Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 945531

Shown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Any tips on taking Ambien so it actually works?

Posted by J. Dean on April 29, 2010, at 5:12:58

Many years ago, I briefly took Ambien and recall it working well and fast. Now, I've been taking it again nightly for about a year and basically isn't doing anything. A friend who is a psych. told me that the reason Ambien works indefinitely is that it isn't a "sedative" "it let's you sleep" Usually I find that I sit in bed waiting watching tv waiting for it kick in but it never does. Honestly, I could do my taxes after taking it. I've tried Luensta which is helping a bit, but I'm wondering if I just have the right approach to taking these meds. My doctors are conservate but somewhat open-minded. My sleep med choices are: ambien, lunesta, neurontin, and all other things iike neurontin. Are you literally supposed to take the tablet and go right to bed and wait for an hour for it to kick in? Would that help at all?

 

Re: Any tips on taking Ambien so it actually works?

Posted by stargazer2 on April 29, 2010, at 9:17:26

In reply to Any tips on taking Ambien so it actually works?, posted by J. Dean on April 29, 2010, at 5:12:58

You probably already know this but...

Ambien is for short term use (7-10 days) so after using it a year that is no surprise it no longer works. That is the problem with so many meds used longer than for what they were intended for. I would think for long term insomnia, you would have to change meds and use another classification of drug.

Many AD's are used for insomnia, have you tried any of those?

 

Re: Any tips on taking Ambien so it actually works?

Posted by evenintherain on April 29, 2010, at 12:56:47

In reply to Any tips on taking Ambien so it actually works?, posted by J. Dean on April 29, 2010, at 5:12:58

i think it's generally most effective to switch up your sleeping medications to avoid tolerance (which is what happened to the ambien).
your doctor may consider trazadone (sedating AD) or seroquel (sedating AP) or other and switch off with the ambien to avoid tolerance issues.

 

Re: Any tips on taking Ambien so it actually works? » evenintherain

Posted by angels78 on April 29, 2010, at 13:09:12

In reply to Re: Any tips on taking Ambien so it actually works?, posted by evenintherain on April 29, 2010, at 12:56:47

Take 2 ambiens for bed to enjoy a full nights sleep.

 

Re: Any tips on taking Ambien so it actually works?

Posted by bleauberry on April 29, 2010, at 17:11:41

In reply to Any tips on taking Ambien so it actually works?, posted by J. Dean on April 29, 2010, at 5:12:58

If someone, like a doc, told you that tolerance does not develop to the effects of ambien, they are ignorantly mistaken. Doesn't speak well for their knowledge of these meds.

You will probably have to seek a non-GABA approach if you want sleep improvement. Any GABA approach is going to develop tolerance.

A strong antihistamine might be a better option.

A tiny dose of amitriptyline (5mg-10mg), you're all set.

Tiny dose remeron (1/8 to 1/4 of a 15mg tab), all set.

 

Re: Any tips on taking Ambien so it actually works? » J. Dean

Posted by Deneb on April 29, 2010, at 20:41:23

In reply to Any tips on taking Ambien so it actually works?, posted by J. Dean on April 29, 2010, at 5:12:58

Hello J. Dean!

Welcome to Psycho-Babble. The others here know a lot more about Ambien than I do. When I had trouble sleeping my pdoc gave me trazodone.

I know some of the anti-psychotics like Seroquel are often used for sleep. I hope you find a way to make it work.

Deneb

 

Re: Any tips on taking Ambien so it actually works? » bleauberry

Posted by linkadge on April 30, 2010, at 13:56:41

In reply to Re: Any tips on taking Ambien so it actually works?, posted by bleauberry on April 29, 2010, at 17:11:41

One strategy might be to use protein kinase C inhibitors. Agents capable of inhibiting protein kinase C epsilon (such as lithium, valproate or omega-3) increase the brain senstivity to gaba.

It has been shown in animal studies, that PKC-epsilon inhbitors exert potent anxiolytic effects by increasing the brains sentivity to its own gaba.

Linkadge

 

Re: Any tips on taking Ambien so it actually works?

Posted by ed_uk2010 on April 30, 2010, at 14:11:12

In reply to Any tips on taking Ambien so it actually works?, posted by J. Dean on April 29, 2010, at 5:12:58

> Many years ago, I briefly took Ambien and recall it working well and fast. Now, I've been taking it again nightly for about a year and basically isn't doing anything. A friend who is a psych. told me that the reason Ambien works indefinitely is that it isn't a "sedative" "it let's you sleep" Usually I find that I sit in bed waiting watching tv waiting for it kick in but it never does. Honestly, I could do my taxes after taking it. I've tried Luensta which is helping a bit, but I'm wondering if I just have the right approach to taking these meds. My doctors are conservate but somewhat open-minded. My sleep med choices are: ambien, lunesta, neurontin, and all other things iike neurontin. Are you literally supposed to take the tablet and go right to bed and wait for an hour for it to kick in? Would that help at all?

Ambien is most certainly a sedative. Long term use can lead to dependence and loss of efficacy. Withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety are common when you stop.


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