Ambien and sleep.
 

I tried to find some info on here about Ambien, did a search and didn't find any so I thought I'd ask these questions again.

About 4 months ago a Gasto prescribed Raglen for my stomach. I took it for about a week before I saw my family Dr. and he said to go off of it right away. It causes jerks. I did.I have had jerks before because Bill said I would jump high in the bed and wake him they didn't wake me though. I now jerk so hard in bed, I have woke up thinking someone is breaking into my house and I believe it's just me hitting the bed and making the noise.

My Dr. gave me a script for Ambien and I have taken it once and I felt like I had a hangover. I have taken Phenergan before to help me sleep but he says not to take it too often because it causes spasms and seizeures and jerks. He usually don't tell me not to take a med unless he has ran into patients dealing with the side effects so I do listen to him.

What I want to ask is do you have jerks like these at night? If so do you think they are from the RSD or meds? I also want to know if the side effects from the Ambien settle down after awhile such as the hangover feeling?

Thanks,
Ada

For me I did not have jerks nor a hung over feeling but I have been on Ambien. What dose are you on and could you start of lower? Have you ever tried trazadone? I am not on that med now but for awhile it was the med that helped me the most. Wish I could be more help. I have been on so many different meds to assist with sleep and every night is such a battle still

Hi! I have those jerks you talk about especially bad. When I am going off to sleep I am jerking even before I get good and asleep. I was also on reglan for reflux. I do remember small jerks before that but feel they got lots worse after taking it. I don't really know if its the RSD. My 7 year old daughter took reglan for over 2 years and she also jerks in her sleep. If I had only known then what I know now I would have never let her take it. I have taken the ambien for sleep and after about a good week or two of sleep the hangover feeling left. I am now back to the trazodone though after surgery and less pain. My trazodone did the same hangover feeling when first taken it for atleast a week or two. My doctor told me to not stop taken it when I got the hangover feeling because it was me trying to catch up on my sleep and that after I finally caught up on it the feeling would go away. I found it did. But I still have no relief for the jerks or my daughter. For me with the sleeping meds let me go back to sleep when a big jerk wakes me up. If you have any more questions please feel free to ask.

Hi Abrown,
 

They have lawsuits going on over the Raglen now for causing the jerks. Apparently they don't go away. You might want to check on that for your daughter. It's too bad she has to go through this. I usually read up on meds before I take them but I didn't on the Raglen.

Daniella, I am looking for my Ambien. I don't know where I put it. I took a half of one that night and boy the next day, I felt lousy until around 1 PM the next day. I finally got to where I felt like taking my walk but boy did I hate that feeling. I am getting leary of taking meds but I do know some of the side effects do finally go away. If I can find it, I will tell you the dosage.

I swear, no memory anymore.

Ada\

I found it. It's 5mgs. and I took half a one. I will try it again and hope the hangover feeling goes away.

If you search @ rollingstone.com (rolling stone magazine), they did an article called "Ambien Nation" I'm pretty sure, but an "ambien" search there, will bring it up.

Nasty, nasty stuff! People falling asleep at the wheel, and sleep walking, sleep driving etc.

I take (by dr Knobler) one (or two) Zanaflex, 4 mg. It's simply a muscle relaxer as far as I know, but it kicks in enough to put me to sleep. It acts slowly, to kick in and wear off, so, I try to take it a little early, and not too much.

I also use a CPap machine for my apnea, and boy, if I fall asleep without it, it's not a pleasant day to follow......

Just my experience...

Pete

I think that 5 is the starter dose too. I agree that some side effects if you give it time will lessen. With increases or new meds at first I often feel bad but within a week or 2 it goes away. It depends on the severity. Have you tried any other med for sleep?

Hi Daniella,
 

I haven't tried any other sleep meds. I love Phenergan because it makes me sleep good even though it's for nausea but I know not to take it regularly.

I just get so frustrated because of tossing and turning all night. My bed looks like I fought a war in it by morning. Covers everywhere.

Ada

Hi Ada, I have been on Trazadone for almost six years, it works great for me, I really don't think I would sleep at all without it. It calms the jerks down, as well as the nerve pain and just enters you into a calm sleep. Best Wishes

Jeanie

Hey Ada,
Have you ever tried taking Benedryl for sleeping. Alot of times it will be the first thing doctors suggest one trying. It worked great for me for years. They started me out with the dose it comes in, 25mgs & then increase it to 50, 75 & even 100mgs if needed to get to sleep. When I had to increase it, he wrote me a script for it as that was cheaper than buying OTC at that time. Anymore I don't have any problem falling to sleep or staying asleep, if I didn't wake up & have to pee or because of sweating or the dog waking me up. I fall asleep reading & watching TV all the time. I feel like I could sleep all day sometimes.

I am going to be going for a sleep study soon to see if I have Central Sleep Apnea cause by the dose of pain meds I take. I truly don't want to not wake up one morning because my brain forgets to tell me to take a breath

Thought maybe the suggestion of using Benedryl, btw I bought the store brand of benedryl, same active ingredients, as it was cheaper. You can ask your doctor about trying it first, in fact I suggest you talk it over with him.

Debby

Hi Debby,
 

I started out like you sleeping all of the time. I have CFS. Now I have went to not sleeping at all.

I am fast learning too not to drink anything after about 1 in the daytime. I have a bad bladder and I get up 8 to 10 times a night.

I will ask about the benedryl. I haven't started again on the Ambien. Everyday it seems like I have things to do and I need to be able to do them. I couldn't function for hours after that half of the Ambien. I just don't like these side effects. I get to where I don't want to take any meds for fear of the side effects they have.

I wake up and watch tv off an on all night. I just wish there was something worth watching.

Hope your sleep apnea test turns out ok.

You just get some sleep for me too.

Ada