Please note that any comments expressed in these forum posts do not reflect the opinions of Medical News Today in any way at all. Opinions posted in this forum do not constitute medical
advice, which should be sought from qualified medical advisers. Disclaimer.
Lunesta/Ambien
posted by Linda on 08 Aug 2005 at 9:50 am
It is going on 2am and I took my first Lunesta ;and I'm not even nodding yet. I was excited to see this new promising pill out also. Several family members and I have been on Ambien for yrs. We all sleepwalk, eat in our sleep, and talk on the phone and usually don't remember any of it. Ambien is an amnesiac and hypnotic; and its use should be weighed considerably. I know people who have gone shopping, one left home and was jailed for an accident. I head for the kitchen within 15 minutes of taking Ambien and have gained about 30lbs.If you have someone who wakes up and knows this and stops you , it might help .If you live alone, you are oblivious to your night activities.I have complained of the side effects of Ambien for yrs and my particular Drs. deny any of this .Now I'm thinking this 1mg of Lunesta isn't going to be enough to put me to sleep. Ambien does give me about 4 hrs sleep, but also the vivid nightmares.I'm way past "Sleepless in Seattle" and don't know if I will ever rest. With no meds, I simply recharge and don't sleep at all. I have never indulged in recreational drugs, nor do I drink anything very often...I would like a solution also. Good luck to all others trying.
| previous page | post followup | alert a moderator |
Follow-Up Opinions Pages: 1
2 3 [Next] [recent opinions appear at end]
| Lunesta nightmares |
| posted by Bernice Lewis on 30 Nov 2005 at 2:32 am |
|
I agree. I have nightmares and very little sleep using Lunesta. It rarely puts me to sleep. Ambien generally helps me get about 4 hours of sleep. I do believe I could go a week without sleeping. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Ambien is the way |
| posted by Judah Sanders on 18 Jan 2006 at 4:15 am |
|
Ambien is the way to go. If you take it and get into bed right away, it is the best and safest sleep aid at all. The others only last a few hours if any. Lunesta is a joke. Ambien saved my business career because I can wake up feeling like I have slept. Why change what works? | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Lunesta's Great For Me |
| posted by Jodie Walker on 25 Jan 2006 at 5:33 pm |
|
I took Ambien a long time before trying Lunesta, now I'd never go back. Ambien gave me a definite "drugged-up" feeling after taking it, and while I would intially fall asleep I wouldn't stay asleep. I'd wake up within a couple of hours of going to sleep and once I woke up I couldn't get back to sleep again. After taking Lunesta, I don't feel overly sleepy or drugged, but I fall asleep very quickly. I can usually get about 5 hours of sleep before I wake up, so even if I don't get back to sleep I can at least function the next day. Another big plus is that Lunesta is not supposed to cause the short term memory loss and loss of concentration that Ambien does, even when used long term. For me, that's one of the best benefits of all. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Ambien is very dangerous |
| posted by christine on 27 Jan 2006 at 10:28 pm |
|
If you have children and someone you care about, just pray nothing will happen during the night after you took your ambien. You will not be able to help anyone in need. This is the most irresponsible drug ever put on the market. It robs people of their will to find within themselves their balance and ability to sleep. It took me two full years to recover from ambien and I hope someone who has enough money and a good attorney will be suing them soon for all the damages caused by this terrible drug. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Ambien can cause Memory Loss! |
| posted by Anan on 28 Feb 2006 at 8:04 pm |
|
Yes, Ambien does cause memory loss. I went to a doctor for a general exam who prescribed the Ambien. However, there were other prescriptions he gave me as well as orders for tests...To this day, I can't remember what happened the following day after taking the Ambien or what I did with those papers. Be careful. Take 1/2 the dose. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Both Ambien and Lunesta are Bad |
| posted by Nathan Hamilton on 10 Mar 2006 at 5:43 pm |
I was on Ambien for about 4 years. I would sleepwalk and forget things on a daily basis. I would talk on the phone and then the next day I would not remember. I did not have hallucinations until I started taking Lunesta.
I now see, snakes, rats, worms, moving people, moving objects, I make a fort out of my comforter and pillows - really strange and bizarre behavior. That is on the highest dose of Lunesta, oh and I sleepwalk more frequently and more severe.
I have yet to commit any crimes that I would not be able to get out of - for now it is just the hallway, living room and kitchen (eating food).
I would advise taking Sleepy Time or Simply Sleep or even building up the melatonin in your body and do it the natural way. I am not sure what I am going to do. Maybe just not take anything at all, these hallucinations are killing me. Nate.| previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| I Miss Ambien |
| posted by Lauren on 26 Apr 2006 at 1:45 am |
|
When I was on Ambien, at least I could sleep. Lunesta kicks in about 2 hours later. Those of you have experienced the bad effects from switching from Ambien to Lunesta, let me know. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Lunesta may be assist to parkinsons |
| posted by robert rice on 30 Apr 2006 at 8:51 am |
Hello
I've had parkinsons since 1999 and have been using benadrill or melatonin for sleep aid.
Recently my movement disorder prescribed Lunesta. Early indications indicate to me besides being a sleep aid, it appears it retards the toes on both feet which tends to happen only upon rising and until the first dose of stelevo and requip kick in.
This is a very earliy observation. It's as if the lunesta has properties that relax the feet overnight??????
| previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Ambien & Lunesta |
| posted by Marsha on 03 May 2006 at 9:49 pm |
I have taken Ambien for about 3-4 months now... I love the sleep I get on about 5mg - anything more would probably kill me - but splitting a 5 mg in half is really nothing - It takes me hours to sleep but once I do - I stay asleep.
But wow - the next day after a 5mg (full lowest dose pill), in the morning hours, I will notice odd behavior.. I am a germaphobe and I used my husband's toothbrush one morning and didn't realize it till I was done. I couldn't believe I had done that. I won't even drink after someone or share food! A toothbrush? ugh! I know, weird, but still I do fuzzy things that after a few minutes I know is odd behavior or I forget altogether.
But it's usually only in the morning after I awake.
Am thinking about starting Lunesta - not sure - my friend (who introduced me to Ambien), is now on Lunesta and loves it.
I never ate or sleewwalked, or chatted or had too many bad dreams - (I have worse dreams on Valerian root)... so I am just not sure.| previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Ambien |
| posted by Sgt G on 22 May 2006 at 11:58 pm |
|
I was wounded in Iraq. I suffer from extreme pain most of the time. Hell, all of the time! Ambien did wonders for me. I had only one instance of sleepwalking, I think. The dreams I like. No nightmares here. I think its an outstanding medication. Probably saved my life. Lunesta doesnt work for me. And I have to take 20mg for Ambien to work. Im 6'4 255lbs. Maybe its my size. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Ambien - What Are All These Images? |
| posted by swordsman on 11 July 2006 at 8:01 am |
|
Last night was my first time on Ambien and I didn't sleep a bit. I am under a lot of stress and anxiety so Sleepy Time or over the counter sleep aid doesn't quite work anymore. I'd figured it's my last resort to try Ambien and what cinematic experience. I saw cloud formations on the ceiling, Mordor to my left and streams and rivers to my right. The images were pleasant at first then turned into nightmares when all the Sauron's monsters turned up..It was WHACK!!! I turned my comforter and pillows into a fortress until I couldn't take it anymore and decided to watch tv until the drug wears off. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| You Must Have Been Trippinn!! |
| posted by Tim on 19 Aug 2006 at 6:58 pm |
Man Nate you must have been trippin when you were seeing all of that dope stuff. I know I took Ambien 10mg and a phenegran (dont remember the strength) when we settled down in evening hours at out hotel in Jo'burg, South Africa. We had just disembarked from an 18 hour journey crossing the atlantic and beginning in Atlanta, Georgia. I did have quite vivid dreams. However, I woke up approximately 8 hrs later in the exact same position I fell asleep in and woke up perfectly well rested spunky and had all of my usual faculties in working order.
It did not seem like much time had passed at all but somehow I also knew I had some odd dreams that I could not begin to remember. From here on out I will stick to 5 mg of Ambien. Well, possibly on the 18 hr return flight home I can take 10 mg Ambien, 25 mg promethazine(phenegran), and a light meal followed by 5 or 6 drinks of ones choosing. (white wine, sky vodka, crown royal to name a few)| previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| I'd Rather Not Sleep... |
| posted by Talon on 28 Aug 2006 at 9:31 am |
|
I have not slept normally -- by most clinical definitions -- since I was a child. I sleep very lightly most of the time and wake up often. I sleep best when absolutely exhausted. This usually takes several days of no sleep to speak of --sometimes none at all. I don't take any medications. I rarely take something even when I'm sick. I do not ever seem to be sick longer than those who take medication for ailments, so I just don't take anything. I do not drink at all and am not a cigarette smoker. My housemate has bugged me for years to take something so that I might sleep better. I tried Ambien for the first time a couple of nights ago. I did fall asleep nicely, but soon descended into a night of HELL for which I can scarcely find words to do it justice. I have never been so scared in all of my life. That is saying something considering I have been in some interesting situations in my 36 years. However, that's another story for another forum. Let's just say it was worse than having a gun pulled on me when I was only ten years old. I was in a car involved in a road rage incident before it was called road rage. Anyway, I did not stay asleep. This was due to both the failure of the drug to keep me asleep and the horrific nightmares. I am grateful that this drug helps some people, but it is not for everyone --certainly not me. I have noted that people on this forum have mentioned similar and different problems with other prescription and holistic sleep aides. This confirms for me that the possibility of another night like the one I had on my first dose of Ambien is worse than losing sleep for the rest of my life. I am not kidding. I am glad that I did not experience hallucinations. I don't even want to think about what I might have done in that situation. I could have totally flipped and really hurt myself. Drugs are quite helpful to many people and I don't mean for this note to keep people from trying to solve health problems in their life. I submit this for informational and cautionary purposes. I believe that I could probably solve my problem if I were diligent about proper diet and staying away from caffeine. I am in the entertainment production and live event world. I am away from home often and sometimes survive off caffeine. My sleep issues are more of a problem for those in my personal life than they are for me alone. That is the only reason I attempted to "fix" the problem. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Weird Dreams |
| posted by Anon on 22 Sept 2006 at 1:14 pm |
|
I've been taking 5mg. Ambien for about 6 years. Recently, I have started waking up after about 4 hours of sleep - I eventually fall back to sleep, but then I have the weirdest, kinkiest, crazy dreams - and when I wake up for good in the morning, I can't shake the dreams...they stay with me - and they are never good. I also can't remember anything once I've fallen asleep on Ambien - I will have entire conversations and not remember one thing. No sleep-eating - not that I know of anyway. It's starting to freak me out, but I know that I will not be able to sleep without it. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| I miss Ambien |
| posted by brittany on 02 Oct 2006 at 10:16 pm |
|
I have extremely bad insomnia and nothing worked for me until I found ambien. Ambien had a few bad side effects, but it worked. But my doctors started getting concernd that I was still taking ambien. So they switched me to lunesta so that I wouldn't develop an addiction. Lunesta is horrible, it gives me the most horrible taste in my mouth and it gives me migraines. I have not gotten any sleep on lunesta and I am ready to go back to my ambien. I miss it :( | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Ambien Is Very Addictive |
| posted by Dr. Sind Bramir on 03 Oct 2006 at 1:25 pm |
You only have to read through these comments to realize how addictive Ambien is. People go nuts when taken off it and told to take something else. Read some of the comments above and you will see what I mean.
A bit like taking heroin from an addict and giving him chocolates - he would go nuts.| previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Ambien Hallucinations & Bad Dreams Without |
| posted by Stacy on 04 Oct 2006 at 4:02 pm |
I have been taking 5 mg of Ambien for 3 months now after 6 months of not sleeping at all. The first couple times of taking it I had extreme halleucinations before falling asleep. I told my doctor and she acted like it was the most off the wall thing she had ever heard and did nothing about it. Now I have to make a point of closing my eyes and not opening them no matter what I hear around me. I live alone and the strange paranoia that I swear I didn't have before now seems to be linked with the drug. I try not to take it at least a couple of times a week; however, I know that I can guarantee extremely vivid and lingering bad dreams every time I don't take Ambien.
I hate the feeling of knowing that if I do fall alseep without the drug a bad dream is sure to come!| previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Ambien To Lunesta |
| posted by Debbie on 19 Oct 2006 at 5:36 am |
|
I just tried Lunesta and did not sleep a wink. Ambien did cause severe night terrors and behavior changes. Lunesta was like taking nothing. I am afraid I will lose my job if I dont sleep soon. Took Ambien for about 2 yrs. Eventually started taking Melatonin and Valerian Root along with it. Now it doesn't even work any more. Sigh.........Any suggestions? Can't afford a sleep clinic. Debbie | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Lunesta |
| posted by lerin on 23 Oct 2006 at 4:49 am |
My doctor put me on lunesta about 10 months ago. Now, I think it's losing its effectiveness. It has been taking longer for me to respond to it, and I've been taking one pill at bedtime and a half of another pill 30 minutes later if i'm still wide awake.
After reading a lot of your articles, I'm tempted to talk to my doctor about Ambien, but the side-effects seem to outweigh the benefits.
I'm just so tired of being medicated. I've had intermittent problems with going to sleep over the years, but I've never taken medication for it. Now that I've been on medicine for so long, I've lost faith in my ability to go to sleep on my own.
Does cognitive behavior therapy even work? What about sleep centers? I can deal with insomnia for the rest of my life, but I just really don't want to. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Ambien Is A Miracle |
| posted by Snooze on 25 Oct 2006 at 11:48 am |
|
I have had trouble staying asleep for the past 3 or 4 years. Each time when I have to get up in the morning I wake up at 2 or 3am an can't get back to sleep. I've tried melotonin, supersnooze and calms forte, nyquil, ect. I asked my doctor for some Ambien and it is a dream come true. I get as much sleep as I need 8 or 9 hours if I want. I wake up refreshed for the day. Yes, I am a bit groggy afer 30-45 minutes of waking up, but who isnt even with out medication. The groggineness wears off after 45 minutes. Rozerem is a waste of money and would wake up at 3am and stay awake if I had something to do the next morning. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Ambien - Benefits Outweigh Negatives |
| posted by SillyGirl on 31 Oct 2006 at 8:43 pm |
|
I've been taking Ambien CR off and on for several months now. I get better sleeps with it than I've had in decades. However, during a very stressful week, I called a friend on 3 different occasions after taking my pills but before falling asleep. I remember nothing from the first 2 conversations and only a few details from the third. It's mortifying since I'm sure I said some nutty things. However, it hasn't happened since that stressful period and for me, at least, being able to sleep soundly through the night is far more important that occasionally making an ass of myself with a friend. Now I just unplug the phone on nights when I'm going to take an Ambien... | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| A Terrible Addiction. Stay Away |
| posted by Gitane on 07 Nov 2006 at 2:44 pm |
Why would anyone want to take something which makes you comatose? That's what ambien does. How dangerous is that.
I cannot imagine a mother who has young children taking this. That is so frightening to me.
I took it, was smart enough to realise this is very dangerous, smart enough to know my brain is precious, and I want to live my life sober. No thanks. I too have had insomnia all my life, but I'll deal with it with courage. I get more satisfaction that way than putting myself into this kind of coma. | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Calcium And Magnesium The Best |
| posted by viviane on 11 Nov 2006 at 11:26 am |
This is simple.
Your body knows what it has to do. if you feed it with sleeping aids, that kind of stuff is made with benzene by the way, then you're depriving your body from doing what it is supposed to do.
Take calcium and magnesium and I promise you in the long run you will sleep like a baby.| previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Ambien CR Or Lunesta? |
| posted by Confused on 15 Nov 2006 at 1:01 pm |
|
I took Ambien CR for a week and it wore off by the second week. I now wake up ater 2 or 3 hours. Is this common. I want to try LUNESTRA but it seems not to work for many people. Is this true? | previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
| Will I Ever Sleep Again? |
| posted by Debbie on 08 Dec 2006 at 8:42 pm |
I have been fighting a very painful chronic disease for the past couple of years. A lot of the time I am unable to sleep and have been nervous to mix sleep meds with all the prescriptions, many of them narcotic or opiods. I tried Ambien and besides the amnesia which was embarrassing , I slept great.
My body got used to it and it stopped working so they switched me to Lunesta which actually wired me and kept me awake. I just started taking 10-15mg of Ambien again the past few nights and it has been great, though tonight it has done nothing. I took it 2 hours ago and I am as awake as ever. Does anyone have any good suggestions? Thanks| previous page | post followup | alert a moderator | |
Pages of Opinions: 1 2 3 [Next]
[recent opinions appear at end]
