[QUOTE=JoanB;575399]I searched the forum for this topic and found passing mention of it but no threads. I’m taking Ambien CR 12.5 mg pretty much every night.

*** I've been taking regular Ambien for almost 18 months. I, too, worry about dependence. I generally take it 5 out of 7 nights a week. Only rarely have I had to take more than the one pill (10 mg if I recall). Always works. How often are others taking it?

I just ask my doctor to prescribe me Ambien 10mg and he granted my request. But, he told me not to use it every night as it could become habit forming. He gave me a prescription for 30 pills with no refills. He said the presciption should last me 3 months.
My mon, 81 years old, has been on Ambien for 3 or 4 years. She takes it every night and it does not seem to have affected her in a negative way. It just puts her to sleep.
I say that for people who deal with sever PN pain everyday any medication that gives one peace of mind is a good med. I have to use opiates to manage my pain (I go to a pain specialist)and one cnsequence of my usage is physical addiction. I am willing to take that risk to have some quality of life. Life is too short to live in constant pain or go without sleep for days.
I glad the Ambien is working for you. Just be as careful as you would be with any other strong drug.

I have sleep apnea and had insomnia. My doctor wanted me to use Ambien CR, but it contains gluten, so I couldn't use it. He doesn't like Ambien, not sure why. So he put me on Lunesta, which was suppose to give me 8 hours of sleep...didn't work for me. So then he put me on Sonata, which is suppose to put you to sleep quickly, and last 3-5 hours, I rarely got 3 hours from it. So, I went against his wishes, and tried melatonin. It worked the best for me, although, insomnia was still a huge problem. Then, because of other issues, I stopped using dairy, my insomnia went away!How could dairy cause insomnia, who knows, yet I have found others who have the same issue. I take 6 mgs per night, even now with the insomnia pretty much gone. I still have a few nights where I just can't sleep, but it's much better.

We have melatonin in our symptoms naturally. I think sometimes, especially with gluten intolerance, a person like me is lacking in the proper levels of vitamins and nutrients. I will continue on the melatonin, it seems it may be something I need.

[QUOTE=darlindeb25;578076]Then, because of other issues, I stopped using dairy, my insomnia went away!

So much for the "glass of warm milk" trick!

I too found a connection to dairy and my insomnia - I recently went to a holistic doc who told me to cut - Caffeine, Alcohol and Dairy from my diet for 2 weeks, then slowly incorporate them back in if I really wanted to - to my surprise, those 2 weeks, I slept like a baby for the first time in years w/o the help of some sleep aid! I was convinced it was the caffeine, so I incorporated dairy back into my diet, but kept the caffeine and alcohol out - and wouldn't you know it, headaches and insomnia crept back in like an unwelcome house guest. I am now cutting it back out - thanks to this Doc, I would have NEVER guessed in a million years that cheese was the root of my problems....

Yeah, if I have dairy, the insomnia comes right back. Now caffiene didnt effect me like that...I could always drink coffee and fall asleep, I just never stayed asleep.

I have been drinking decaf for nearly 2 yrs now.

Here is the sticky for all the meds most have tried:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread177-2.html
It IS a big menu? And grows bigger daily. Or, so it seems.....
Honestly, for me? Since I've developed other new and fun med issues? I've cut out the neuro meds totally [except for my IVIG]. WHY? Because they really didn't work! IF they cut 10-15% off the top that was the best they could do, unless I took more and simply became a sleep zombie. Lidoderm patches help SOME for a localized pain, but not for the long term.
Honestly now that I'm no longer taking any direct meds for pain? My pain is simply a constant humm and burn, worse with over exertion tho...such a the rehab I've been doing. Prudent timing of ice, heat and lideoderm patches help a lot? But the humm is still there....ever present.
As for sleeping? I've found this stuff -IF it doesn't have extra b-6 added. Take a look at what's out there and try it?
http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/search/...mins&x=27&y=22
It's that phantom 'tryptophan' as in turkey overload? I have, due to other meds, found that this helped me maintain a better even keel on things in my life than before using it. I rarely need it now, but it IS useful during times of extraordinary stress. BTW? Even keel='s sleeping! More important than sleeping is the DREAMING you might do when sleeping. Do keep that in mind. IF you've not dreamed 'due to meds, stress or who knows what?' Once you resume dreaming some of them are gonna be whoppers! Don't know how else to put it out there. I believe the word used most often is "VIVID"? And they sure are! Just know that is sorta normal in the getting back to any part of 'normal' that there might be.
I agree w/Cyclops that all meds come at some price. Many known many not yet documented. And WE are the guinea pigs! Be sure to READ al 'prescribing info' on any and all meds you take! YOU could scare yourself silly or start to ask INTELLIGENT questions of your physician prescribers! So don't be shy about asking even the simplist, silly or stupid question that comes across your mind about your meds and their effects/cross-effects! Challenge them to do their homework on what all is blithely prescribed.
I too at first refused a 'sleep test'? And, later did it...you know what? It was disgustingly normal. Go figger... Tho...driving home afterwords was a 'challenge'? I'm still; here.
Hope always! - j

I do like your responses! When I gave in to the sleep study, mine came back disgustingly abnormal!Story of my life! My apnea is not severe, yet my PCP says it's just like being pregnant, you can't be a little pregnant, and you can't have just a little sleep apnea, you either have it, or you don't. I have apnea and insomnia, insomnia is not part of the apnea. Did that make sense?

My sleep doc told me we all need to have a regular sleep habit, to bed at the same time every night, awake at the same time every morning. People who sleep late on the weekends, saying they are making up for the sleep they missed during the week, are not doing their bodies any favors. He told me to keep bright lights on until maybe 1/2 hour before bedtime, then dim them, to make my brain realize it's time to relax. I do know, I do best if I go to bed at 10pm...if I stay up until 11 or later, then my brain has a much more difficult time relaxing...by then I am overtired, and just like a baby, it's harder for me to settle down when overtired.

For many of you on meds though, it's an whole different ball game. Pain and meds change everything. I wish there was something special for you. Then of course, there are always exceptions too. A friend of mine with diabetic neuropathy, and a bad knee, can take a Lunesta, and sleep through the night, like a rock. Why doesn't it work like that for all of us? Who knows.

Another friend told me to take 1/2 a Xanax before bed, saying my brain can't slow itself down..yet I really don't want to be dependant on Xanax either, and my sleep doctor says Xanax is not good for sleeping either.

I guess we all have to do that which works best for us. Our bodies naturally produce melatonin, and being that works fairly well for me, I am thinking maybe my body isn't producing enough melatonin to begin with. So I will stay with it.

Just my opinions!

I second that--life is too short. I respect the choices of people who don't want to take drugs, but for me, if there is something that will relieve pain or help me sleep, I want it, as long as it doesn't come at an unacceptable price in well-being.

And darlindeb, maybe sleep meds are like all the stuff we talk about for PN--we all react to them differently. I tried Rozerem, and like you with the Lunesta and Sonata, it wasn't much help. But Ambien CR puts me down and keeps me down for a minimum of six hours. Sometimes I even get eight, and it's wonderful

But of course, the best solution of all is to get to and fix the underlying cause like darlindeb did. And I'm still trying to do that with the PN. If there's any possibility that I can do that, the insominia will go away on its own. One very annoying medical professional recently suggested that I go for a sleep study, which I refused. Come on people, I can't sleep because my feet hurt! You need a study for that?

Joan, I totally understand where you are coming from. I was at my first appointment with my neuro, for my neuropathy and headaches, and he took one look at me and diagnosed sleep apnea. I just looked at him and said, "You have got to be kidding!" I seriously thought he was nuts...me, sleep apnea!!! Then he examed a little more for the apnea, even told me my mouth was too small...then I was sure he was kidding!! At that point, we went on with the exam for my other issues.

I always try to do what a doctor says, just so they can't say I do not listen to them. I did the sleep study, and was told after the doctor studied the results further, I would be set up with a CPAP machine...I still could not believe it. Two of my sons had already been diagnosed with sleep apnea, and I still was in denial.

I'm glad Ambien CR works for you. As I said, I couldn't even try it, it contains ingredients I am intolerant to...so it will never be something I can try.

After close to one year on CPAP, I still was having terrible issues with sleep...the melatonin helped at times, yet insomnia was always present. Giving up the dairy had nothing to do with my sleep intially...I gave it up because it was causing issues with my stomach. Insomnia going away was a wonderful surprise. Who would of thought????

I have been on CPAP now for 13 months, and finally, I can say I think it does help...although now, I am having more issues with dry mouth, nasal passages, and still have the constant headaches. BUT, at least I am finally getting some sleep after 30 years!

I actually had some people tell me I had to be wrong about dairy, simply because they have always been told that warm milk makes you sleep better. Yet, guess what??? They also say whole grains are good for you, and they were killing me....there goes another myth huh???