Hi,

I was wondering if anyone had used Zoplidem (Stilnoct) long term. I know that it is supposed to be a short term solution for sleep problems, but my doctor doesn't seem to have any problems supplying it to me permenantly.

I have been unable to find any dangers of taking this drug long term, other than information on the internet stating that it loses it's effect after a short time - however, it still seems to work for me, after about 5 months! (But I have to take about 1 and a half tablets, and I don't get the knockout effect quite as strong)

So, seeing as this medication isn't strictly sedative, does anyone see any dangers of permenant use? Without it, I spend a minimum of 2 hours wide awake, with a very active mind, thinking about things whether they be exciting or depressing, for no paerticular reason!

Any advice/input would be very much appreciated

Thanks,

Steve

My doctor also has no problem with me taking it indefinitely. I have taken it for 2 months or so in the past, but now I'm on it all the time. I can occasionally sleep without it, so I try to take it only 4 nights a week. My doctor is board certified in 4 different types of medicine, I truly trust his judgement.

Try this site for more info. on Ambien. info.ohttp://www.sleepnet.com/insomnia15/insomnia15.htm

Thankyou both for your replies, the site you pounted me to is very interesting! I have experienced some of these things!

The link doesn't work though, so if anyone wants to see what it says about ambien/zolpidem - go to www.sleepnet.com (http://www.sleepnet.com) and choose insomnia and go to Insomnia 15 message board - interesting stuff!

Anyone here had any strange experiebces on this drug?

Natural sleep is natural sleep. Pill sleep is pill sleep!!! Pills never duplicate the exact natural sleep pattern, and in time will inable the brain to work to produce sleep...dependancy and tolerance are inevitable, even if it takes awhile...having less effect and having to up the dose is the first sign.

Contrary to the popular Ambien commercial, this can happen without "abusing" the medication as the commercial suggests. After tolerance and dependancy set in, only larger doses will work at all and then suddenly it's called abuse instead of the reality that these drugs change brain chemistry.

So, a person needs to taper off the drug slowly and accept a withdrawal insomnia period that may last quite awhile, but eventually the brain will work to produce sleep again...maybe not perfect for awhile, but all good things take time! Original insomnia may have actually gone in time too, especially if there was no medical reasons found, but the waiting for this tries many people's patience, so it's no wonder they reach for the meds. But when drugs are introduced into a situation, things only worsen and complicate in time. If one types in benzo withdrawal in a search engine, they will come upon very informative websites about sleep and anxiety drugs, mainly of the benzodiazepine family...but other families of drugs for sleep are very simular to benzos, so the information can be helpful to people on non-benzo sleep meds, like Ambien for example.

Insomnia and anxiety are top symptoms in withdrawal, because it was found through a Professor Ashton's research that people who were given Valium (a benzo) for medical reasons only (muscle spasms from back injury for example) and NOT any previous insomnia or anxiety....well, these people experienced insomnia and anxiety upon withdrawal of their medication for several months and sometimes 2 years before symptoms completely stopped!!!! So it's obvious how profoundly drugs will mess up sleep cycles and the nervous system even in people with no previous history.

I really hate those commercials for Ambien. A soothing voice shows little puppy dogs sleeping. Since when does a puppy dog need Ambien to sleep...I suppose people are throwing Ambien crumbs to the birds in the commercial.... and apparentely, only people who "abuse" will become dependant...so look out upping the dose too much...what a bunch of hogwash.

Thanks for your reply.

I actaully saw a different doctor today, and she has gievn me one last prescription (56 tablets) and wants me to stop after that. Same reasons as you say.

She says the next step, if I still can't sleep, is to try taking a small dose of Amitriptoline (not enough to aid depression) as they apparently have a seditive effect.

Have you any views on this?

It is SO frustrating that aftyer 2 or 3 hours of lying in bed with my girlfriend, I cannot get to sleep, however tired I am - and I am not sure what I would do if I didn't have a Zolpidem to hand (I am assuming this is the same as 'Ambien', in the US?

Yes, it is the same as Ambien here in the U.S. I hope your new doctor is also tapering you off gently...about 10% of your dose every 2 wks.? Tapering slowly does not guarentee no withdrawals but will ease them some.

The first website that usually pops up from the search, benzo withdrawal, is from the U.K. and they talk about Professor Heather Ashtons' research alot...she is from the U.K. and went to the University of Newcastle. You can really get some info at this site (alot of reading to do). Although Ambien is not in the benzodiazepine family, it is very close, missing only one receptor effect I think. So, it acts alot like the benzos.

Some of the stuff on the website can be a little scary, but don't worry. Also, there is alot of doctor bashing and anger, but essentially the website and optional linked support group, if you care to join, is there to help. Many people recover in time!

As far as the antidepressant route, Ashton and others suggest no other drugs for recovery, but do consider some LOW doses of the sedating ones as fairly safe for a short time; too long and they might interfer with recovery. Also, non-addictive things like benedryl based, OTC sleep aids, warm milk, chammomile tea, and a nightly cal-mag supplement. Sometimes, one extra-strength tylenol will lower body temp enough to sleep some. But essentially, don't expect perfect sleep for some time; at first maybe not much at all. Patience is the key here; if possible, try to exercise mildly everyday and eat a balance of protein and carbs to help create feel good chemicals.

Also, you are lucky to find such an informed doctor!!! Most here in the U.S. deny any of the addiction/dependancy/tolerance problems with "regular doses". So, it's good you have someone in the medical field who knows the score and supports you.



[This message has been edited by Megherc (edited 07-24-2002).]

Hi Megherc,

I haven't had anything to help me sleep since Friday night, but it's taking me about 2 or 3 hours to get to sleep (this has always been the case, but maybe not quite this long - but then the weather is very hot).

I was not told by my doctor to reduce the amount slowly, she just advised me to stop and only take them in emergencies. It would also be quite difficult to reduce the amount by 10% as they come in 10mg tablets - I''d have to chip a bit off!

What is the reason I should be tapering off gently? Just to aid withdrawal? Could this explain the intense and upsetting nightmares I experienced last night - I have been left feeling very lathargic indeed this morning, and the nightmares I had were terrible, about being told I had only days to live (Horrible, I know)

Please reply!

By the way, it may be worth me mentioning that I have started using 5-HTP - for 2 reasons, No.1) I am told it can help you get better sleep, and No.2) I have read in numerous places, that becuase it acts on the serotonin neurotransmitters, it can help remove the 'come-down' that can last days after taking Ecstasy (MDMA or X in the USA) - as I am an occassional user, and I'm going to Ibiza in 3 weeks so it could come in handy then...

Has anyone had any expreience using this?

The 10% is a guide and usually for benzos like Valium; sorry for the confusion. I would say get a pill cutter and try to only take off one quarter of the pill and stay on that for two weeks, then cut again if you feel ok and have little symptoms. Once down to the last quarter, try spilting that in half.

But if you are already completely off Ambien....if your symptoms are tolerable, perhaps tapering wouldn't be necessary in your particular case...everyone is different. If you need it again, try only taking half...but real success comes with avoiding it altogether! Some things like benedryl work for some people in withdrawal; also, one extra-strengh tylenol can lower internal temperature enough to lull you into sleep. Warm milk; chammomile tea (use two or three bags to steep) have been reported to help. All these things are non-addictive, so if they don't work, no harm done.

The 5 HTP is good, but I have heard it will stop working after awhile...it is the "processed" version of tryptophan, which you can get from protein foods anyway...a small carbohydrate snack at night will help circulating tryptophan get to the brain. The carbs in milk help it's tryptophan get into the brain...this is also good to consume during the day, because tryptophan in the brain during the day will make serotonin, and serotonin will help make melantonin at night for sleep.

Regarding serotonin, I think I read somewhere that "X" , could, over time, damage serotonin receptors in the brain. I don't know if this is a good drug to take if you are concerned about serotonin. Check out some websites on the dangers of this drug; perhaps it's not so much danger in immediate use, but long term brain damage? I wouldn't trust anything that messes with serotonin, even some of today's popular SSRI's, but maybe it's just me.