Advice needed: Experiences with Ambien or sleeping pills

The biggest physical problem I face is getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night. I seem to average about 5-6 hours. Everything I've read suggests that this is not healthy to sleep so little. I'm not a person who uses drugs and I've resisted the idea of sleeping pills, especially after what happened to Heath Ledger. I was reading a sports story and a coach for a team mentioned before a big game that he took Ambien and slept 10 hours and felt great.

So now I'm debating if I should look into this and try it. I'm a bit worried and would love to hear if anyone has any thoughts or experience with this drug or anything similar. Will it make me drowsy during the day? Do you get hooked on them or after using them for a couple weeks can you sleep normal without them? Are there any bad side effects? I think 10 hours of sleep is too much, I'd be happy with 8--can you control how long you sleep?

I know I can ask the doctor if I go for this but I wanted to get some real input before I even make that step. Nothing else I've tried seems to work.

I can't reccomend Ambien to anybody. My mother used to be one of those Ambien zombies, going around the house half-there. She'd make food at night, burn it, make huge messes, pass out in the food she's made... it's horrible for anyone living with you. Probably especially dangerous living alone.

I also would not recommend it...I lived with a roommate who took it and it made her sleepwalk. She ended up drinking all of our alcohol and got into a fight with her boyfriend on the phone that she doesn't remember.

5-6 hours of sleep is plenty for anybody over 18. If you just wake up after 5 or 6 hours, then your body is telling you that you had enough sleep.

ambien is ok.....I don't get all zombie like or anything like that.....my issue with it is that I can take it for a couple of days and it knocks me out....but after that it has little effect on me......go to a health food/vitamin shop place and get yourself some melatonin....should help ya

Try drinking chamomile tea before bed.

I'd avoid any medication at all costs.

Ambien is definately addicting. Try taking half dosage first if you do try.


WebMD - Sleep Disorders: Michael Breus, PhD, ABSM

Umm, thanks guys. Just these couple of posts are more than enough to scare me away and figure out something else. I knew I was avoiding sleeping pills for a reason. Really appreciate all of your feedback!

I am with you on that drug avoidance thing as i have a chemical imbalance already (ADHD) so I dont mess with that stuff because I never know the outcome. I live in the USA but travel allot to Latin America and Europe and have used "Sleepy Time Tea". It contains a light amount of valerian to calm you down but not enough to knock you out. I have tried the supplement Melatonin, but it is not legal in many countries and makes me hyper (again, the ADHD).

Do you work out? I have noticed that if I time my lifting or running about 5 hours before bed then I am fine...and later than that and I run itno trouble. Also consider diet adjustments. A light evening snack of lean turkey or chicken...both have high amounts of terytriophan(sp) may help.

I would try hermal remodies before jumping into any of this medication

if you are tired and not sleeping more than 5 or 6 hours... see a sleep therapist. You may be suffering from sleep apnea or other conditions that constantly interrupt deep sleep.

Apnea can actually be life threatening.


So get it looked into.

All sleeping aids run the risk of at least psychological dependency, so whatever you try keep that in mind.

I have an Ambien prescription and have never had any of the weird side effects, though a friend of mine has done the sleepwalking/grazing thing once or twice. It appears to effect different people differently. When I take an Ambien I wake up feeling less dopey than I do when I take Tylenol PM, which is another option.

I tried a homeopathic remedy for a while, and while it certainly helped me sleep it also appeared to make me ridiculously horny and disabled what few filters my brain uses when in that state. No lie. I can't explain it, but it was noticeable.

Of course there's always kind weed if you can get it.

Thanks again for the suggestions everyone. I think I will look into Melatonin, that sounds about what I'm looking for.

I workout in the morning and hate working out at night, so I can't use that as an option. I don't smoke pot, so that's not an option. I think my problem is a bit stress related, because when I'm stressed my mind races and I have dreams that wake me up and then I can't get back to sleep. So I'll ask around about Melatonin and see what the pharmacists say.

Hotbtminla, umm, what was that homeopathic remedy that made you horny and sleepy? It sounds great...lol

I can't take sleeping pills because they give me really fucked up dreams and make me feel like i'm still awake even when i'm asleep. Instead, i take benedryl every night when i'm reasy for sleep. it knocks me right out and no wierdness. My Dr. knows i do this and has voiced no concerns over how often i take it or why.

I should clarify it made me horny when I was awake. The name is on the tip of my tongue but I'm drawing a blank at the moment... pretty sure it was something akin to melatonin.