Ambien/Sonata
Question:
Hi, I have been having MAJOR trouble withdrawing from Klonopin……4th time trying to stop it….the anxiety and panic are gone……just the withdrawal is my problem…and the worst side effect of it is insomnia…..so bad that I have literally gone weeks with just an hour or two of sleep a night…..it is hard….I had to go back up to my old dose of 5mg a day and with doc’s help I me…relaxtion….herbs…trazodone……etc……and the sleep remains the during the process……. Now, my questions…anyone know much about the sleeping drugs Ambien and both work similarly to benzos…….are they just as addicting? will they work IF I am on a benzo? any danger from taking both? I will ask my doc all this on next visit…..but I wanted to hear from you girls/guys if you have tried it and what your opinions are……I need help… write to me or post here…..anything…..suggestions….experiences…..ideas……support…. I no longer need the Klonopin for anxiety and panic….that is prettty much gone :) but I now just take the drug to fight off the withdrawal…. one more thing to anyone thinking of taking a benzo for anxiety….PLEASE do not let my story of withdrawal stop you from trying them…….the Klonopin worked better than all the other drugs I tried COMBINED….very effective…..safe…….little side effects…just hard to stop….but I would NOTHING compared to this……. please help me out…..I could use it…..thanks…. Best Wishes JOHN
Response:
I cannot comment on your trouble with Klopopin, however, I was on Ambien for just over a year. I used it 5 nights a week, with weekends off. The only problem I had when I went off of it is I slept like I did before I went on it. No withdrawals of any kind occurred. I needed to get off of it because I started having anxiety attacks and my doctor was afraid it would interact with my new medicine. But as a sleep medicine, I give it two thumbs up! As long as I got six to seven hours of sleep, there was no "hangover" side effects and it usually kept me asleep at least that long. Good-Luck Michael
Response:
I cannot comment on your trouble with Klopopin, however, I was on Ambien for just over a year. I used it 5 nights a week, with weekends off. The only problem I had when I went off of it is I slept like I did before I went on it. No withdrawals of any kind occurred. I needed to get off of it because I started having anxiety attacks and my doctor was afraid it would interact with my new medicine. But as a sleep medicine, I give it two thumbs up! As long as I got six to seven hours of sleep, there was no "hangover" side effects and it usually kept me asleep at least that long.
I only get about 4 hours of sleep out of Ambien. Supposedly, the main difference between it and Sonata (which I believe is not yet available in the U.S.) is that Sonata is shorter-acting (you’re supposed to be able to take it in the middle of the night, which seems like a bad idea to me for some reason). I took Ambien every day for a year or so, with no tolerance and no withdrawal when I stopped. I still take it sometimes but have been looking for alternatives. There’s a good possibility it would interact with a benzo. -elizabeth
Response:
Is AM-bien "good morning" in Spanish? Chip :)) p.s. those silly drug companies, but my how they make $$$
Response:
I have had several doctors and pharmacists warn me about taking Ambien with other drugs like the Ativan that I am currently on. This is why I had to stop the Ambien. I had a choice, get a full night sleep and suffer with my anxiety symptoms or a poor night sleep and be anxiety symptom free. Tough decision, but I chose the later because I couldn’t work with the anxiety symptoms. Michael
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I cannot comment on your trouble with Klopopin, however, I was on Ambien for just over a year. I used it 5 nights a week, with weekends off. The only problem I had when I went off of it is I slept like I did before I went on it. No withdrawals of any kind occurred. I needed to get off of it because I started having anxiety attacks and my doctor was afraid it would interact with my new medicine. But as a sleep medicine, I give it two thumbs up! As long as I got six to seven hours of sleep, there was no "hangover" side effects and it usually kept me asleep at least that long. I only get about 4 hours of sleep out of Ambien. Supposedly, the main difference between it and Sonata (which I believe is not yet available in the U.S.) is that Sonata is shorter-acting (you’re supposed to be able to take it in the middle of the night, which seems like a bad idea to me for some reason). I took Ambien every day for a year or so, with no tolerance and no withdrawal when I stopped. I still take it sometimes but have been looking for alternatives. There’s a good possibility it would interact with a benzo. -elizabeth
Response:
I have had several doctors and pharmacists warn me about taking Ambien with other drugs like the Ativan that I am currently on. This is why I had to stop the Ambien. I had a choice, get a full night sleep and suffer with my anxiety symptoms or a poor night sleep and be anxiety symptom free. Tough decision, but I chose the later because I couldn’t work with the anxiety symptoms. Michael Hi Michael, I just looked up Ambien in the PDR (Physicians Desk Reference) and there is no indication that Ambien cannot be taken with benzodiazepines, and in particular, Ativan. Chip
Response:
I have had several doctors and pharmacists warn me about taking Ambien with other drugs like the Ativan that I am currently on. This is why I had to stop the Ambien. I had a choice, get a full night sleep and suffer with my anxiety symptoms or a poor night sleep and be anxiety symptom free. Tough decision, but I chose the later because I couldn’t work with the anxiety symptoms. Michael
Unless I’m very much mistaken (which I often am 
) there is *no* interaction between Ambien and benzos (don’t take my word for it). But even if you don’t want to try Ambien again for this reason there *are* other good sleeping aids which for sure can be taken with benzos (some such as temazepam or nitrazepam *are* benzos ). A good sleeper is low dose Trazodone (originally an antidepressant unsuitable as a primary med for PAD). Philip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I cannot comment on your trouble with Klopopin, however, I was on Ambien for just over a year. I used it 5 nights a week, with weekends off. The only problem I had when I went off of it is I slept like I did before I went on it. No withdrawals of any kind occurred. I needed to get off of it because I started having anxiety attacks and my doctor was afraid it would interact with my new medicine. But as a sleep medicine, I give it two thumbs up! As long as I got six to seven hours of sleep, there was no "hangover" side effects and it usually kept me asleep at least that long. I only get about 4 hours of sleep out of Ambien. Supposedly, the main difference between it and Sonata (which I believe is not yet available in the U.S.) is that Sonata is shorter-acting (you’re supposed to be able to take it in the middle of the night, which seems like a bad idea to me for some reason). I took Ambien every day for a year or so, with no tolerance and no withdrawal when I stopped. I still take it sometimes but have been looking for alternatives. There’s a good possibility it would interact with a benzo. -elizabeth
Response:
I have had several doctors and pharmacists warn me about taking Ambien with other drugs like the Ativan that I am currently on. This is why I had to stop the Ambien. I had a choice, get a full night sleep and suffer with my anxiety symptoms or a poor night sleep and be anxiety symptom free. Tough decision, but I chose the later because I couldn’t work with the anxiety symptoms.
Hi Michael, I have seen posters here on Ambien and a benzo. You shouldn`t have to make a decision between getting a good nights sleep or having anxiety. There are many good meds to deal with both of these problems. These are the only meds that you should avoid while on Ambien, I provided the website. Possible Interaction with Other Drugs Central nervous Increased sedative effect. Avoid. Chlorpromazine Increased sedative effect. Avoid. Imipramine Increased sedative effect. Avoid. http://www.thriveonline.com/cgi-bin/healthlib?vcs_personality=healthl… s_mode=search_db&vcs_range=1-20&drug=on&medterm=ambien&all= In this website it is mentioned that taking Ambien with tranquilizers could cause drowsiness, but Ambien is not contraindicated with regards to these meds. This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that slow down the nervous system, possibly causing drowsiness). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, other allergies, or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine; prescription pain medicine or narcotics; barbiturates; medicine for seizures; muscle relaxants; or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your doctor before taking any of the above while you are using this medicine. http://www.mayohealth.org/usp/html/202707.htm Take care! Jackie
Response:
Unless I’m very much mistaken (which I often am ) there is *no* interaction between Ambien and benzos (don’t take my word for it).
I’d think there might be additive sedation, since they share some effects. It wouldn’t be like taking two benzos, but it might be like taking one-and-a-half benzos. However, you can use this to your advantage to allow you to take a lower Ambien dose. As far as I know, the combination won’t kill you or anything. I will note that two drugs that are pretty much harmless by themselves can be potentially lethal in combination because of additive CNS depression. The two I’m thinking of are buprenorphine and diazepam (or, apparently, any benzo). I tried taking Ambien while taking buprenorphine once, figuring I’d be okay since buprenorphine didn’t slow my breathing or make me sleepy. The combination knocked me out for 15 hours (normally I can’t get more than 4 or so out of Ambien). So, be careful! -elizabeth
Response:
(Daisy4O4) writes: I took a narcotic painkiller for about two weeks in July of this year, and I woke up two times during the night and had um, mild hallucinations or maybe waking dreams would be a better term. I don’t know for sure if the Ambien caused this, but I suspect the combo of Ambien and narcotic was responsible.
They’re called hypnagogic hallucinations. I had them on buprenorphine, so I’d guess it was probably the narcotic that was responsible. Many people have them sometimes at the onset of sleep. -elizabeth
Response:
I took Ambien and Ativan together for over two years and couldn’t tell that they had any interactions. If it’s your first time to try Ambien, I would recommend trying a 5 mg dose first to see if that’s enough. 10 mg seems to be the standard dose, but sometimes 5 is enough. The following is my personal experience with Ambien…..it often causes amnesia for about two hours after I take it. I won’t remember anything I do during that time, so after several forgotten phone conversations and some things appearing in the mail that I had apparently ordered online, I now wait to take the Ambien right before I get in bed and don’t talk on the phone or net surf after I take it. If it’s your first time to take it, it will likely make you fall asleep within 15 minutes anyway, so that might not be a concern for you. I took a narcotic painkiller for about two weeks in July of this year, and I woke up two times during the night and had um, mild hallucinations or maybe waking dreams would be a better term. I don’t know for sure if the Ambien caused this, but I suspect the combo of Ambien and narcotic was responsible. So, after all this verbiage, my vote is "YES" for Ambien. It’s a great sleep med and not addictive. D.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I cannot comment on your trouble with Klopopin, however, I was on Ambien for just over a year. I used it 5 nights a week, with weekends off. The only problem I had when I went off of it is I slept like I did before I went on it. No withdrawals of any kind occurred. I needed to get off of it because I started having anxiety attacks and my doctor was afraid it would interact with my new medicine. But as a sleep medicine, I give it two thumbs up! As long as I got six to seven hours of sleep, there was no "hangover" side effects and it usually kept me asleep at least that long. Good-Luck Michael
came into this thread late-sonata will be available in u.s within a few weeks it is shorter acting then ambien 4hours and done no hangover or drowsy se-middle of the nite administr-may be helpful for those who wake and cant fall back to sleep-there are no contraindications of taking any of these soporofics and anxiolytics-except a possible additive potential of either-which could be a good thing if they then work better. LM
