1 Ambien a Night now working - not sure what to do - Sleep Disorders Message Board

mrm · 12-18-2006, 06:49 PM

I've had insomnia since high school (now am 28 years old). My doctor has had no problem keeping me in Ambien 10mg once/night. The problem is that 1 a night is no longer putting me to sleep. I dont want to increase my dose just on my own because I figure that is dangerous. However, I am afraid of telling my doctor because I think he might say you are dependent and will not prescribe it anymore. I've tried all the other sleep aids and Ambien is the only one that works for me. I've tried the Ambien CR, but I actually had better results with the regular 10mg. Has anyone ever heard of a doctor prescribing more than 1 a night for insomnia? I want to be truthful, but I dont want to run the risk of him refusing to prescribe it from here on out. I dont want to appear as addicted to the drug, but it is the only thing that makes me sleep. Advice, please?

Lduby · 12-21-2006, 12:25 PM

I know what it feels to have insomnia...I have chronic insomina and can't fall asleep even when exasted. I take something just about every nite...what keeps me from upping my does is i alternate from ambien to a benzo...xanax...some doctors do not like to prescribe it...they feel it could be addictive. I think I haven't become addicted to anything due to the fact i never up my meds. i take one then i'm done and just tell myself if it doesn't work then i don't sleep..nothing bad will happen..I know it may be hard to tell youself but it works for me.. You can put it to your doctor this way "ambien works great for me but some nights i still have trouble sleeping..could I try a different med to alternate with the ambien to prevent me from building up a tolerance" That way the doctor doens't think you are too dependent on it already and take you off everyting. I hope that helped a little and just remember you not alone.