Posted by Elizabeth on November 1, 2000, at 22:42:27
In reply to Re: Ambien Question., posted by Buffet on October 31, 2000, at 1:14:51
Xanax is a benzodiazepine, but Ambien is not. And for at least some people, Ambien does not produce tolerance. I have taken it nightly for long periods of time (never kept track, but certainly more than a year) without tolerance. My pdoc and therapist (both MDs) say this is consistent with their general experience with Ambien: that most patients can take it for at least as long as I have without needing to increase the dose.
In contrast, most people will develop tolerance to the sedating effects of benzodiazepines. Also, withdrawing from benzodiazepines after long-term use is extremely difficult and can take months; Ambien doesn't seem to have significant withdrawal symptoms except possibly some surprisingly mild rebound insomnia.
BTW, when I tried taking trazodone for sleep, I kept having to increase the dose every couple nights. It just stopped working too fast. I think I got up to around 400 mg before finally giving up. I have used trazodone occasionally since then -- when I needed a nonsedating antihistamine to take during the daytime (because I'd run out of Claritin or whatever).
> Ugh. I wouldn't take a benzo for sleep. I am taking xanax for anxiety and have become very dependent upon it and am starting to think of weening off (cognitive and mood problems). You will become dependent to ambien for sleep over a short time and then it will probably stop working, but if you stop taking it the original condition gets worse. Xanax has made my anxiety problem worse, and now that I'm relying on it to calm me down and the moment I don't take it my anxiety goes to hell (much worse than when I started the drug).
>
> Now, a better solution would be to try and reduce the adderall, or, try trazadone. Trazadone works great with a minor side effect of grogginess in the morning. Whatever you do, don't take the ambien for sleep because it will get worse over a very short time. It is a very safe drug, but quick dependence and tolerance makes it a crappy long term sleep drug.
poster:Elizabeth
thread:47041
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001022/msgs/47976.html