My First Ambien

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  • thankful4life
    thankful4life Member Posts: 101
    edited January 2012

    I'm still loving this thread. Ambien has been my friend for several years, and is a part of my going-to-bed routine now. Sometimes I imbibe it with a Benadryl, sometimes Xanax.i have had long discussions on Facebook about my "drug cocktail" of choice for a particular night. :)



    Have any of you had "intimate times" with your husband and can't remember it the next morning? The only way to tell is the way he acts the next morning. :):):)

  • shells43
    shells43 Member Posts: 1,022
    edited January 2012

    I did that once, Thankful, but I'm pretty sure I just fell asleep in the middle. I don't think I was much fun or I would have heard about it!

  • minxie
    minxie Member Posts: 484
    edited January 2012

    The walrus is playing havoc with my dieting. By day I do so well, and then when midnight rolls around...

    Heard husband yelling this morning "Who ate frosting and got it all over the floor?" Um, I guess it was me? Half a jar of vanilla frosting.  I was horrified when I read the calorie count this morning.

    So I guess I'm essentially sleep eating. I take my ambien, I'm still awake after everyone's in bed, and I go downstairs and eat - stuff like cheese, butter, and now frosting. And barely remember a thing... the crumbs and mess are the only clues. Good lord.

    My latest saying - "Only the walrus knows for sure".

  • Outfield
    Outfield Member Posts: 1,109
    edited January 2012

    The walrus certainly is a bit messy.  Here it's still the darn cereal (haven't been buying bran flakes recently).  Sometimes it looks the floor looks like the cats got into something.  

    But I am doing much better since I started taking it closer to when I actually get into bed.  

  • nora_az
    nora_az Member Posts: 720
    edited March 2012

    So I was wondering why I have put on 8 extra pounds. I know I am doing a bit of "Sleep Eating" however the wrappers etc normally lets me know what I have done the next morning and it's sort of an "uh huh" moment where I suddenly remember what I have done. It wasn't until the morning before last that my son asked me where his peanuts went. My husband explained to me that I very sloppily ate them over the kitchen sink. A whole bowl of them. Shelled them and everything. I have no recollection of this. I am trying prosom since then, but here it is nearly 2am and I am still wide awake after taking 3 of them. I am also having a couple of drinks to hopefully "Kick start" the effect. 3 hours later and I am still wide awake  <sigh>

  • Outfield
    Outfield Member Posts: 1,109
    edited March 2012

    Nora,

    For similar reasons I have tapered down to 5mg from 10 over the past few months.  Fewer walrus visits on 5.  I may try to get off it altogether, or may just stay where I'm at.  I have done this taper very slowly and it's been fine.

    When I started Ambien, I was out of my mind with fear and lorazepam (Ativan) just didn't ever make me sleepy.  Calmer, yes.  Sleepy, no.  So while I'm very thankful this was available to me when I needed it, I'm just not needing it as much anymore.  

  • thankful4life
    thankful4life Member Posts: 101
    edited March 2012

    I'm loving these stories, and I'm still loving my Ambien! Weesa, I've been taking it lately with one Benadryl, also. I think it is funny how one person in this thread said we had to get cancer to get Ambien prescriptions. I joke with my husband that I could now probably get any prescription I wanted to from my doc. I told her once that I was having some joint pain. I'm allergic to anti-inflammatory meds. She wrote me a prescription for 30 Percocet. Then I hurt me knee (tore the meniscus) and was having severe pain with that. She wrote me a prescription for 45 Vicodin. It's a good thing I'm not a drug addict! I've never been drunk, but I've sure enjoyed that "lazy, hazy" feeling from my (legal) meds once in awhile. Is that what getting drunk feels like?  I guess that's the closest I will ever come to being drunk from alcohol :)

    Also, have any of you been intimate with your husbands after taking your Ambien, and you don't really remember it the next morning --- the only way you think you did is because of the satisfied smile on his face and the way he is acting? No? Oh, me, neither. I was just wondering... :):):)

  • thankful4life
    thankful4life Member Posts: 101
    edited March 2012

    Oh, I see I already asked about the "intimate times." :)

     And I love the story about the frosting! :) I don't think I sleep eat. I do have very weird, vivid dreams. They are scary at the time, but when I wake up I'm not scared for some reason.

  • nora_az
    nora_az Member Posts: 720
    edited March 2012

    My parents were here for 2 weeks so I was trying so hard to take it while I was in bed. I never get that  "I'm tired I need to go to bed now" feeling. I go from being coherent to eating and passing out without remembering.

    I guess my husband told me the other night to "go to bed" when I was sitting on the couch with my folks. He knew I took an Ambien, they didn't. (they are weird about that type of stuff, very anti-medicine sort of people) My husband said I argued with him, demanded he make me a snack and deliver it to the bedroom and I woke up with a banana the next morning next to my pillow.  I was like, "WTF???"

    Last night the prosom just didn't cut it for me. I am thinking of just asking my husband to be firm with me and not let me eat. He says I'm an evil bitch when I dont do as he says while I am under the influence though  LOL

  • Outfield
    Outfield Member Posts: 1,109
    edited March 2012

    Nora, that's too funny.  

    My partner would never agree to that kind of responsibility, plus she goes to sleep way before me. At the time of night I'm roaming around, it's just me and the bran flakes. 

  • nora_az
    nora_az Member Posts: 720
    edited March 2012

    I can imagine those bran flakes......all over the place when you wake up???   Face, chest, sheets  LOL   I can see that picture in my head now.

  • nora_az
    nora_az Member Posts: 720
    edited March 2012

    Oh and to answer someone else's question......sex without knowing it?  Trust me, I dont tell my husband that it's a side effect of the medicine or he'd take full advantage.

  • nora_az
    nora_az Member Posts: 720
    edited March 2012

    Screw it..........it's Ambien for me tonight!   I need SLEEEEP

  • shorfi
    shorfi Member Posts: 791
    edited April 2012

    I am now in the process of weaning away from Ambien. I was looking forward "too much" with taking the sleep medication, and for this reason, I am trying very hard not to take it anymore. Just the anxiety of worrying about going to sleep drove me crazy. This med was controlling me..that is my reason for getting away from it.

    Yes, it works, but FOR ME, I want to be over it. Anyone here ever tried to stop taking Ambien?

  • salkate
    salkate Member Posts: 14
    edited April 2012

    I have been taking a Xanax about an hour before my Ambien for over a year. Best sleep ever! I stopped cold turkey 2 weeks ago after I smothered myself by falling asleep face down on my memory foam pillow. I woke up during the middle of the night gasping for air. I woke up my husband with the loud gasping, he was ready to call 911. When I finally was able to breathe again I fell back asleep, but my husband was awake the rest of the night. I went to the doctor the next day to be checked and he assured me that my brain stem would always make me move my head to get air. It was too scary for me so I have stopped. I sure do miss it though. 

  • Enjoyful
    Enjoyful Member Posts: 3,591
    edited April 2012

    I tried Ambien but lived one of the horror stories after months of blissful sleep and no problems whatsoever.  My oncologist suggested melatonin (pffffft.....like something OTC could ever help my up-all-night insomnia!  whatever!).  But I have to say, it really works and works every night. And I take the lowest dose available, I think - 3mg.

    Happy sleeping to all!

    Scoot 

  • Outfield
    Outfield Member Posts: 1,109
    edited April 2012

    shorbr,

    I've successfully gone from taking 10mg at bedtime plus 5mg when I woke up in terror (from the breast cancer, not the Ambien) at around 2-3am to taking just 5mg at bedtime.  Maybe will wean off over time, not sure yet.  In terms of causing problems for me, 5mg is a big improvement over 10mg.  I did it in steps.  The middle of the night dose kind of took care of itself as my anxiety level dropped, but the bedtime dose I first cut to 7.5 for quite a long time - at least a month - then to 5.   Each of those 2.5mg drops was definitely no fun, but not unbearabl -  I lay awake a while for a couple nights, but I didn't lie awake all night.  It wasn'tnearly as as bad as stopping cold-turkey (have done that accidentally).

  • PTechGirl88
    PTechGirl88 Member Posts: 1
    edited April 2012
    I took the off brand of Ambien after a nervous breakdown in college. I hadn't slept in days, and it was a lifesaver! It got me through my midterms, and I passed with flying colors. After the first few nights, I just stopped taking them no problem, and it was comforting to know that I had the pills just in case I needed them later. I think I still have a few actually. Just don't take them every night and you will be fine. Also, talk to your pharmacist if you are taking any other drugs. That can definitely affect how well you can take this drug. The most knowledgeable person for this will be your pharmacist, or you could check out my website to learn more about becoming a pharmacist.
  • shorfi
    shorfi Member Posts: 791
    edited April 2012

    Update: Have doing well so far with not taking Ambien. Getting 'real' sleep is something new for me, as I haven't been able to sleep on my own for years.

  • nora_az
    nora_az Member Posts: 720
    edited July 2012

    Wow....it's been a long time since anyone posted here.  I had surgery again May 22. I did not have any ambien at all from then till about 2 weeks ago. I was on pain meds. After the pain meds they had me on benedryl for some itching I was having and I was able to sleep with that. Now I am back to the ambien because it's the only thing that works for me.

    I had no issues when I just stopped taking it (I took it the night before my surgery on May 22 and then not again till 2 weeks ago) I don't know if I am going to be able to get another prescription for it but I am "ok" with that. I will deal with it when the time comes.

  • nora_az
    nora_az Member Posts: 720
    edited July 2012

    Well I was just called by my pharmacy. I was granted another 6 month supply of ambien.

  • ductal
    ductal Member Posts: 65
    edited July 2012

    I have used ambien for years, with xanax.  I don't take needed pain meds but was just told to also take them so my body can focus on fighting the cancer.  Ok, that made sense.  This isn't the time to be so worried...be aware, but heal:)

  • nora_az
    nora_az Member Posts: 720
    edited July 2012

    Thats the thing.....i wake up and think about my boys. I have two college aged boys. The 19 year old has high functioning autism. I often worry about a recurrance but it is getting better than it used to be. I had a major scare last spring when i had surgery. They thought the cancer had spread to my lungs. Thanfully it was an active case of valley fever. Seems weird to be happy to be dealing with valley fever but its better than cancer.

  • shells43
    shells43 Member Posts: 1,022
    edited July 2012

    Well, hi sleepless gals! My onc wouldn't renew my prescription, so I've been off since mid-May. I'm actually sleeping pretty well as long as I get enough exercise and keep my stress level low. If I have a problem getting to sleep I drink a glass of wine or take a benedryl.

    I was really afraid to stop taking my lovely little sleepy pill, and I do miss it, but unless I go to my GP and ask for it, I guess I won't be taking it. I think I am better off without it as long as I can sleep on my own. If I have another sleepless spell I won't hesitate to ask for it!

    Sweet ambien-laced dreams!

  • BlueCowgirl
    BlueCowgirl Member Posts: 667
    edited December 2012

    Just resurrecting this great old thread to say...

  • weesa
    weesa Member Posts: 707
    edited December 2012

    BlueCowGirl--this was truly a classic thread, one of my favorites. Good to see you resurrect it with homage to Chaka Khan (for those of you who do not know the connection between Chaka Khan and Ambien, go back to the earlier pages.)

    I miss seeing you post, I miss you zaniness, your irreverence...

  • Outfield
    Outfield Member Posts: 1,109
    edited December 2012

    Well, hey,  never thought I'd see this up again!  I even weaned off the Ambien because of those bran flakes incidents, although my daytime functions were sparklingly undamaged by eating the stuff like a horse.  Oh heck, may be I wasn't ven eating it.  I might have had some better idea at the time.  Who knows?

  • shells43
    shells43 Member Posts: 1,022
    edited December 2012

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