Guest guest Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 I had insomnia for 20 years (it started after my son was born in 1971) -- all the symptoms -- couldn't get to sleep, slept very light (could remember the whole night), woke up a lot, woke up early, had morning nightmares (really grisly ones). My doc put me on Ambien and it was like a miracle. Finally I was out like a rock all night. However, there were 2 problems. If I did have to pee during the night, I would stagger to the bathroom, nearly fall down. And also after several years, it began to be less effective. So my (newer) doc switched me to Trazodone. I love Trazodone. It's not quite as much of a knockout as Ambien, but if I have to get up during the night, I don't stagger, either. I do sleep very well. Also during this time I've apparently " learned " how to go to sleep, because I can nap w/o medical help (but I always wake up after 2 hours, on the dot). I've tested out doing w/o the Trazodone (both when I forget to take it and when I do it on purpose), but I still sleep too light w/o it. Before I used either Ambien or Trazodone, I would sometimes take a Valium. However, Valium and its family (the benzodiazepines) are addictive. You can't just stop taking it if you've been taking it for a while. The worst one is Xanax. I took it for only a week before I was terribly addicted (in terms of withdrawal symptoms when I tried to stop taking it). I now take Clonazepam (for anxiety -- it doesn't make me sleepy). It's also a benzodiazepine and if I ever stop taking it I'll have to taper off. I hope I don't get shipwrecked on a deserted island w/o it. I think it's probably OK to take Valium between now & Monday. If you do get withdrawal symptoms, you can taper yourself off by cutting the pill down or emptying a little more each day out of the capsule. If you take a benzodiazepine for a long time and suddenly quit, you can get seizures. Are you thinking of quitting Ambien? If so, you might want to try Trazodone. Ann/CA I was taking 20mg of Ambien everynight, but now my Dr's asstistant wants me to take Valuim (until i see my doc on Monday) has anyone taken Valuim? Any side effects? Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 I had insomnia for 20 years (it started after my son was born in 1971) -- all the symptoms -- couldn't get to sleep, slept very light (could remember the whole night), woke up a lot, woke up early, had morning nightmares (really grisly ones). My doc put me on Ambien and it was like a miracle. Finally I was out like a rock all night. However, there were 2 problems. If I did have to pee during the night, I would stagger to the bathroom, nearly fall down. And also after several years, it began to be less effective. So my (newer) doc switched me to Trazodone. I love Trazodone. It's not quite as much of a knockout as Ambien, but if I have to get up during the night, I don't stagger, either. I do sleep very well. Also during this time I've apparently " learned " how to go to sleep, because I can nap w/o medical help (but I always wake up after 2 hours, on the dot). I've tested out doing w/o the Trazodone (both when I forget to take it and when I do it on purpose), but I still sleep too light w/o it. Before I used either Ambien or Trazodone, I would sometimes take a Valium. However, Valium and its family (the benzodiazepines) are addictive. You can't just stop taking it if you've been taking it for a while. The worst one is Xanax. I took it for only a week before I was terribly addicted (in terms of withdrawal symptoms when I tried to stop taking it). I now take Clonazepam (for anxiety -- it doesn't make me sleepy). It's also a benzodiazepine and if I ever stop taking it I'll have to taper off. I hope I don't get shipwrecked on a deserted island w/o it. I think it's probably OK to take Valium between now & Monday. If you do get withdrawal symptoms, you can taper yourself off by cutting the pill down or emptying a little more each day out of the capsule. If you take a benzodiazepine for a long time and suddenly quit, you can get seizures. Are you thinking of quitting Ambien? If so, you might want to try Trazodone. Ann/CA I was taking 20mg of Ambien everynight, but now my Dr's asstistant wants me to take Valuim (until i see my doc on Monday) has anyone taken Valuim? Any side effects? Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2004 Report Share Posted August 14, 2004 i have a full bottle of ambien here and i had the same problem with nightmares and pain and just not sleeping waking lots getting about 2 hours outta every 24 in sleep... Thing was i still woke up all the time and then i would stumble around and dam near killed myself tripping over the cat my feet and anything else you can think of. that happened twice and i put the stuff away. rather not sleep then end up in more pain from falling. lol.. The dr just looked at me cause i asked for a sleeping pill that wont make me sleepy. lol.. didn't think before i spoke lol.. but its the truth tho i don't like that feeling either. karen Ann/CA writes: My doc put me on Ambien and it was like a miracle. Finally I was out like a rock all night. However, there were 2 problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2004 Report Share Posted August 14, 2004 , Wow! I had the same reaction to Ambian you did, Of course I am older and have to pee quite frequently during the night. About 3 nights after I started taking it I got up to go to the bathroom and fell into the bathtub backwards. There were skid marks on the tile wher the shower bar just inched down the tile... thank God the curtain and lineer borke the fall. Stan ran around the house looking for me...all the while I am yelling cause I couldn't get out of the tub and he couldn't seem to get it through his head that I was in the tub. Anyway, I don't take that drug anymore either. I take Zanax 10 before I go to bed and when I have to get up at least I know where I am. I am really afraid of that stuff. donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2004 Report Share Posted August 15, 2004 It amazes me how that different meds affect us differently. I have been taking Ambien for over a year. The first couple of times that I took it I had to be in the bed quickly because of the stumbles. Afterwards, I slept restfully though the night with the ability to get up for the bathroom, if need be. My PM has now added Zanaflex which gives me the stumbles, but it beats not sleeping. The good parts is that we have carpet and no stairs. Steve Donna Berg wrote: > , > > Wow! I had the same reaction to Ambian you did, Of course I am older and have to pee quite frequently during the night. About 3 nights after I started taking it I got up to go to the bathroom and fell into the bathtub backwards. snip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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