I need to talk to him about my Ambien prescription, I had been going to a previous doctor and was prescribed a variety of sleepaids over a period of time, trying to determine which ones worked the best.
Our Results:
Tradazone 50mg doses as needed- Completely ineffective
Ambien (Zolpidem Tartrate) 10mg doses as needed- Worked in the beginning
The main problem is that they don’t work that well anymore, i might have developed a tolerance, but my theory is that because Ambien and other hypnotics are treatments for temporary insomnia (4-6 weeks), and I have Chronic Insomnia and need a better long term treatment.
Does anyone know a drug that is more effective or faster acting than Ambien 10mg? Does Ambien come in a higher dosage.
There is no single answer. When the other person who answered said Lunesta is worthless that was her single experience. Some people are completely out from a small dose or Lunesta or Ambien. People have different reactions. Ambien is very fast acting (you might be too tolerant to feel it). Halcion and Sonata are also very rapidly acting drugs. And 10 mg is the highest dose aside from Ambein CR which is unlikely to be beneficial to you. Doctors can prescribe a higher dose like two 10 mg tabs (20 mg). And some people take Ambien and Ambien CR together.
But you really have not taken anything in comparison to what is out there. Here is a list of some of the most used hypnotics.
The "Z" drugs
Ambien (CR) (zolpidem)
Sonata (zaleplon)
Lunesta (eszopiclone)
Benzodiazepines
Dalmane (flurazepam)
Ativan (lorazepam)
Halcion (triazolam)
Restoil (temazpam)
ProSom (estazolam)
Other Hypnotics (rarely used)
Chloral Hydrate
Commonly used non-hypnotic drugs used for insomnia (avoid).
Seroquel (quetiapine)
Desyrel (trazodone)
The Tradazone you took typically is a waste of time for most people and many medical organizations loath the use of Tradazone for sleep. It is an antidepressant and 50 mg is low but anything above 150 mg can worsen insomnia.
The "Z" drugs are newer, they have been tested and approved for longer term use (including Ambien) and Lunesta has the longest approved use (6+ months). And "Z" drugs have fewer effects on sleep architecture (your brain waves when you sleep) compared to most other hypnotics. I highly recommend Temazepam (Restoril) it is a benzodiazepine (benzo’s) unlike what you have used. Unlike most other benzo’s it has little effect on sleep architecture. Most people find temazepam highly effective. It comes in doses ranging from 7.5 mg to 30 mg. And some times people respond best by rotating drugs. For example- Ambien for 1 month, then Temazepam, then Sonata, and back to Ambien. That can significantly reduce the development of tolerance. Or it might be that a uncommonly used drug like Librium is the most effective.
I would recommend you see a psychiatrist. Insomnia is treated by a psychiatrist and they understand insomnia better. Psychiatrists are also more likely to prescribe higher doses and more unusual medications.
But you might have to give it some time. If you have any underlying issues with anxiety or depression they need to be addressed. And a psychiatrist in particular might have suggestions for alternatives to compliment sleeping medications. And some doctors do have hesitation prescribing sleeping pills because most have the ability to cause abuse and or dependence, and tolerance. Only "Z" drugs, benzodiazepines, and a few other drugs technically called hypnotics are abusable. So Trazidone is not. It is very rare for abuse or addiction to occur. And many people do not develop significant tolerance.
You are in a good position, you have dozens of other options.
The only higher dosage for Ambien is the 12mg for the extended release tabs. I went from Ambien to the extended release (ER) but it really didnt make any difference at all.
I used to take Trazadone too but that was one of the first sleep aids I used about 10 years ago. Ambien is kind of a no-win drug in my opinion. Once you use it, you become too tolerant and it doesnt work as well, however nothing else compares and coming off of it is a b*tch. So I decided to just stick with it till something better comes along.
(PS Lunesta is disgusting and worthless, dont bother.)
References :
Edit: My comment on Lunesta WAS just my personal experience. It left a horrible metallic taste in my mouth that lasted for two days, making me nauseous AND I couldnt fall asleep. So yeah. it was horrible. And generally speaking, (from discussion boards and my doctor) people seem to respond to one or the other, Lunesta or Ambien. It is common that ppl who like Ambien get nothing from Lunesta, and since that was you (as well as me), thats why I said it was worthless. Sorry to exaggerate.
The doctor may or may not want to increase the dosage, as it seems you have already built up a tolerance and eventually, you will probably just build-up another tolerance if he does increase it. I’m not able to find where Ambien comes in a dosage any higher than 10 mg. I think 5 mg and 10 mg are standard. I went to RX list.com and checked as well.
I googled sleep aids and came up the ones listed below. I also included the web address, you can copy and paste it into the address box and go to that website. There is a lot of information listed that will help you to determine if any of the below sleep aids might be helpful. You will have to scroll down a bit once you get to the website in order to find them.
1. Lunesta.
2. Eszopiclone.
3. Ramelteon.
4. Zaleplon are some other sleep aids.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sleeping-pills/SL00010
References :
RX list.com
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sleeping-pills/SL00010
Why not consider alternative therapy for sleeplessness? Medicaton
is only a temp solution…you will develop a tolerance and you are right to question that. Music therapy, relaxation tapes, bio-feedback,
herbal remedies….open your mind to the safer possibilities. Try it.
Worked for me!
References :
There is no single answer. When the other person who answered said Lunesta is worthless that was her single experience. Some people are completely out from a small dose or Lunesta or Ambien. People have different reactions. Ambien is very fast acting (you might be too tolerant to feel it). Halcion and Sonata are also very rapidly acting drugs. And 10 mg is the highest dose aside from Ambein CR which is unlikely to be beneficial to you. Doctors can prescribe a higher dose like two 10 mg tabs (20 mg). And some people take Ambien and Ambien CR together.
But you really have not taken anything in comparison to what is out there. Here is a list of some of the most used hypnotics.
The "Z" drugs
Ambien (CR) (zolpidem)
Sonata (zaleplon)
Lunesta (eszopiclone)
Benzodiazepines
Dalmane (flurazepam)
Ativan (lorazepam)
Halcion (triazolam)
Restoil (temazpam)
ProSom (estazolam)
Other Hypnotics (rarely used)
Chloral Hydrate
Commonly used non-hypnotic drugs used for insomnia (avoid).
Seroquel (quetiapine)
Desyrel (trazodone)
The Tradazone you took typically is a waste of time for most people and many medical organizations loath the use of Tradazone for sleep. It is an antidepressant and 50 mg is low but anything above 150 mg can worsen insomnia.
The "Z" drugs are newer, they have been tested and approved for longer term use (including Ambien) and Lunesta has the longest approved use (6+ months). And "Z" drugs have fewer effects on sleep architecture (your brain waves when you sleep) compared to most other hypnotics. I highly recommend Temazepam (Restoril) it is a benzodiazepine (benzo’s) unlike what you have used. Unlike most other benzo’s it has little effect on sleep architecture. Most people find temazepam highly effective. It comes in doses ranging from 7.5 mg to 30 mg. And some times people respond best by rotating drugs. For example- Ambien for 1 month, then Temazepam, then Sonata, and back to Ambien. That can significantly reduce the development of tolerance. Or it might be that a uncommonly used drug like Librium is the most effective.
I would recommend you see a psychiatrist. Insomnia is treated by a psychiatrist and they understand insomnia better. Psychiatrists are also more likely to prescribe higher doses and more unusual medications.
But you might have to give it some time. If you have any underlying issues with anxiety or depression they need to be addressed. And a psychiatrist in particular might have suggestions for alternatives to compliment sleeping medications. And some doctors do have hesitation prescribing sleeping pills because most have the ability to cause abuse and or dependence, and tolerance. Only "Z" drugs, benzodiazepines, and a few other drugs technically called hypnotics are abusable. So Trazidone is not. It is very rare for abuse or addiction to occur. And many people do not develop significant tolerance.
You are in a good position, you have dozens of other options.
References :
I am a medical student at a university in Montréal, QC, Canada in psychiatry and internal medicine. I have a specialist degree (Hons. BSc) in pharmacology and I have interned under two psychiatrists, one neurologist, and at a chemical dependency rehabilitation centre. I have also worked as a pharmacy assistant.
and I have taken over a dozen sleeping medications.
ambien comes in a four hour and a eight hour i believe it is CR
References :
My opinion is: you need to remove source of your problem(Insomnia).
But if you want, here list of drugs for medications of insomnia:
- Ativan
- Benadryl
- Dalmane
- Desyrel
- Elavil
- Halcion
- Klonopin
- Lunesta
- Neurontin
- Remeron
- Restoril
- Rozerem
- Seroquel
- Seroquel XR
- Sinequan
- Sonata
- Tylenol PM
- Zyprexa
All information about this drugs you can see:
http://www.prescription-drug-24.com/conditions/insomnia.html
References :
http://www.prescription-drug-24.com