Zolpidem (generic for Ambien)

Well, I finally got the courage to try the Zolpidem sleeping pill two nights ago. I usually only get about 3-4 hrs actual sleep at night particularly since I've been on cpap - 7 months. The night I tried the pill, I slept for about 7.2 hrs. I slept through with no wake ups which is really great for me. I honestly don't think that there was a major improvement in how rested I felt the next a.m. I didn't feel tired but also not real energetic either. Last night, I went without the Zolpidem to see how I would respond and only clocked in 4.5 hrs (actual sleep about 3-4 hrs) with several wake ups during that time. Feel very tired again today. It doesn't appear to be a quick fix for me. The pill I took is the second one out of a RX for 30. Used the first one for the sleep study. If anyone else has tried this med and has had long-term success with it, I'd love to learn about your experiences. Also, does anyone have any ideas for me as I feel helpless that I'm ever going to get more than 4 hrs sleep and I 'm worried about side-effects if I end up using this med. for a long period of time.

Hi mastermile,

I occasionally use zolpidem. It works ( 5 mg) for me and I'm carefully to not use it too many nights in a row. I save it for those rough spots where I am still awake after a hour, especially if it was preceded by 1-2 poor sleep nights. If I need it 2 nights in a row - so be it- but I would hesitate to take it a third night ( especially after 2 good nights with it). Just me, but limited chance of tolerance that way.

jagzoo wrote:Hi mastermile,

I occasionally use zolpidem. It works ( 5 mg) for me and I'm carefully to not use it too many nights in a row. I save it for those rough spots where I am still awake after a hour, especially if it was preceded by 1-2 poor sleep nights. If I need it 2 nights in a row - so be it- but I would hesitate to take it a third night ( especially after 2 good nights with it). Just me, but limited chance of tolerance that way.

I've just read somewhere that they are recommending the 5 mg pill for older adults. For some reason, my Dr has me on the 10 mg pill and I'm a senior. This is very interesting about the 5 mg as opposed to starting me off at a higher dosage.

I once used a total of 10 mg on a really bad night of pain and sleeplessness. I took 5 mg ( I have 10 mg tabs that I break in half) and then repeated it 2 hours later. Unfortunately it was such a bad night that I still laid awake. Let me tell you, my graphs were a mess! They were full of CAs, FL, as well as OAs and Hypos.

I wouldn't recommend waiting that long if the first 5 didn't work - maybe 1 hr so you still have some of the original onboard.
I was just sure I was going to fall asleep at any moment.

My mother-in-law is on the 10mg & they tried switching her, she got NO sleep, she is also on Trazadone for sleep as well. She needs to be on CPAP (just my educated guess, no sleep study done), but she refuses a sleep study, she does not want to sleep with a mask/machine, she is stubborn. If I were on this med & was a senior, I would prefer the recommended 5mg over the 10mg. I don't remember the side effect, but I think it was heart related (you can google that).

Another med to assist with sleep is a tricyclic antidepressant, Amitryptline (again I probably spelled it wrong). It can be taken in low dose, but is a regular med you take all the time (at least I do & I think it works that way). It helps a lot with sleep. I was first prescribed it for Fibro & found it helpful with sleep too.

Jen

I take 10 mg nightly with no side effects. Have you tried diphenhydramine (benadryl). It is a great sleep aid without too many side effects if any. Diphenhydramine is what is used in zzzzquil. But benadryl is a lot cheaper.

I use 5 mg and I have had tremendously good results with it. BIPAP greatly improved my sleep. I was actually sleeping like 4 hours at a time vs about 15 minute but I still was waking up and not being able to go back to sleep.

I started the zolpidem-I get over 7 hours a night sleep every night. I feel better than I have in years.

I take 5 mg Zolpidem tablet (half of a 10 mg tablet) only if I can't fall asleep within an hour after masking. But I do take daily Xanax XR 0.5 mg and 300 mg Gabapentin for sleep. From my past experience I know that taking 10 mg Zolpidem or a higher dose every night causes addiction to it. I managed to taper off it. But I keep reading that Zolpidem is a sleep choice Rx for those suffering from Central Sleep Apnea Syndrome and Insomnia, which I don't have.

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