Ambien long term use
Common Questions and Answers about Ambien long term use
ambien
My dad has been taking Zolpidem for over 3 years and recently I found out Zolpidem is used for treating short term insomnia. I'd like to know if it can be used for long term and if whether there are any medications available which can be used for long term treatment.
He lost his memory completely and now has terrible problems with visual perception, short term and long term memory among other things. Rehab was long and hard. He has regained his sight, speech and movement but he did not regain his past memory and had to relearn everything.
In Dec 2007 (2 1/2 years after the brain injury) his neurologist prescribed Ambien to him hoping it would have similar effects (waking up what appear to be dead brain cells) it has had for coma patients.
I feel you might have taken quite few medications for your sleeplessness over years and so want to stop further. Ambien is good choice for treatment of insomnia, but it is intended for short-term use. Elavil/Endep can be tried if you are not comfortable with Ambien and it is a non-addictive drug. Try to relax and plan a healthy sleeping habit on a long-term basis. Avoid coffee/tea, smoking, alcohol and a bulky spicy meal at nights.
You may find it hard to find any psychiatrist who will allow you long term use of ambien so you may leave one to find out you are in the same boat. I take trazodone for sleep and it helps a lot. I take a melatonin in addition if I am having a couple of bad nights.
I know it is scary to rock the boat, but it is so much easier to come off them the shorter you are on them. It is almost more an issue of tolerance than addiction.
Ambien is only meant to be used for short term use which often results in worsening of insomnia (sometimes worse than it ever was) when trying to come off the medication.
A Harvard study in 2004 demonstrated medications are not the best treatment for insomnia, but rather Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi) is better.
While I was in the office, I forgot to ask whether this new drug could interact with the Ambien, so I stopped taking the Ambien until I could see my doctor again. About a month went by in which I did not use Ambien at all. During this time, the abdominal pains gradually lessened over a period of weeks, and eventually disappeared.
Before giving it up or starting on other new sleep drugs, it is always better to consult a doctor. I said you earlier also, Ambien is meant for short-term use. It is better to address the aggravating factors or those factors really causing the sleep disturbance, which may be beneficial in long run rather then continuing a drug for months or years. You can also try without medication of getting rid of sleeplessness.
They certainly hear all the negative media coverage damning the prescription and use of long term opiates. If we influence or change one person's negative attitude towards chronic pain and its management than we are fighting the war against us! Yes the War against Us, Against Chronic Pain Patients.
You should not be shamed or harassed into this position, "stop the mess and live in constant pain." Taking your husband to your next appt along with educating him may be beneficial.
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