I to help you decide which to choose.
Good luck.
- Scott
Posted by partlycloudy on September 15, 2004, at 8:34:47
In reply to Re: Ambien tolerance need non-benzo solution, posted by SLS on September 15, 2004, at 8:20:48
Thanks, Scott. I'll wait for their suggestions, too. You the best!
Posted by partlycloudy on September 15, 2004, at 12:29:23
In reply to Re: Ambien tolerance need non-benzo solution, posted by SLS on September 15, 2004, at 8:20:48
> Hi.
>
> Perhaps the sleep disturbances will subside with time? It has only been 2 weeks since your hormone change. Maybe your system will adjust.
>
> I can appreciate your fear of addiction, but I don't think you are any more apt to become addicted to a hypnotic benzodiazepine than Ambien. They actually work on the same receptor. If choppy sleep is the issue, a mild benzo like Restoril might serve the purpose.
>
> I would look at Remeron first as a non-benzo alternative. Doxepin, trimipramine, trazodone, and amitriptyline are other alternatives.
>
> Sad Panda and King Vultan are probably better able than I to help you decide which to choose.
>
> Good luck.
>
>
> - ScottAny suggestions, please?
Posted by King Vultan on September 15, 2004, at 23:53:54
In reply to Sad Panda and King Vultan?, posted by partlycloudy on September 15, 2004, at 12:29:23
> > Hi.
> >
> > Perhaps the sleep disturbances will subside with time? It has only been 2 weeks since your hormone change. Maybe your system will adjust.
> >
> > I can appreciate your fear of addiction, but I don't think you are any more apt to become addicted to a hypnotic benzodiazepine than Ambien. They actually work on the same receptor. If choppy sleep is the issue, a mild benzo like Restoril might serve the purpose.
> >
> > I would look at Remeron first as a non-benzo alternative. Doxepin, trimipramine, trazodone, and amitriptyline are other alternatives.
> >
> > Sad Panda and King Vultan are probably better able than I to help you decide which to choose.
> >
> > Good luck.
> >
> >
> > - Scott
>
> Any suggestions, please?
>
>Scott's way ahead of me and has already suggested all the drugs I probably would have. I have bad MAOI insomnia myself and take 0.25 mg Halcion one night, then an OTC antihistamine, such as Benadryl or Unisom, the next, then back to the Halcion, and so on. Halcion is powerful but has a short half similar to that of Ambien; while both drugs are very good for people who having trouble falling asleep, Restoril is generally regarded as a better med for maintaining sleep. Of the three, Ambien is not a true benzo and seems to be viewed as somewhat more innocuous, and unlike the other two, a person might even be able to get away with taking it every night. However, as you might expect, it's also clear that it is wimpier than than either Halcion or Restoril. Ambien is basically a moot point for me now, anyway, because it is too expensive on my current insurance ($50/prescription copay) for a tightwad like myself. Halcion/triazolam is only $10 for 30 pills, as would be Restoril/temazepam if I wanted to go with that.
Todd
Posted by Sad Panda on September 16, 2004, at 5:10:22
In reply to Ambien tolerance need non-benzo solution, posted by partlycloudy on September 15, 2004, at 8:03:15
I like Remeron & the sedating TCA's Amitriptyline, Trimipramine & Doxepin. These taken at low doses can mask most of the side effects caused by SSRI's & Effexor, plus, they actually improve sleep quality by increasing the amount of stage IV sleep you get. The downside to them is they are initially very sedating for the first month or so & they can cause an appetite increase & therefore weight gain.
Cheers,
Paul.
Posted by Colleen D. on September 16, 2004, at 9:07:59
In reply to Ambien tolerance need non-benzo solution, posted by partlycloudy on September 15, 2004, at 8:03:15
mentioned - Sinequan, generic name - doxepin. Works like a charm for me. I take 50mg an hour before bed and I never have trouble falling asleep. I wake up feeling rested and refreshed. It's one of the least expensive ones in this category, and I haven't put on any weight while using it.
Good luck!
Colleen
PPD, GAD and OCD
Posted by partlycloudy on September 16, 2004, at 9:37:01
In reply to Hi PC! I take one of the TCAs that Sad Panda... » partlycloudy, posted by Colleen D. on September 16, 2004, at 9:07:59
Thanks, you guys! Last night 10mg of Ambien kept me under all night. Maybe it's my galloping hormones teasing with me.
At least I have some info if this happens again.
pc
Posted by iris2 on September 17, 2004, at 11:35:17
In reply to Ambien tolerance need non-benzo solution, posted by partlycloudy on September 15, 2004, at 8:03:15
> Hi, I have been taking 5 to 10mg of Ambien to sleep since being put on 300mg Wellbutrin XR about 6 months ago. >
> During the past 2 weeks I ceased taking hormone therapy for perimenopause. Since that time, the Ambien is working less effectively. Last night I took my 10mg, woke up at midnight, and every hour thereafter until morning. I'm guessing the hormones have something to do with this?
>
> Benadryl makes me too groggy the next morning to be of help. Any other alternatives to Ambien that would do the same job?
>
I had to take something to sleep for years. Parnate gave me insomnia.I have tried everything mentioned. For the Parnate problem the best results I got were from Ambien and Halcion. I tried several barbitiates it got so bad.
Anyway I have always found that I develope a tolerance for Halcion and Ambien and others too. But specifically to these and Konopin when I took it for sleep. I found that if I could find two or three different meds that helped sleep then I could cycle between them every couple of weeks. That way I did not build up a tolerence to any particular one and always had one available if I needed it.
Irene
Posted by partlycloudy on September 17, 2004, at 12:03:39
In reply to Re: Ambien tolerance need non-benzo solution » partlycloudy, posted by iris2 on September 17, 2004, at 11:35:17
This is the end of the thread.
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