I have had insomnia for over 20 years, unfortunately it has now turned into chronic insomnia, and after going through some terrible sleep deprivation, I went to see my doctor who prescribed me Trazodone. He said that if I woke within 4 hours, I could take 1/2 of ambien to help me get back to sleep. My question now is how much is ok to take? I had to take 3 Ambiens today, one early this morning, and 2 a couple hours ago just to keep my anxiety down, but now I'd like to take the Trazodone. Is this just way to much to be putting into my system? I feel terrible, my skin feels like it is crawling, and my mind sure doesn't want to pull it's weight. Please help me, I'm scared to death of any new meds, but do need the help now.

Thank you so much.

Hi kdhl,

Sounds to me as though you are taking WAY too much ambien. I have been taking ambien on and off for two years now and would only need 1/2 a 10mg pill and would be out like a light. 3 ambien pills does not sound good to me at all. You don't want to overdose. Call you Dr. immediately!
Good luck

Thank you for responding Subie, and you are absolutely right about taking to many, which is why I had to go to my doctor. I have been taking ambien for 6 years. It just recently stopped working, so of course the more I took the better it worked, but I would then be out before I could get it refilled, and the sleep deprivation was all to consuming. I am so tired of having to try all these new meds, and more than that, I am hating to depend on something to get me to sleep every night. I've been all over the Internet for years looking for alternatives, but the bottom line is that I've either tried or done what everyone else has tried and done, and then there's all those articles that mention chronic Insomnia is forever. Right now I am going to try and find a good sleep specialist, or maybe even a psychiatrist (even though I have been to them before with no luck) and see if chronic Insomnia really is forever. Any why me :(

PS. The Trazodone didn't work, I am now trying Dalmane.

[This message has been edited by kdhl (edited 04-30-2002).]

Hi kdhl,
Wow, you have been suffering for a very long time. I'm just a few years into this no sleep nonsense and what a toll it has already taken on my life. Right now I am sleeping with no drugs....don't know why or what I did. This happened once before, but then I slipped back into my old pattern of no sleep unless I use ambien. It seems like a never ending battle. Do you find yourself fearful when night time comes because you know you won't be able to sleep? I would get such anxiety which made things twenty times worse. Try starting on a whole new slate. Go to your Dr. and find a good psychiatrist to talk to. Talk is cheap...it won't hurt. How about a sleep clinic?
good luck

Hi Subie, yes I have been suffering with this for way to long. The Ambien has given me some good years, but unfortunately all good things must come to an end. You mention feelings towards night coming, ABSOLUTELY. Night time is not my friend, and when I haven't slept much I almost start to become obsessed in the early afternoon with night coming. When the sun starts actually going down is when all the anxiety and depression hits all over again. I don't want to live this way, and I am so envious of the people that can actually be asleep 5 minutes after their head hits the pillow. I have never had that feeling. I've been in numerous insomnia and sleep forums through out the years, and what the people have said about the sleep clinics is that you pay them thousands of dollars to hook you up to all these wires, watch you sleep or not sleep, then in the morning they verify that yes in fact you do have insomnia or apnea or whatever else you already knew you had, and they send you home. Nothing is ever accomplished for you the patient, but because alot of us are so desperate we will try anything, the sleep clinics have just made more money, and we are still left with the same problem. I also have been to psychiatrists, but I do have to say that a couple of them were really pretty good, I now know of two things that have more than likely contributed to my insomnia, but knowing that, has unfortunately not helped me sleep. I think at this point my best bet is a sleep therapist, or maybe at this point my last ditch effort is a sleep therapist. Thanks for your words :)

kdhl:
You should talk to your Doc about your sleep
problems. Try and cut back on the Ambien I take
it maybe 1 time a week Maybe you should have a
sleep study done. Take care of yourself
Peace
Pacemaker

KDHL -
I definitely agree that you should ease off the Ambien. From what I've read about the drug, it can be addictive... I've gone thru the gamut of sleeping drugs - I have no problem falling asleep - I wake up about 2 hours later and can't go back to sleep. I can't stand the "hung over" feeling the next day on the drugs - Ambien was the only one that helped and still left me functional. Did Trazadone too - no relief there - was told it has to build up in your system some... Never felt the sleep effects but felt drugged the next day. Going to see a sleep specialist (finally) next week. (Of course, I'll probably have no problems when I'm there - that's always the way it is!)

I hope you find some relief and peaceful zzzzzzzz's...