Ambien for sleep?

At yesterday's post-op, I told my doc that I has having trouble sleeping, getting up every two hours, tossing and turning all night long -for the past two months at least. I also said I was having nightmares - several times a night.

He said the nighttime urinating was caused by fluid retention during the day and to cut down on salt. He prescribed Ambien to help me sleep. He prescribed 30 with no refill.

I took 1/2 pill last night and slept 7 hours straight and never got up once to pee---havent done that in a VERY long time, and it sure was great. And no nghtmares.

My question is if Ambien is addictive and I stop taking it- Ill go through some withdrawal and I may not be able to sleep leaving me worse than before?

anyone had experience with Ambien? Or experience with herbal sleep aids?

hello

I took ambiem for weeks, but it only allowed me 4-5 hours of sleep, but I had terrible anxiety. My Dr. said it is a safe sleeper and is not addictive. I never had any side effects from it. I am on
clonazepam now to help me sleep and deal with anxiety.

Don't be afraid to take it. We all need our sleep.
Peggy

Hi Diamond,
We have the same surgery date. I think we've crossed paths before! My doc gave me Ambian at my one week check up. I had not slept more that one hour in a row at that point from the hospital till then. I'd wake up and pee then go back to sleep. I had a bladder infection, so that probably contributed to the problem. The Ambien really helped me sleep also. I was watching TV at the end of that week and it had an ad for Ambien. It said on the ad (you know the small print/quick warning talking they do on these types of ads?) not to take it more that 7-10 days. That was day 9 for me! I decided to stop and had trouble sleeping for the next night, but that was all. My doc gave me a 30 day prescription too. Look at the brochure that might have come with it or ask a pharmacist or doc if you want more info. I've still had occasional nights that I wake up and can't go back to sleep. If I've had a hard day and know sleep might be hard, I take an OTC sleeping aid.

Keep getting stonger!

Hi, I took Ambien for 3 months...a week before surgery, and then when I got home from the hospital for approx. 3 months. I slept soooo great on it! I did want to get off it though...didn't want to have to depend on it to sleep forever. I just weened myself off it slowly and within 2 weeks...I was totally off it with no problems.

What BESIDES Tylenol PM OTC sleep remedies have you tried?

I cant be on Ambien for more than a month and If this insomnia comes back, what then. I'd like to find something natural that works and doest make me feel so groggy and SICK like Tylenol PM makes me feel all the next day.

Im also on Clonzapam for anxiety, but I only take it if I just cant shake the anxiety, or have a panic attack. It also helps me sleep - but again, very hard to get refills, so I use it very sparingly.

I've been using ambien for more than a year now. I try not to take it more than 2-3 times per week. Sometimes I have even gone much longer without it. I have had sleep problems for such a long time and it works SO well. I HAVE been taking it for the past 10 days (since surgery) but soon I am going to go back to using it like I was before. If it was really addictive I think I would know by now - and I do not seem to have any problem going without it. If anyone has more info I would also appreciate hearing it!

I LOVE Ambien!! It lets me sleep about 8 hours then I wake up and don't feel groggy at all...

Ambien is the best! I wrote in another email string...I believe the reason I am recovering so quickly is because I get enough sleep at night -- 7-8 hours a night. I sleep solidly.. Unlike Tylenol PM which gives me the foggy feeling in the morning, I am very clearheaded after a night of Ambien sleep.

Hello! I am the Ambien Queen! I love this stuff. I've been taking it for a couple of months. I just can't fall asleep by myself since surgery. I was wondering is any of you have hallucinations when you take them? I do on occasion....and it's actually kinda fun! (Boy, do I sound like a junky or what? LOL!) I've had interesting experience with sex after taking my Ambien.....I get a whole lot less inhibited! My hubby thinks itls SO FUNNY! I actuall told him once that it felt like there were 6 guys down there.....LOL....he wondered where I came up with that. I have NO idea! I also have a hard time the next morning, remembering what went on the night before. Can anyone relate?
Happy Hormones!!! ~Kimi~

Hi All,

Ambien really helped me a lot. I was always a sound sleeper before surgery, and had a hell of a time sleeping post-op. My GP prescribed Ambien and I took it March - June to get through the rest of the school year. Now that I am off for the summer, I have weened myself off of it. I didn't have any trouble getting off the medication, and I am doing okay with sleep. It helps that I don't have to get up at5:30 am. I am hoping to build up to a regular sleep pattern by the end of Aug. when my school year begins again.

Janet