Is ambien an effective sleep medication?

[chris11]

See above question

 

[livingnsilence]

It depends on the person. For me it doesn't really work. But it's worth a try because it does help some people like my mom. The only two things that I've found that helped a lot with sleep were klonopin and amitriptyline. It can be hard to get the klonopin prescribed but the amitriptyline isn't since it's not a controled medicine. However most people sleep too long with amitriptyline.

 

[lithium]

Just get some generic brand Over-The-Counter sleep-aid. As long as it contains diphenhydramine, then you're good to go. Take two before bed and you'll be sleeping in no time.

 

[Noca]

never tried ambien cause its not available in Canada

 

[Forgetmenot_ak]

I take Ambien when I cannot sleep. For me, it doesn't necessarily "knock me out" as much as it just makes me sort of "high", delerious, even sometimes I hallucinate mildly. I've learned to hop into bed when I start to feel those ways after taking an Ambien, and that's when it helps. Close your eyes for ten minutes, count backwards from 500, and you're out until the alarm starts beeping you awake. I like Ambien because, though it doesn't necessarily GET me to sleep, it KEEPS me asleep. And I never feel any more groggy or lethargic than any other morning when I have to drag myself out of bed.

 

[SammyT]

Diphenhydramine can make you groggy as hell in the morning though. Saying that I use some every night, i chop the pills in half and such, o I take like 15 Mg on some nights, which is a low dose really. I remember when I started taking venlafaxine, I had hell ish insomnia and was taking 3 x 50Mgs (3 x one a night tablet) and it didnt help!

But yeah, ambien or zopiclone seems decent in the short term, because it doesn't really have a hangover. It is being found, however, that it is almost as physically addictive as benzos, therefore not great for long term insomnia, and you will need to taper off them if you have been taking them for a long while.

 

[Noca]

Zopiclone only works for up to 6 months, after that its useless.

 

[jennismortal]

I think so..Make sure you don't take more then 2mg at a time. Melatonin sounds great but your body WILL become dependent on it eventually causing many sleepless nights if you don't have the stuff handy.
And for the record Melatonin is not more effective then Ambien.