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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by gardenergirl on February 25, 2006, at 18:01:42
Hi everyone,
I'd been taking Ambien fairly regularly since I've been sick. I'm only taking 5 mg (breaking 10 mg tabs in half), since I tend to snore pretty heavily on 10, and I have a bad upper respiratory infection. Just some odd thought that maybe 10 mg affects my breathing, which is already a bit impaired with the cold....Anyway, I had a couple of days off, with the accompanying insomnia. And then the last two nights I went back to 5 mg. I woke up at 4:30 a.m. the first night. Last night same deal, so since it's the weekend, I took another 5 mg when I couldn't get back to sleep. I wound up in a weird sleep state: I would dream these short dreams, and then wake up. It seemed to go in 30-60 minute intervals. I can't imagine that I got much rest over this period (about 4-5 hours).
What's up with that? Why isn't 5 mg working like it used to? I guess I'm going to have to go back to 10 mg. I really do best if I take it regularly, going to bed at the same time, too. (These darned Olympics are messing with my schedule. I'm hooked!) If I do that, though. I need to accept that I will have insomnia for a period of time if I can't take it for whatever reason.
Sorry for running on so long. Just wondered about the early awakening and the dream stuff. I know the early waking can happen, but it hasn't to me before.
Thanks.
gg
Posted by med_empowered on February 25, 2006, at 20:18:07
In reply to Ambien early awakening and dreams, posted by gardenergirl on February 25, 2006, at 18:01:42
I don't know what to tell you. Have you tried Sonata? WHen I took SOnata, it was flexibly dosed, so I could take one...then,if I fell asleep, that was all I took; but, if I woke up, I could take another one, and if I couldn't fall asleep I could also take another one. Its apparently pretty clean and flexible, and I haven't heard anything about a discontinuation syndrome (although there may very well be one).
At one point I also tried "add-ons" with my sedative..neurontin, seroquel, vistaril, klonopin, ativan, trazadone, etc. Basically, you can combine as needed (with doc's approval). So, since I had a problem with getting to sleep and early morning panic attakcs, I'd take Ambien plus .5-1mgs/klonopin (I'd take the klonopin @ dinner). That was sedating enough to get me to sleep and keep me from freaking out in the AM, but not so sedating I was impaired.
Good luck!
Posted by Phillipa on February 25, 2006, at 20:43:33
In reply to Re: Ambien early awakening and dreams, posted by med_empowered on February 25, 2006, at 20:18:07
GG can you tape the Olympics so you can still go to sleep at your regular time. We tape all our TV shows and watch them when we choose too. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on February 26, 2006, at 3:31:07
In reply to Ambien early awakening and dreams, posted by gardenergirl on February 25, 2006, at 18:01:42
> Hi everyone,
> I'd been taking Ambien fairly regularly since I've been sick. I'm only taking 5 mg (breaking 10 mg tabs in half), since I tend to snore pretty heavily on 10, and I have a bad upper respiratory infection. Just some odd thought that maybe 10 mg affects my breathing, which is already a bit impaired with the cold....
>
> Anyway, I had a couple of days off, with the accompanying insomnia. And then the last two nights I went back to 5 mg. I woke up at 4:30 a.m. the first night. Last night same deal, so since it's the weekend, I took another 5 mg when I couldn't get back to sleep. I wound up in a weird sleep state: I would dream these short dreams, and then wake up. It seemed to go in 30-60 minute intervals. I can't imagine that I got much rest over this period (about 4-5 hours).
>
> What's up with that? Why isn't 5 mg working like it used to? I guess I'm going to have to go back to 10 mg. I really do best if I take it regularly, going to bed at the same time, too. (These darned Olympics are messing with my schedule. I'm hooked!) If I do that, though. I need to accept that I will have insomnia for a period of time if I can't take it for whatever reason.
Rebound insomnia will occur with cessation of Ambien (it sounds like you may be causing multiple epsiodes of rebound insomnia) -- you're right, you do best if you take it regularly and go to bed at the same time. That is good advice for people who suffer from insomnia in general, as I know. 5mg is a low dose, but I dont know what else you are taking -- if you have a respiratory infection, there are other things on board like antibiotics that can interfere with P450. But its more likely that 5mg isn't really enough of a dose. I take 20mg but then again I'm not benzodiazepine naive, as the term goes.Hopefully you're also being prescribed Entex LA or you can get the same OTC pseudophedrine 60.. 120 ?/guaifenesin 600mg generic Equaline or similar generic. That helps the sinuses a lot, if you can stand pseudoephedrine. Sudafed PE really is ineffective and just a sham in my opinion due to the methheads.
Lying on your back instead of your tummy eliminates some of what might be minor sleep apnea. I know I snore. If you're still here and talking, I doubt the 10mg will affect you that much and full sleep is definately restorative to getting over a upper respiratory infection.
Tidings
Jay
Posted by Jai Narayan on February 26, 2006, at 11:00:25
In reply to Re: Ambien early awakening and dreams » gardenergirl, posted by yxibow on February 26, 2006, at 3:31:07
Yes I have dreams if I wake up and take 5mg in the early morning.
gg, I do the same thing...
5mg upon going to sleep then if I wake up another 5mg.Last night I was upset about something and had a hard time with only 5mg so I took another 5mg an hour later and slept till 5am. But that's too early for me to get up so I took another 5mg and slept till 9am.
A potential problem is the dose level for my script is 10mg per night. So one can run out...geck!
I have heard that skipping a night can mess up it's efficacy.I have heard that some people have the drug just stop working. Don't know if they are messing with the dose and that's how it stops being useful.
I hated Trazadone, just didn't do anything except make me feel drugged and semi-awake. It's also very dehydrating and who wants to drink tons of water at night? wake & pee...Ja*
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